Communicating the Truth about Print

The Value and Environmental Impact

Print is often criticized for its loss of value and importance in the market, as well as its impact on the environment. It is essential to convey the message that print is important to brand recognition and the sales process, and that we are an environmentally and socially responsible industry.

The following tools and resources have been developed to help printers convey these messages to the media, your customers, the government, and other industries.

Tools and Resources

• “The Fine Print” PR Toolkit (member log in required)
  Use this toolkit to convey the value of print and counteract negative statements from the media and objections to print by the consumer. This packet of PDFs is filled with resources and statistics to help you communicate the value of print.
   

• Full Page Ad/Flyer (color)
  Full Page Ad/Flyer (black-and-white)
  This full-page advertisement/flyer communicates the environmental impact of print, as well as its value. Four color and black-and-white high-res PDFs are available for download.

• The Print & Graphic Association Mid Atlantic (PGAMA) offers the following resource:

  Print Grows Trees Poster

• Sky Radio Interview: Print’s Image As it Relates to the Environment

• Print in the Mix: A Clearinghouse of Research on Print Media Effectiveness
  A clearinghouse advocating print as a viable and effective ROI in the marketing media mix. This website presents compelling, verifiable, and factual data from a variety of academic and reputable sources that make the case for print.

• The Green Guide for Graphic Communications  (member log in required)
  The Green Guide for Graphic Communications provides a step-by-step approach to evaluating and marketing your sustainability profile.This resource can help you make appropriate and credible green claims; issue periodic reports on your green progress; better understand third-party certification and eco-labels; and more.

• “Why Print? The Top Ten Ways Print Helps You Prosper” Full-color Brochure
  Hi-ResPDF.zip (476.9 mb; hi-res PDF file)
  Low-ResPDF.zip (1.6 mb; low-res PDF file)
  ColorFinal1.zip (221.5 mb; artwork files; part 1 of 2)
  ColorFinal2.zip (249.2 mb; artwork files; part 2 of 2)
  Fonts.zip (1.4 mb; font files)
  Council.sitx (366.9 mb; Unix executable file compressed with Stuffit)

• Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP)
  This voluntary program is designed to reduce the environmental impact and increase social responsibility of the print and graphic communications industry. It recognizes and acknowledges printers who are committed to sustainable and green printing through a formal registry program. 
   
• Print Delivers Seminars, hosted by the Print Council, are designed to educate media and marketing decision makers about the role and advantages of print. On December 12, 2009, a seminar was held in Minneapolis. To view a brief clip of this event, go to http://printinthemix.cias.rit.edu/fastfacts/show/306.
   
• Printing Industries of America Green and Sustainability Services
• Printing Industries of America Environmental, Health, and Safety Staff
  This group offers inquiry response—call or email with your EHS questions; a member listserv for EHS professionals in the printing industry; assistance with starting or continuing a sustainability program; and more.
• Advancing Print Procurement - A New Approach by William Gindlesperger

Facts and Summaries 

Newest Fast Facts from Print in the Mix

Newest Summaries from Print in the Mix

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