What is it?

Growth in goods and services is consistently outpacing gains in efficiency. The application of sustainability principles to graphic design is something that every designer should consider these days. We all have to consider the environmental impacts of graphic design products (such as packaging, printed materials, publications, etc.) throughout a life cycle that includes: raw material; transformation; manufacturing; transportation; use; and disposal.

In my projects i am trying to use techniques, processes, and materials that will help reduce the detrimental environmental, social, and economic impact of my designs.

In every design projects that i am involved i am trying to

• use paper and materials made with recycled waste
• printing with low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) inks that are biodegradable
• reducing the amount of materials required for production
• produce products that require the least amount of transport
• create products that are biodegradable or recyclable
• check if the end-product can be replaced by a digital, rather than printed, format
• determine what production methods require the least amount of transport
• just-in-time production to reduce number of units produced and warehouse

What can you do?

As a designer interested for sustainable design you should always seek the opportunity to guide your clients to better solutions that are both environmentally responsible and more effective.

You should always try to identify the potential impact of your project, by taking into account the entire life cycle of it. Identify the resources (labour, materials, and energy) of the project and the waste produced by it (waste of materials, manufacturing, gas emissions etc); think about manufacturing and assembly of the product and the transportation of goods and people. Based on these try to find opportunities to substitute materials and improve your process. Make the right design decisions that will reduce the environmental impact of your design.

Ask yourself questions like, can it be smaller, made with recycled materials, have fewer components, have an electronic form instead, use non-toxic and/or renewable materials, be reused or recycled? By answering these questions you will be able to get on track for producing sustainable designs.

For more details on a sustainable design roadmap please have a look in http://www.re-nourish.com/?l=resources_importance

Environmental policy

We are dedicated to promoting awareness and decisions that contribute to achieving environmentally sustainable development.

We are continually looking for ways to improve our environmental performance, minimising our environmental impact and making resource efficiency a core requirement of all our operations and promote sustainable design to our employees, clients and suppliers.

Our commitment:

Support the reuse and recycling of materials.

Reduce the use of paper, raw materials, consumables and office equipment. Use paper and materials made with recycled materials.

Reduce energy, water and gas consumption.

Reduce and offset carbon footprint.

Enhance and monitor environmental quality of our premises.

Ensure that good environmental practice is carried out throughout the company and its operations.

Reduce the environmental impact of our supply chain by encouraging our customers, suppliers and contractors to uphold similar environmental standards and to use products and services in an environmentally-sensitive way.

Raise awareness, encourage participation and train employees in environmental matters. Seek feedback from all staff on our environmental procedures and goals.

Set objectives, targets and programs to improve our environmental performance.

Monitor and review our environmental policy and all of our purchasing practices and operations

Work towards the relevant certification(s) for a company of our size and industry.

Our environmental policy is an on-going process of improvement and we seek to improve our performance, and that of our suppliers, over time. It is a first step towards an Environmental Management System (EMS) and expresses our commitment to achieving this aim within our organization.

Where can you find more?

If you want to learn more about sustainable design please have a look at the following links:

Aiga Center For Sustainable Design
Sustainable Paper Choices
Learn about sustainable materials
The latest in sustainable packaging materials
Find more about eco-friendly printing
Tools and information to expand your knowledge and build a more sustainable practice