**Roundtable participants:
JohnHenry Ruggieri, President at SunDance Marketing Solutions
Liesl Beck, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Bernard Group
Björn van Hamond, Innovation Manager at RPI Print
Lou Raiola, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Cause Marketing at The Vomela Companies
Helen Smith, Head Of Marketing & ESG at Precision Proco**
This discussion during the Global Online Sustainability Summit brought together a group of leaders from Dscoop's Americas and EMEA regions. They shared an honest, practical look at where their sustainability initiatives stand today. While each company operates in a different market, they are all navigating similar pressures — shifting customer expectations, operational demands, evolving regulations and the internal work required to align teams around long-term goals.
A consistent theme throughout the conversation was that sustainability is no longer something only large customers care about. Buyers across sectors are asking sharper questions, vendors are tightening their own requirements, and print partners are increasingly evaluated on transparency, measurable progress and the ability to support clients’ ESG commitments. For several participants, this has accelerated internal investment and sparked deeper cross-department collaboration.
Others described a more measured pace — not due to lack of commitment, but because economic pressures, material availability and post-pandemic recovery continue to shape what is feasible. Some companies are in “maintenance mode,” focusing on incremental improvements, reducing waste and optimizing energy use while preparing for the next wave of customer expectations and regulatory changes. Everyone agreed that progress isn’t linear, and sustaining momentum requires balancing ambition with operational reality.
Another shared insight was the importance of looking beyond environmental metrics alone. Social impact, workforce well-being, ethical sourcing and community engagement are growing areas of focus. Multiple panelists emphasized that sustainability now requires wide organizational participation — from procurement and production to HR and marketing — and that the most effective initiatives are the ones embedded across the business rather than siloed.
The discussion also highlighted the power of collective learning. Members openly shared tools, frameworks and practical tactics that have helped them move forward — from greenhouse-gas tracking systems and waste-stream audits to employee engagement programs and customer education efforts. Hearing how peers overcome barriers offered both reassurance and direction, particularly for companies early in their sustainability journey.
