Planning an Environmentally-Friendly Print Project

Bob Swoverland and Shawn Welch

University of Minnesota Printing Services

U of M Moment: Do we buy green to improve social status?

(link to online video)

What does this mean for University of Minnesota Communications?• How do we make environmentally-friendly

printing decisions?• Why do we make those decisions?• Will anyone ever know the full extent of what

wonderfully responsible stewards of the environment we are? (maybe not…but it’s OK)

The printed piece…

• Size• Finishing Operations• Bleeds• Ink Coverage

The printed piece…

Weight of delivered product8.5” x 11”, 80# Classic Crest Text1,000 15.8 lbs5,000 79.0 lbs10,000 158.0 lbs9” x 12”, 80# Classic Crest Text1,000 18.2 lbs5,000 91.0 lbs10,000 182.0 lbs

The printed piece…

Waste/SpoilagePress run, full color, 2-sided

The printed piece…

• Multi-purpose…– Multiple messages

• Support marketing messages• Support electronic communications• Direct audience to website• Combine printed pieces

– Multiple use

The method…

• Litho vs. Digital– Reduced costs don’t necessarily mean

reduced environmental costs– Large run vs. On-demand (digital)

The substrate…

• What are all of my choices?• Logos, logos, logos… what do I need?

• Where is the paper located?

The substrate…

The messaging…

• The Power of Personalization– Personalized text increases response

rate by 44%– Personalized imagery increases

response rate by another 143%

Source: Romano & Broudy

The messaging…

• Kennesaw State University– 27.5% reduction in printing and mailing cost per kit– One-third fewer generic brochures printed

• Smaller print runs targeted to specific audiences• Higher response rate means fewer follow-up mailings/electronic

communications• Almost no make-ready waste and no obsolescence

Source: 2005 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative

Can improved response rates result in less waste?

The messaging…

• Effectively Communicate (Will you achieve your desired results?)

• Reduce Costs• Reduce Environmental Impact

The Big 3 – how do we choose the best form of communication?

Resources

http://www.re-nourish.com/

http://sustainable.print.rit.edu/

http://www.newleafpaper.com/designers-and-printers/sustainable-printing