In today’s marketplace, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword but a business necessity. Customers and the public expect it; brands demand it; regulations are increasingly requiring it, and the pressure to deliver environmentally responsible products has never been higher. Yet as the conversation around sustainability grows louder, so does the confusion. Terms like carbon neutrality, bioplastic, and eco-certification are used everywhere, but often inconsistently and incorrectly.
This is why PRINTING United Alliance created the Print & Packaging Sustainability Glossary. It is designed to bring clarity to a complex and rapidly evolving conversation. It offers straightforward and reliable definitions of key sustainability terms helping print operations and packaging converters communicate accurately, make informed choices, and strengthen credibility in an increasingly eco-conscious marketplace.
Why should printers care?
Sustainability has become one of the most powerful drivers of change across every corner of the print and packaging industry. Brands are rethinking how products are made, packaged, and delivered, and they’re looking to their print partners for solutions. This development offers printers a dual path: responsibility and strategic opportunity.
Embracing sustainability goes far beyond regulatory compliance and requires transparency at every level. Printers who can confidently communicate about their sustainability initiatives are better positioned to build trust with clients, collaborate effectively with suppliers, and demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility. In a market where it seems that just about every sustainability claim is under scrutiny, clarity builds credibility and businesses that can answer questions with confidence instantly stand out as trusted, transparent partners.
A solid understanding of sustainability empowers every part of your organization. This shared understanding enables everyone across the organization, from leadership to sales and marketing, to communicate your sustainability initiatives clearly, confidently, and consistently. It also strengthens relationships across the supply chain. Sustainability is a shared journey, and collaboration becomes far more effective when everyone speaks the same language and shares a common understanding. Just as importantly, staying fluent in sustainability helps printers stay ahead of emerging trends. The standards, certifications, and materials considered sustainable today may change tomorrow, making continuous learning and clear communication essential.
How printers communicate their sustainability story is just as important as the actions they take. Misused terms and vague claims can create confusion and lead to accusations of greenwashing, which can seriously damage a company’s integrity (or reputation) and erode customer trust. The opposite problem of greenhushing, companies staying silent out of fear of being challenged, can also be problematic. Both extremes slow progress and reduce transparency.
Looking Ahead
The momentum toward sustainability has never been stronger. Consumer expectations are rising, legislation is tightening, and brands are demanding greater accountability from every link in their supply chain. Printers are being asked not only to deliver sustainable solutions but also to clearly articulate those solutions.
Because sustainability continues to evolve at such a rapid pace, the Print & Packaging Sustainability Glossary will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new terminology, materials, certifications, and industry developments. We also encourage our members to share suggestions for new terms or updates to be included in future revisions, ensuring the glossary remains a living, collaborative resource that grows alongside our industry’s sustainability journey.
In this article, Sara Osorio, Coordinator, EHS Affairs, PRINTING United Alliance, discusses the new Print & Packaging Sustainability Glossary. More information on sustainability can be found at EHS-Sustainability, or reach out to Sara directly if you have questions about how these issues may affect your business: sosorio@printing.org.
To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.
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