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Print industry banks on sustainability

Friday 31. May 2024 - Especially in times of rising energy prices and CO2 taxes these early innovations are paying off. A PV system was already installed on the roof of the company premises as early as 2009 and has since produced almost 700,000 kWh of electricity.

drupa sustainabilitySustainability is a fixture in the print industry. This is also reflected by drupa 2024 where this topic occupies a large space. “Sustainability is a set theme in the print industry and forms an integral part of transformation,” says Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Portfolio Print Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.
Druckstudio GmbH was founded by Werner Drechsler in Düsseldorf 47 years ago. Since then, his company – now employing 50 staff – has delivered premium-quality offset, digital and packaging print products – but not only that: today’s owner-managed Druckstudio Gruppe is among the most eco-friendly print shops in the D-A-CH region today; certified according to ISO standards for energy, environmental and quality management and awarded the “Blue Angel” seal of approval and the EMAS Certificate – two awards for particularly high environmental commitment.
For Werner Drechsler and the entire management team that has accompanied this process every step of the way since 2007, sustainability is more than a green ethical choice: “Ecological makes business sense. Quality, efficiency and the eco-friendly and energy-efficient production of printed products can go hand in hand,” says Werner Drechsler, who has been running his printshop successfully since 1977.
New, energy-efficient printing presses were purchased at regular intervals, heat recovery systems installed, and many other environmental measures reduced the relative energy consumption by some 35% compared to the reference year 2008.
Touchpoint Sustainability: VDMA places sustainability in focus
Druckstudio Gruppe is one of the pioneers of the sector proving that green printing has become a success factor – a success factor that also pays off in commercial terms. This is also pointed out by Thomas Schiemann, the Managing Director of VDMA’s Print and Paper Technology Association: “More sustainable processes and products especially when combined with digital solutions hold a very high potential for making processes more and more cost-effective.” The transformation in the paper and print industry, he adds, is therefore already heading towards the circular economy also thanks to the substantial cost savings to be expected in the long run.
What is already possible today will be demonstrated by the central trade fair forum Touchpoint Sustainability, which is organised at drupa by VDMA, the Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association. In addition to a comprehensive stage programme, a total of 30 companies will be presenting pioneering best practices for sustainability in the print and machinery industry. The spectrum of exhibitors here ranges from industry leaders such as Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Koenig & Bauer, HP and Voith to specialised start-ups (Touchpoint Sustainability, Hall 14, Stand D60).
“Umwelt. Bewußt. Gedruckt.” (Environment. Conscious(ly). Printed) Education campaign by the Print and Media Associations
The eco-friendly production of printed matters is part and parcel of the industry. Facts speak for themselves here: over 80% of graphical paper is recycled to a high quality in Germany. In paper production 90% of the water is reused. All printed products account for less than 1% of the carbon footprint per person in Germany.
Presenting such facts the German Printing and Media Industries Federation (“Bundesverband Druck und Medien” – BVDM) and its state associations have launched the campaign “Umwelt. Bewusst. Gedruckt.” It is designed to strengthen the perception of printed products as being sustainable communication media: “With this campaign we want to raise awareness for the sustainability of printed products thereby also stealing the thunder on greenwashers. After all, there are often completely other reasons for foregoing print than the alleged ‘love for the environment’,” says Kirsten Hommelhoff, Managing Director of the BVDM. At drupa, these associations will also be represented at the Touchpoint Sustainability.