On this the 52^nd Earth Day the dialogue and the urgency of collective action to address the threats of climate change have heated up (Sorry for the play on words). This article is not about debating climate change and its effects on our planet. It is about the accelerating changes in the business and consumer sentiment that are, and will continue to affect every business and industry.

On a global scale, pressure for companies to make sustainability improvements are being driven by consumer interest in eco-friendly products and demands for corporate responsibility. Consider these statistics:

1. 79% of consumers are changing purchase preference based on the social or environmental impact of their purchases (Capgemini Research Institute, Sustainability in Consumer Products and Retail Survey, March 2020)
2. 65% of employees prefer to work for a company with a strong environmental policy (Censuswide, Oct 2021)

These consumer sentiments obviously are affecting corporate prerogatives:

1. 75% of consumer product brand executives list sustainability as a top priority (Oxford Economics)
2. Hundreds of Fortune 500 companies have set carbon neutral targets of 2030 or 2040 and are requiring that partners have the necessary certifications like ISO 140001 and others to help them achieve a measurable target.

What does this mean for the print industry? It means we do what we’re good at – delivering solutions to our customers that support their underlying mission and communications needs. As an industry that is made up companies and individuals willing to think differently and creatively solve problems through the use of cutting-edge technology and processes we can serve our customer’s needs and increase employee engagement at the same time. Further, Dscoop members are members of a collaborative community are uniquely positioned to overcome the challenges of meeting sustainability targets. 

At Dscoop we’re working with several environmental organizations and partners to develop an implementable framework that will help our members achieve carbon neutral operations by 2030. As that plan is finalized, you can begin your own journey by breaking it down into three steps:

1. Start with where you are today. Measure the current carbon footprint of your businesses to set a baseline for where you are today. The Sustainable Green Partnership has a good program in North America to get you started on this in the print industry.
2. Determine the biggest opportunities. Your carbon footprint research will unearth “easy wins” that you can implement right away. Rank all of the opportunities in order of impact, complexity and cost. Working with your team, customers and partners to set targets and timetables.
3. Implement the top priority project and measure the result reporting progress as you go both internally and externally. Not every project will have the impact you intended, but by communicating openly we will all learn and collectively we can reach our targets.

This may seem like an over simplified approach, but you will be surprised at the impact it will have on your business and ultimately, your mindset. As you start this process you will find efficiencies in areas like streamlined local supply chains and Just in Time production processes that will increase profits . At the same time you will accelerate growth by better serving your customers, differentiating your offerings in the eyes of customers and employee talent. Today starting your journey towards sustainability is an opportunity to accelerate growth and profits, while you make a difference in the world!