The DMA (Direct Marketing Association) offers a terrific online "Environmental Policy and Vision Statement Generator" that can be used to not only help you write your own statement, but it is also a checklist for sustainability activities. While the DMA is a trade organization for companies who use a variety of media including direct mail to sell their products, the online statement generator is useful for any company using or producing printed materials. It covers five areas:

• List Hygiene and Data Management
• Design
• Paper Procurement and Usage
• Printing and Packaging
• Recycling and Pollution Reduction

Because this checklist/statement generator is used by print buyers/users, as well as print producers, printers can also use it to understand how direct marketers are thinking about sustainability. For instance, consider this statement:

We [give preference to/use only] printers that seek to reduce air and water pollution, energy use, and chemical waste in their operations. We communicate these goals within our organization and to our suppliers.

As more and more print buyers are considering making these kinds of public statements, it warrants us as members of the graphic arts industry to meet their requirements. Green is good business! When you've completed the checklist and customized the statement to fit your operation, have a copy emailed to you. Voilà, in a matter of minutes you have created a formal envrionmental policy statement that you can put into your own format and publish.