Business News
VERDIGRIS INITITATIVE TO EVALUATE THE TRUE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PRINT
Tuesday 20. May 2008 - Digital Dots, the graphic arts research group, has launched the 'Verdigris' research initiative designed to understand the environmental impact of print. The goal is to evaluate the carbon footprints of a wide of range media products from the point of file creation via prepress to final output on paper or screen to disposal.
Verdigris is a not-for-profit project which has already gained the support of several leading companies including: Agfa, Canon Europe, Drupa, Fujifilm, HP, Ricoh and Screen.
“Verdigris’ aim is to gather and centralise information specifically relevant to the graphic arts industry and relies on sharing data and open dialogue for the education and benefit of everyone involved,” says Laurel Brunner, Digital Dots MD. “Not only will it provide practical advice and objectives for companies who want to start reducing their environmental impact. Also, it will enable print buyers, printers and publishers to properly evaluate a variety of media production alternatives and make the best choice for each product.”
Verdigris differs from most other environmental initiatives in that it will develop and provide free content to global industry publishers on a regular basis. By participating in the Verdigris project, magazines can educate the industry as a whole and help to raise print’s positive profile. Content development is independently managed by people who know and understand print technology and are working closely with specialists. Verdigris is the only initiative of its kind to operate globally and in partnership with industry and media.
In its first phase Verdigris will look at various media workflows. These articles will be shared with a worldwide network of trade publishers for use in their magazines, at no cost. Article topics include guidelines on what companies can do to improve their environmental credentials and attain ISO 14001. They will address best practices for logistics, facilities, workflow, distribution, energy consumption, recycling and general improvements.
Verdigris articles will analyse the issues facing publishers and printers who want to minimise their carbon footprint, while continuing to conduct a profitable business. The environmental impact of a newspaper, a magazine, a package, a direct mail piece and a website will be examined in this context including offset and digital press based production. A series of articles will be made available to partner magazines worldwide, effective immediately. The first Verdigris Guide will be available in early in 2009.
The Verdigris web site, due to go live later this year, will provide a single point of reference, not only to access Verdigris data and other environmental developments, but to link to other useful environmental web sites. Companies will also be able to get clear guidelines on gaining ISO 14001 and find a directory of European ISO 14001 compliant printers.
“drupa is happy to be supporting Verdigris. We are very confident that this initiative will make an important contribution to environmental awareness in the print and media industry.”