IN THIS ISSUE
Publisher’s Note
Thinking Green
GreenSpace Show Spotlight
More Thinking Green
Person Of The Month
More Thinking Green
Now on GDUSA.com
PUBLISHERS NOTE:
REDEFINING STAKEHOLDER
We are preparing a September GDUSA magazine
feature on annual and corporate reports. Over the four decades that GDUSA
has covered this topic, corporate reports have evolved — broadly speaking
— from primarily financial and investment documents, into marketing and
vision statements, and then into cross-media communications tools. Could it be
that we are on the verge of another full-blown transformation? Many designers
are telling us that, increasingly, client’s of all sizes and stripes are asking
for reports that address how their organization effects the lives of all its
stakeholders, not just employees and shareholders. And reports that redefine
the notion of “stakeholder” broadly to include the community, the
nation, even the planet. This development has been percolating for several years,
but the time is now for it to go mainstream. Look for lots of annual and corporate
— and corporate social responsibility — reports that speak to good
deeds and ethical behaviors, public as well as private interests, and, specifically,
a company’s impact on the environment, on energy, on health, on any
other transcendent issues on people’s minds.
— Gordon Kaye
Grass Is No Einstein
In an effort to save water in Denver by reducing lawn watering Sukle Advertising
& Design lets the grass speak for itself because “Grass is dumb.
Water 2 minutes less. Your lawn won’t notice.” A series of print,
tv and outdoor messages emphasize that grass is no Einstein. Creative director
is Mike Sukle and the client is Denver Water.
http://www.denverwater.org
Re-nourish Revamped
After nearly two years of planning and research, Re-nourish.com has relaunched
its site. It offers graphic designers access to practical sustainable design tools;
guides to greener print, packaging and digital design; searchable databases of
vendors; an interactive project calculator that allows users to design a more
sustainable, cost-effective print project from beginning to end; and a third-party
certification system for graphic design studios.
http://www.re-nourish.com
Count Them In
The 2010 Census form is coming off the press at the rate of 1.5 million a day, and will ultimately
be mailed to 120 million U.S. households. The Census Bureau reports that it is greening the
process. Explains Director Robert Groves: “The Census Bureau has gone to great lengths
to make the printing process as efficient and eco-friendly as possible... The printing of 2010
questionnaires uses 30 percent less ink than 10 years ago and will be printed on 30 percent
recycled paper.” Other initiatives: the new 10-question survey is one of the shortest in
over 200 years, and there has been an extra effort to reduce inaccurate addresses.
Don’t Blame It On Canada
The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) has adopted a working definition of
sustainable communication design, incorporating sustainability values and principles as key
tenets of the Canadian graphic design practice. This includes encouraging the development
of global best practices, creating products and services that are reusable or have long term
value, purchasing recycled, local and non-toxic materials, and raising awareness of clients and
the public about sustainable communication design. The entire list of principales can be seen at...
http://www.gdc.net/designers/index/articles659.php
Sustainable Shopping
Wal-Mart has unveiled an environmental labeling program for the products it sells. The company
has told suppliers they must calculate and disclose the full environmental costs of making their
products, then allow Wal-Mart to distill the information into a rating system for shoppers. The
Sustainable Product Index is expected to provide a snapshot of each product’s environmental
impact during its life cycle. Because of its sheer size, experts specuate that the program could have
an immense impact on manufacturing techniques — including print, labels and packaging
— over the next several years.
GREENspace is Debuting at PRINT 09, the global
graphic communications exhibition and conference taking place at McCormick
Place in Chicago September 11-16. It’s a one-stop destination for
‘green’ information, education, products and services. Whether
novice, intermediate or advanced in their sustainability knowledge and actions,
here attendees will find the resources and tools they need to move forward, the
products and services they need to get started, and ‘take-home’
tools to put into immediate use. Among the special attractions: Consultants
Corner, providing free individualized, one-on-one consulting with sustainability
experts; Exhibitions of sustainability-focused products and services with
personalized applications and solutions; the Sustainability Roadmap, a handy
“compass” to exhibitors throughout the show who offer green
products and services; and Green Theatre, with free education on a variety of
subjects including a MyPRINT Designers Forum — What Designers
Need to Know about Sustainability — On Friday, September 11.
Contact:
http://www.print09.com
50-To-1
Scandanavian ad agency, Acne, created this installation for Flygbussarna, an airport coach
bus service. By shaping 50 wrecked cars to resemble one of the company’s vehicles,
the message was clear: individual drivers, and the planet, are better off taking the bus. The
advertising campaign also included a website where visitors watch cars drive past the installation,
track the number of cars that drive by, and see how much carbon is emitted.
Digital Initiative
The Go Green Initiative (GGI) is a program designed to create a culture of environmental
responsibility on school campuses. The group is partnering with Maggwire.com to make available
paperless access to magazines for more than 2 million students registered with the GGI. Maggwire
offers access to more than 10,000 magazine titles in digital format. “I am excited to share
Maggwire with our worldwide network of schools, and I believe this one website may have a
tremendous impact on both learning and the environment,” said Jill Buck, founder and
executive director of the GGI.
http://www.GoGreenInitiative.org/
Liar Liar
Tappening encourages people to drink tap water and reject the environmentally harmful effects
of bottled water consumption. The group has launched its fourth advertising campaign, This one
plays off the their view that the bottled water companies do not tell the truth about their
source; To level the playing field Tappening’s agency DiMassimo Goldstein is creating
ads that contain blatant and self-admitted lies and, in addition, encouraging consumers to
“start a lie” themselves via a user-generated ad spreads.
http://www.startalie.com
BioPreferred Labeling Proposal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a labeling system to identify products
made with renewable plant, animal and other bio-based materials. The proposal is an
outgrowth of the federal government’s BioPreferred purchasing program, created in
the 2002 Farm Bill, and extended to the public in 2008. Companies can voluntarily apply the
BioPreferred label to their products. The USDA defines bio-based products as items that are
made up entirely or mostly of biological ingredients. The program aims to increase the
purchase and use of these renewable, environmentally friendly products while generating
“green” jobs and new markets for farmers, manufacturers, and vendors.
It’s Never Easy
Tom’s of Maine has a new 24-hour deodorant. It marks the first time the company has
used recycled content in its polypropylene packaging and the first time it has used the same
plastic throughout the product. Usually, the outer shell of a deodorant packaging is a different
type of plastic than the moving pieces inside of the tube, making recycling difficult. The new
packaging is completely made up of one plastic type — polypropylene — identified
as number 5 — and it contains from 40-70 percent recycled content. But life is never
simple: number 5 plastic is not as widely recycled as the more-common number 1 and 2 plastics.
At the Annual BRAVO! Awards, graphic designer
Colleen Connery, President of CoCo & Associates, received the
Signature Award from National Association of Business Owners. The annual
award presented to a San Diego woman business owner who has been
consistent and persistent in business practices for at least 10 years and
who's made a commitment to foster the economic growth of women-owned
businesses. Connery’s firm was as one of the first graphic design
companies in the U.S. to specifically offer eco-friendly services, and she
was also nominated at the event for the Green Community Award.
http://www.cocoassociates.com/ecococo.php
Three Easy Steps
The Paper Mill Store.com invites graphic arts professionals to join its free business
directory to help them connect with potential customers. In three easy steps, professionals
can create a free listing, giving them access to the 2 million annual visitors to The
PaperMillStore.com. Those holding an FSC CoC and/or SFI CoC can list these certifications.
Companies offering services beyond their local markets via the internet can also make
this designation. Logos and product/service images are also welcomed. The robust search
function will allow users seeking graphics arts services to find them by business category
and location: country, state/province and city. If you are a user seeking a vendor with
FSC or SFI certification, this can be specified in the search.
http://www.thepapermillstore.com
American Plan
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to introduce a number of pilot
schemes for the rewards-based recycling incentive scheme RecycleBank across the
capital over the next two years. The environment program “Leading to a Greener
London” will take the form of either discount vouchers to stores, cash, donations
to charity or Council Tax rebates. Johnson dubs it an “American incentive scheme.”
Plarn It!
Amelia Bunzey, a publication designer in New York and currently a stay-at-home mom,
is repurposing plastic bags into pocketbooks. She cuts plastic into strips and rolls it into
a ball of yarn, she calls it “plarn,” and then crochets the plastic with its
bright logos into colorful pocketbooks, beach bags and backpacks. She comes to it
naturally, combining her graphic design background, a long time crochet hobby, and a
family tradition of making rag rugs.
http://www.recordonline.com
Printers Need Partners
When Agfa Graphics demonstrates its new products during the upcoming
Print ’09 Chicago, one important theme will be sustainability, along with
other key drivers of automation, diversification and integration. Says President
Peter Wilkens: “We can’t hunker down and hope this thing will blow
over. Right now printers need more than hardware or software. They need
partners that are committed to helping them identify practical solutions to address
their concerns today. This includes ways to cut costs, reduce waste, protect their
margins and better manage customer requests. We also have to help printers
develop new business opportunities to ensure success once we get out of the
downturn. This has been our goal all year and it will be reflected in our Print '09
offering.” Sustainable solutions include the Azura product line. :Azura TS
thermal plates can be made press-ready with no need for chemical processing,
and with reduced water consumption and waste; and the :Azura C95 COU has a
low energy requirement and a small footprint.
http://www.gdusa.com/agfa/
Source of Pride
Cascades Fine Papers Group has been recognized once again for its environmental
performance, this time in the inaugural PPI Awards, which honors leadership and
strategic accomplishments of companies within the global pulp and paper sector. The
Rolland mill is among the finalists in the category Environmental Strategy of the Year
Mill, while a biogas energy project grabbed the jury’s attention in the Advanced
Use of Bio-Energy category. The names of the winners will be unveiled at the gala
which will be held in Munich on October 28. "We have made our environmental concerns
the driving force of our company, thus raising industry standards,” stated Mario
Plourde, President and Chief Operating Officer, Cascades Specialty Products Group.
Contact:
http://www.environmentalbychoice.com
A Sneak Peek at our 23rd Annual Stock
Visual Survey and Feature.
http://www.gdusa.com/eblasts/090818_shutterstock/msg.html
WHY GE
PUBLISHES A CSR
Catalyst for Innovation
Transparency and Outreach
Explore Issues GE Impacts (Energy, Environment, Health)
Responsibility to Customers
Responsibility to Investors
Responsibility to Community
Identify Key Technology Trends
Identity Key Social Trends
Explain Solutions, Initiatives
From remarks by GE’s Mark Little on release of
‘Resetting Responsibilites’ corporate responsibility report
http://greenbiz.com