Sustainability playing increasing role in print sector

A maturing approach to corporate ESG is driving the creation of more concrete goals and higher expectations of print suppliers, according to Quocirca’s Future of Work Spotlight on Sustainability 2025 report.

The study, based on the opinions of 1,021 office workers and 521 IT decision-makers, found that sustainability is increasingly viewed as both a vital business objective as well as a key supplier selection criterion.

The report reveals the employee demographics where ESG considerations have the highest profile, and the impact environmental concerns are having on digitisation programmes. The study also offers insight into the future role of print/paper in the office and how this is being influenced by sustainability objectives.

For example, three quarters of respondents said they expect to reduce paper consumption by 2025; however, 30% still commented that paper will be important to their business. This points to a future where workplaces will be paper-lite, not paperless.

Key findings from the report include:

• 71% said environmental issues and sustainability will be important/extremely important to their business by 2025.

• Digital transformation programmes are accelerating in 61% of organisations (74% in the US), with the biggest motivation being to reduce environmental impact.

• Two-thirds (66%) said it is extremely or very important for a print supplier to be a leader in sustainability.

• 45% of those in director, VP or head of department positions asserted that environmental issues will be extremely important to the business by 2025.

• Sustainability leaders are more likely to accelerate digitisation, adopt fully cloud-based print management, and anticipate the use of video/AR/VR.