Roadmap for reducing carbon emissions in the printing industry
Background and roadmap
The European Green Deal set the ambitious objective of transforming Europe into "the world's first climate-neutral continent" by 2050. At its core lies the commitment to mitigate climate change through comprehensive policy initiatives and collaborative efforts. All sectors are called upon to collectively contribute to reducing emissions and every facet of the economy will need to undergo transformational changes to align with the overarching climate goals. So is the (European) printing industry which has a long history of complying with environmental restrictions and legislation.
Legislation at both the European and national levels will increasingly require the assessment of carbon footprints for products and processes, as well as environmentally conscious decision-making. In addition to these regulatory demands, there is a rising trend of customer preference for products with strong carbon credentials.
Intergraf[1] has been working on recommendations for CO2 calculation in the graphic industry for close to 15 years and has more recently developed an approach to support printing companies and print buyers in their efforts to prioritise and reduce CO2 emissions related to printed products in the most efficient way.
Methods, tools, and parameters
The Intergraf approach encompasses two crucial components: the Intergraf Recommendations on CO2 emissions calculation and the Intergraf Roadmap on CO2 calculation, reduction, and compensation in the printing industry. While the first provides a standard on what to take into consideration when calculating carbon emissions for our industry, the second offers a concrete procedure to printers as well as print buyers to categorise parameters that influence carbon emissions and to prioritise emission reduction measures.
The printing sector consists mostly of small or micro enterprises in need of a simple model which is easily applicable to their activities. Even though there are numerous tools available on the market to calculate the carbon footprint of a product or a company, the print industry disposes of their own practical calculation tools: www.climatecalc.eu & www.klima-druck.de. Both are based on the Intergraf Recommendations.
These were created by printing industry experts specifically for the printing industry and its products. Moreover, both tools can provide the calculations for the entire company or for a specific print product.
The Intergraf Recommendations point out 13 parameters to be included in the CO2 calculation to cover minimum 95% of the emission within the defined scope. Furthermore, they categorise the 13 parameters into site relevant parameters related to the printing company and product relevant parameters related to the design of the printed product. The categorisation into parameters related to the printing company and the design of the printed product is essential for the prioritisation of the activities for the reduction and compensation in the life cycle of the printed product.
In addition to being industry-specific, the Intergraf Recommendations represent a neutral and credible approach as they cover the 3 scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Scope 1 encompasses all direct emissions, while Scope 2 addresses indirect emissions associated with energy consumption. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions throughout the supply chain. In the printing industry, Scope 3 is particularly crucial for calculating the carbon footprint, as it accounts for over 70% of total emissions, with substrate production being the primary contributor.
The printer manages site-specific factors like minimising energy use, whereas the print buyer determines the design specifications, making them the key decision-maker for substrate choice. To effectively lower emissions, it is important for the printer and print buyer to engage in a collaborative dialogue.
The Intergraf Recommendations have received international recognition with their inclusion in the ISO 16759:2013 standard on the quantification and communication for calculating the carbon footprint of print media products.
In the Publishing 2030 Accelerator's CO2e emissions calculation for printed books, the International Publishers Association (IPA) acknowledges the Intergraf Recommendations as the preferred method for evaluating the carbon footprint associated with the printing process of a book.
Conclusions and way forward
The Intergraf Roadmap concludes that there are two main ways to reduce the carbon footprint in the printing sector: implement energy efficiency measures and optimise the substrate. Moreover, it demonstrates that both printers and print buyers are crucial in the carbon reduction strategy in the printing industry.
Looking ahead, Intergraf anticipates that the carbon footprint will remain a top priority in 2024 and the years to come. By actively promoting sustainable practices, working with international associations and partners, and offering valuable resources, Intergraf has earned recognition for its crucial role in advancing sustainability in the graphic industry and remains committed to fostering meaningful change in the printing sector.
In an era where sustainability is paramount, our industry shows its capacity to adapt, reinforcing its resilience and seizing new opportunities.
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Sources:
2021_Intergraf recommendations on CO2 emissions calculation in the printing industryREV
202203_Intergraf_Roadmap_CarbonFootprint
202404_Brochure_Carbon footprint
https://www.intergraf.eu/images/pdf/ActivityReport_2024.pdf page 10
https://www.intergraf.eu/images/pdf/ActivityReport_2023_spread.pdf pages 13-14
[1] Intergraf represents the European printing industry, gathering 22 national printing federations in 21 countries in Europe. The printing industry provides jobs to more than 625,000 Europeans active in 112,000 companies and generates a turnover of approximately € 79.5 billion. The industry throughout Europe consists of small enterprises, as 90% of them employ fewer than 20 persons.