Print Buyers Reduce CO2!

Gary Marshall, Environmental AdviserPolestar UK Print Limited

Our Commitment:

• We talk carbon• We promote carbon • We calculate carbon &

seek carbon reduction in what we do.

Print Buyers’ Requirements of the Rotogravure Industry

To identify, assist & make happen CO2 emission

reduction!

In the past, CO2 Action = put out fires!

Now CO2 = Life cycle analysis of the printed paper product

• Raw materials for paper making, and journeys for kraft pulp and woodchips

• Inks and chemicals footprints within printing• The energy used to publish and real percentage of

recovery of printed materials.

Since Polestar’s conference last year we have gained a better understanding of:–

But also in the supply chain!

Whilst it is all assured and predictable, let’s not forget that we must understand and factor in…WASTE

LCA of Flexo V Gravure packaging is flawed

Print V Online media CF’s is not properly explained

Beware – Apples & Pears ERA has recently found:

CO2 reduction is all about POWER

Power & raw materials to:

• Make paper• Make ink • Print & bind • Transport product • Publish & distribute • Recover & reuse, or

destroy!

Gravure printing industry Carbon Scopes 1, 2 & 3

3

1

2

1 Direct fuels – gas for energy

2 Purchase electricity

3 Purchase raw materials

Key Aspects in Carbon Reduction• Understand what’s in the process• Include all aspects – key components • Calculate correctly – Do not average as a

shortcut to proper calculation• Dialogue with all parties / work with those who

maintain such a dialogue, for mutual support• Better to say ‘Work in Progress’ than give false

readings • Do not create ‘Greenwash’ – figures which

cannot stand scrutiny.

Print Buyers’Requirements of the Gravure Industry

Generally, but not necessarily in this order:

• Understand the carbon footprint of an individual product

• Understand energy efficiency in the printing process

• Seek understanding from suppliers – what is this?

• Explore alternative means of transport.

Pre-press activities • Includes your own

contribution to the product footprint, the Print Buyer’s own activities

• Some chemicals have a greater footprint based on raw materials

• All aspects should be questioned and not left uncalculated.

Paper Reels• Is it about reducing the paper

footprint over time?

• Not to be concerned about one millv another?

• In any case there are too many competing factors!

• Get good specific data, not averaged, nor poorly understood

• Of course it’s nice to have a lowfootprint straight away, but in time isa 10% reduction of a smaller amount as beneficial as 50% reduction of a larger figure?

Raw Materials• Understanding the

supply chains – e.g. all the way back to China

• Calculating the carbon value of materials used in, say inks

• Some of the values are very small at present, but deserve focus

• Transport distances may be relevant.

Printing and Finishing• All equipment is different

and will have greater or lesser footprints

• Gravure v Offset is not a major dividing factor

• Best figures for each job will come from individual printers, and with time they will all know their own figures.

Transport, Distribution and Disposal:

• Type of transport influences footprint

• Proactive views on ways to lessen impact are necessary

• Do Print Buyers know their impacts of TDD from each product – differences newspapers, magazines, catalogues, supermarket promotional material?

A low one!Results Grams CO2

• Paper 34.9896

• Delivery (Paper Mill to Polestar site) 18.7110

• Pre Production 8.0000

• Manufacturing 35.1210

• Delivery (Polestar site to delivery point) 0.1991

• Distribution / Disposal 10.0000

Total 107.0207

A high one!Results Grams CO

• Paper 175.8834

• Delivery (Paper Mill to Polestar sit) 9.3555

• Pre Production 8.0000

• Manufacturing 86.9846

• Delivery (Polestar site to delivery point) 0.2192

• Distribution / Disposal 10.0000

Total 290.4428

Working together to increase knowledge and create solutions

• Understanding the Supply Chain

• The role we all have to play – actively seeking carbon numbers

• Work with as many partners as you can / share information

• Get started – ‘0’ is not an option, but work in progress

• To produce useful figures that can be passed on in the supply chain from paper makers, to printers to publishers

• Centres of excellence – where we can debate and understand the boundaries of the footprint – e.g. ERA

• Eventual aim – to de-complex the supply chain Carbon Footprint, make it open source and maybe in 5 years it will be – just business!

Polestar – with you on the journey

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VP6FFzx6M

http://carbon.polestar-group.com

In partnershipPOLESTAR CARBON

Thank you for listening