Roundtable participants:
- Yukinori Okamoto, CEO and Founder of Goof, Inc.
- Matt Gibson, COO at Finsbury Green
- Wattana Krisnavarin, Deputy Managing Director at Thai Nam Poly Pack Co.
- Jayesh Boraste, General Manager Quality Assurance & Sustainability at EPL Limited
Sustainability looks different in every print business, and this Dscoop Global Online Sustainability Summit discussion made that clear. Leaders from across the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region shared an honest look at where their initiatives stand today — whether accelerating forward, holding steady or being reprioritized in the face of economic pressures.
What unites them is a collective desire to make meaningful progress, even when resources, customer demand and internal alignment vary widely.
Customer expectations are beginning to shift, the panelist agreed. While some brands are pushing for more responsible materials, clearer data and visible reduction efforts, others still focus primarily on price and turnaround time. That uneven demand often determines how quickly a print provider can justify new investments. Still, they agreed that preparing now is critical, because expectations are tightening year by year — especially among global clients and younger, sustainability-minded buyers.
Operational realities also shape the pace of change. Some panelists shared that sustainable materials remain more expensive or harder to source reliably in certain APJ markets. Others described the complexity of changing long-established processes or retraining teams. Despite those challenges, they all expressed optimism that digital print, automation and smarter workflow tools are helping reduce waste and improve efficiency, making sustainability both more achievable and more financially viable.
Another theme was the importance of focusing on progress rather than perfection. Participants shared examples of incremental wins — switching substrates, reducing overruns, improving energy efficiency and tightening color accuracy to minimize remakes. These small, steady improvements not only reduce environmental impact, they also resonate with customers when clearly communicated and supported by data.
The discussion closed with a sense of momentum. Whether companies are moving quickly or cautiously, there’s a growing recognition that sustainability is becoming foundational to business strategy, customer relationships and long-term resilience.
