Sustainable Printing: A Practical Guide for Australian Businesses

Sustainable printing means producing printed materials in a way that reduces their environmental impact from start to finish. In practice, eco-friendly printing pulls on four levers: responsibly sourced materials, lower-impact production processes, reduced waste,  lower energy use and recognised environmental certification to hold it all accountable.

The important part is that it's a supply-chain outcome, not a single product. No one sheet of recycled paper makes a print job sustainable on its own. What makes the difference is the printer behind the job, from the materials they buy and the suppliers they choose through to the systems they run every day.

The pressure now comes from all directions. Customers notice what your business prints on, and so do your own staff, who increasingly want their workplace to match their values. At the same time, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and procurement requirements have made environmental credentials part of doing business. If you supply larger organisations or government, chances are you have already been asked to show yours in a tender.

There's a brand story in it too. Print has a tangible quality that naturally attracts more scrutiny, which is exactly why people pay closer attention to how it's produced. Choosing sustainable print lets you keep that physical value while showing customers you take your environmental footprint seriously. 

A printed piece that's produced responsibly delivers all the impact of physical marketing, backed by production practices you'd be happy for customers to ask about.

You don't need to be a print expert to buy responsibly. You just need to know what to ask for:

• Certified and recycled paper. Look for stock made from certified forest fibres or recycled content to ensure it’s sourced responsibly.
• Lower-impact inks. Ask your printer about the most commonly used inks for your job and whether lower-impact options suit it.
• Cleaner production. Printers reduce their footprint by using less water and energy in production, with fewer chemicals and less effluent along the way.
• Print on demand. Ordering only what you need eliminates overproduction, which is the hidden source of most print waste. Online printing services make short runs and reorders easy, so there's no reason to print a year's worth at once.
• Digital proofing. Approving proofs on screen instead of running one hard-copy proof after another keeps waste out of the process before printing even starts.
• Recyclable signage substrates. For signs, cardboard is the recyclable pick for short-term jobs, and corflute suits reuse across repeat campaigns.
• End-of-life recyclability. Ask what happens to the piece once it has served its purpose. Designing it for recycling helps keep it out of landfill when it's no longer needed.

We are proud to announce that every Snap centre across Australia holds Sustainable Green Print certification. Sustainable Green Print is a nationally recognised environmental certification for print businesses, run by the Visual Media Association and based on the ISO14001 framework. It covers environmental compliance, cleaner production practices, waste management and an environmental management system.

Snap's sustainability commitment extends throughout its supply chain. Our paper suppliers use certified forest fibres and alternative renewable energy sources, and they're reducing chemical, energy, water and effluent use across their operations. Our printer suppliers are cutting CO2 emissions and using water and other resources more efficiently across the entire product lifecycle.

Before committing to a printer, do the following: 

• Look for recognised certification such as the SGP.
• Check whether certified-fibre or recycled paper is offered as a standard option.
• Find out where the job is actually produced, because local Australian production keeps freight impact down and accountability close.
• Then ask how waste from the printing process is handled.

A printer that can satisfy those four checks is a safe pair of hands. Not every printer will be able to answer these questions clearly.

What is sustainable printing?

Sustainable printing is print produced with responsibly sourced materials and lower-impact processes, with waste reduced at every step and recognised environmental certification to back the claims. It covers the whole supply chain, from paper and inks through to production and disposal.

What certification shows a printer is environmentally responsible?

In Australia, Sustainable Green Print is a nationally recognised certification for print businesses, based on the ISO 14001 framework. Ask if your printer is certified. Every Snap centre is.

Does eco-friendly printing cost more or look different?

Certified-fibre and recycled stocks are standard options rather than premium add-ons, and the quality delivers for everyday business print. Talk to your local centre about the right stock for your job and budget.

Every Snap centre holds Sustainable Green Print certification and produces your work right here in Australia, so sustainability is built into the way we print. Request a quote and your local centre will help you choose the right option for your next project.