WhatTheyThink has launched of a new special interest section called “Going Green” on WhatTheyThink.com. The new section will be managed by Gail Nickel-Kailing, a long time WhatTheyThink editor and contributor, Going Green is for readers of WhatTheyThink.com who want to learn more about saving money, saving the earth, and “doing well by doing good.”
The new section will contain stories, reports, commentary, and interviews that will highlight how a company can reduce its environmental footprint and become more sustainable. To make it easier to put green initiatives in place, there will be a growing list of resources and links. A weekly email newsletter will highlight the most important stories from the past week. You can sign-up for the newsletter here.
Go check out the new section Going Green - Environment & Sustainability Section.
Discussion
By Paul Edwards on Apr 23, 2008
The real question here is whether all of these people who are waving the "green" flag are going to be willing to pay anything to go green.
Going green has spawned new focus on sustainability, but it has also added an entire round of new cost for the graphic arts industry. Wind power and other renewable energy sources cost more than standard electricity. FSC/SFI pulp and paper are more expensive just like recycled papers. Chain of Custody certifications are costly to obtain and then have monthly costs for special inventories and documentation. All of these costs must go somewhere and when customers are asked to make a green / non-green decision, many of these supposedly green thinkers revert to being low price buyers and select the non-green option. At a time when we are facing a slowing economy and printing companies are closing in growing number, one must remember that a printing company can only be green if they continue to focus on the green benchmark of profitable operations.
Paul R. Edwards
CEO
FormStore Incorporated
A 100% Wind Power Company
By Jerry McNulty on May 09, 2008
Your statement about "..being green and focusing on the green benchmark" hits the nail on the head. We decided to go green about 3 years ago. We received the FSC certification last year and have been selling green since. We also have held a "Print Green" seminar every year. The results have been outstanding. We have seen double digit growth in both new clients and volume. Selling green and being green can be profitable if done with conviction.