Consumables

FULL APPRECIATION FOR ALL ELEMENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY LACKING SAYS TRELLEBORG

Tuesday 14. August 2012 - A recent survey commissioned by Trelleborg has revealed that nearly half (44%) of senior industry stakeholders in the UK and US have admitted that when it comes to sustainability, it's corporate social responsibility (CSR) benefits that are the most important aspect to them, as opposed to energy consumption or carbon footprint.

The findings of the Trelleborg’s Printing Insights Report showed that factors such as energy consumption and carbon footprint were rated as much less significant with only 8% and 6% seeing them as important.
Thomas Linkenheil, Managing Director at Trelleborg Printing Solutions, commented: “With CSR (44%) and waste reduction (38%) seen as the most important aspects of sustainability by the sample, it is clear that they the industry doesn’t appear to have a full appreciation of all the elements of sustainability that they can influence through their processes and procurement.
“Energy consumption and carbon footprint are becoming increasingly more important in modern printing plants and by simply reassessing operational processes or chosen products, managers can make a huge difference to their carbon footprint and energy consumption.
“On a web press, for instance, changing the type of printing blanket fitted can reduce energy consumption by as much as 20% in some cases – a significant figure by anyone’s standards. Printers, converters and suppliers that embrace these aspects of sustainability are sure to recognize that what’s good for the environment and what’s good for their business, can prove to be one and the same.”
The Printing Insight Report, which was based on the views of approximately 100 senior industry stakeholders across the UK and US, used quantitative data to outline existing perceptions on a range of issues in the industry. Interviews were conducted with print professionals, including owners/managing directors, production directors and pressroom managers, involved in a range of different sectors, from sheet-fed commercial litho and digital, to newspapers and packaging.