Specialty Graphic Imaging Association Digital Printing & Imaging Association
	Executive Summary December 2006

Selling Sustainability

Increase tomorrow’s profits with good environmental management today.

Many SGIA members find their efforts to protect the environment by using sustainable business practices to be worthwhile, but costly. Their efforts often result in additional operating expenses. In other words, doing the right thing is more expensive than looking the other way. I believe this is a fair assessment, but the situation is changing.

As a society, we’re growing increasingly concerned with environmental issues and reducing unfavorable impacts on the planet. That concern is reflected in the retail marketplace, with the increased value we’re placing on products with a “sustainable” pedigree.

In the specialty imaging world, equipment and consumable manufacturers are also responding to the growing interest in sustainability. New technologies and products such as “bio” vegetable-based solvent inks and biodegradable media are prime examples of their more environmentally-friendly responses.

Today, the focus on sustainable operations is stronger than ever, but tomorrow it will be standard business practice. For many customers, sustainability audits will become a key component in the bidding process. In the not-too-distant future, we’ll see imagers winning bids because of sustainability audit results — not because of lower prices or better quality.

Improving your sustainability value isn’t that tough — you can start small. Consider actions that show results and are manageable. To get the sustainability ball rolling:

1. Identify the areas within your operation where sustainability actions could be implemented. Energy use, recycling, waste reduction are good examples.
2. Get buy in from employees. Communicate with them, and include as many as possible in your planning.
3. Based on their comments and the areas you’ve identified, develop a sustainability policy for your company.
4. Develop a measurement system and monitoring schedule for each area in which you’ll implement a sustainability action.
5. Incorporate sustainability into your management process. For example, consider sustainability issues when purchasing consumables, or think about future energy requirements as you plan which equipment to use or buy.
6. Document all steps and results.

For more in-depth sustainability actions you might consider using an independent auditing firm and the program created by the International Organization for Standardization, ISO 14000. Following a methodology similar to that of ISO 9000 which addresses the quality of management, ISO 14000 focuses on managing environmental issues.

Operating your business with consideration for the health of our planet is a win/win: It’s the right thing to do, and it will increase your value in the eyes of your customers.