Digital print technology for a circular economy

Fujifilm white paper to be released in online event

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Digital
White paper

Fujifilm Graphic Systems Europe publishes environmental white paper to explore the role of print in a world of ‘net zero’ targets and increased environmental awareness.

The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan outlines a strategy to transform Europe’s economy into a sustainably driven, fully circular economy by 2050. This, along with pressure from increasingly environmentally conscious consumers, means that businesses and brand owners in Europe are being driven to improve environmental practices and reduce waste and carbon emissions. Inevitably, printed communications and marketing materials are scrutinized as part of this process. Fujifilm, in this new White Paper, examines the ways in which brands can make much more sustainable decisions in sourcing printed materials, without missing out on all the unique benefits that print offers.

Brand owners understand the many benefits of print as a communications tool,” explains Mark Stepheson, product manager, Digital Press Systems, Fujifilm Graphic Systems Europe. “They know it communicates seriousness, authority, and quality, and that it inspires loyalty. But when it comes to meeting environmental targets and carbon reduction goals – many feel they have no choice but to cut back. This White Paper is for them. We wanted to demonstrate that it doesn’t have to be ‘either-or’. By understanding more about modern print processes, brand owners can make informed, sustainable decisions, which allow them to continue to take advantage of the many advantages of print, while still fulfilling their environmental responsibilities.

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Jet Press 750S front view

The way we print has changed radically in the last twenty years, and much of that change has been extremely positive from an environmental point of view. But outside the industry, this is not widely understood. Sustainability is a huge focus within Fujifilm, so our White Paper looks in detail at a variety of modern printing techniques and how our own technology, particularly the Jet Press, is helping to reduce waste and boost recyclability.

Fujifilm will formally release the white paper during a live online event – The Really Sustainable Production Show on 24 February. Click here to register for the show or to request a copy of the white paper.

Fujifilm Corporation is one of the major operating companies of Fujifilm Holdings. Since its founding in 1934, the company has built up a wealth of advanced technologies in the field of photo imaging, and in line with its efforts to become a comprehensive healthcare company, Fujifilm is now applying these technologies to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in the medical and life science fields. Fujifilm is also expanding growth in the highly functional materials business, including flat panel display materials, and the graphic systems and optical devices businesses.

Fujifilm Graphic Systems is a stable, long-term partner focussed on delivering high-quality, technically advanced print solutions that help printers develop competitive advantage and grow their businesses. The company’s financial stability and unprecedented investment in R&D enable it to develop proprietary technologies for best-in-class printing. These include pre-press and pressroom solutions for offset, wide-format, and digital print, as well as workflow software for print production management. Fujifilm is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its products and operations, proactively working to preserve the environment, and strives to educate printers about environmental best practice.

2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India

Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.

The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry. While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.

The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.

Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.

Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.

Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.

– Naresh Khanna

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