Printers encouraged to help develop environmental standards
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) technical committee 130 (TC 130) has set up a new Working Group (WG) WG11 to develop a set of standards to cover the environmental impact of print. The Group’s remit is closely aligned with those of the Verdigris Project, the not-for-profit print environmental research initiative whose founder, Laurel Brunner, has called for printers to get involved in standards development.
WG11 is currently working on ISO draft 16759, the requirements for measuring the carbon footprint of printed products, and is in the process of producing the first draft which is available for review, with a 4 February deadline for comments. The aim of WG11 is to have the new standard complete by Drupa 2012.
Verdigris is encouraging print industry participants with an interest in the environmental impact of print to join WG11 through their national bodies to take an active role in developing the standard.
“Standards work is time consuming, unforgiving, unrelenting and unpaid, so it’s no surprise that printers and publishers are reluctant to do their bit,” said Brunner. “However, the work has a profound and long lasting impact on the industry’s competitiveness. It’s important because it provides a mechanism for constant improvement in print production means and methods.”
