Print Innovation Asia Issue 3 2022
8
Looking to a sustainab label industry Sustainability has moved from a marketing buzzword to an essential part of every company’s business strategy, as the world turns its focus to saving the planet from climate disaster. In every aspect of modern life, consumers are demanding to know the impact that each product has on the environment, and packaging has been vilified in the public conscience. Each piece of plastic is perceived as detrimental to our collective future irrespective of its power to reduce the mountain of food that is wasted every day and the role it plays in ensuring consumer safety.
The UN warns of severe future consequences for our natural world and its biodiversity unless we all take drastic action now. It states that “to preserve a ‘liveable’ climate, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net 0 by 2050.” Imagery of forest fires and decimation, severe flooding and plasticfilled oceans has affected us all. Not to forget the visible evidence of the ongoing extinction of many species of animals, birds, butterflies and insects.
Global concern has now accelerated to ‘danger level’. For the label industry these ominous predictions mean increased pressure to clean up its operations and reduce wasteful practices in answer to demand from brand owners looking to elevate their green credentials. Printing companies are responding by digitizing processes and reducing waste through the entire value chain. Companies wanting to future proof their businesses should invest in digital printing, which is a more sustainable way of producing labels and packaging. Digital offers many kinds of efficiencies and savings, such as: print on demand shorter runs low waste reduced setup times just-in-time delivery highly automated production Individual digital technologies can provide even more benefits: dry toner technology in particular excels due to its low use of energy and water, and the fact there are no harmful chemicals or Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in the toner. In line with Flint Group’s 2030 environmental strategy and the UN’s latest guidelines, Xeikon aims to radically reduce its environmental impact and energy consumption. The first step is a comprehensive inventory and an overall evaluation, as the company implements considered ecofriendly choices within the structure of its business model.
