We’re working on the latest piece in our client, Naukabout’s, marketing mix. This being the largest piece the lifestyle apparel company has produced, we’re planning the multi-page booklet to be as resource-efficient as possible.
The image above shows resources used and saved for the 16 interior pages of the brochure we’re designing.
We use the tools at re-nourish for all client projects so that we can make responsible decisions at the design level and plan accordingly.
There aren’t many jobs out there where you not only earn a living by performing your duties, but that you have opportunities to win awards, too. Graphic design offers both!
Studio 22 has been honored in the American Graphic Design Awards for the fourth consecutive year. This year’s winning entries are all in the 2008 report category: Diesel Technology Forum Annual Report, Desert Glory Sustainability Report and Strategic Sustainability Consulting Sustainability Report.
While not a sustainability report, Diesel Technology Forum‘s report was reconfigured to be dimensionally smaller and contain fewer pages than in years past. We printed less hard copies and sourced a green certified printer, using vegetable-based inks and FSC-certified 100% recycled/50% PCW paper.
Desert Glory‘s inaugural sustainability report was not printed, and was instead created specifically for web download. We maintained print-quality standards and page count, however, in the event the company wishes to print any reports commercially.
Strategic Sustainability Consulting‘s report – their third with us – was also a web-based report. Creating a digital report was a first for SSC, as we’ve produced printed reports for them from the start. However, with this more flexible medium, we were able to go bold with color, graphic elements and page shape with the knowledge that they would look great on-screen.
This recognition wouldn’t be possible without our incredible clients and the trust they place in us to create these pieces. We thank you!
We are a proud member of the Designers Accord. The following guidelines were inspired by a recent Designers Accord gathering where maintaining sustainable design practices in an (ugh) ailing economy was the topic of discussion. For the record, Studio 22′s stance is that these actions are “baked in” to our process.
1. Analyze what is in your control, such as paper selection, bindings, or packaging/containment method. Make choices as part of the design exploration process.
2. Make it as easy as possible to disassemble the piece (if bound or packaged) for recycling at the end of its life cycle.
3. Estimate quantities based on past usage of similar projects as closely as possible so that you don’t over-produce. Even if you recycle your leftovers, it’s still waste.
4. Cut back on unnecessary wordiness in your text to reduce page count – not only does this help save on production costs, it saves paper and reduces postage expenses.
5. Evaluate how your audience will use your communications piece. Do they want to read an 8-page product brochure, or would they rather have a line sheet with highlights? Making it convenient for the end user can result in reduced materials consumption.
Three pieces have been chosen to appear in Crescent Hill Books’ “Big Book of Green Design” due out this fall, and we are quite excited!
From Amazon: “This book is very much a ‘see what your colleagues are doing’, idea-sharing, inspiration-generating compilation for agencies, freelance designers, printers and other creative professionals. With a foreword by Eric Benson, creator of website named re-nourish and an expert on sustainable procedures within graphic design, the book will be comprised of eight chapters, all fully illustrated with graphic design ideas, drawings, and photographs: Recycled and FSC Papers; Vegetable-Based Inks; Green Clients; Repurposed Design; Natural Elements; Biodegradable; Anti-Packaging; and, Sharing the Word.”
The following sustainably-produced pieces will be featured:
Naukabout brand introduction brochure
Evolution Markets sustainability report
LEROS Point to Point driving guide and informational brochure
Did a recent office move render your letterhead unusable? Is your letterhead simply unnecessary because you send office correspondence electronically?
Give your letterhead new life with these ideas:
*These can look especially cool if your letterhead design is graphic-heavy.
The recent push from retailers for greener packaging has suppliers realizing a few additional benefits: smaller packaging reduces the amount of space and fuel needed for transporting the products, and reduces the amount of shelf space needed to display the products – thus getting more products on shelves at once.
Surprisingly, Wal-Mart is one of the retailers at the forefront of the packaging reduction movement. Perhaps, because its plan to reduce packaging by 5% in the next 6 years will save the company a projected $3.4 billion.
Solutions to greener packaging can include bio-based and recycled/recyclable content, to simple size reduction.
How can your company reduce the packaging on its products?
If you don’t manufacture products, how can you reduce the amount of resources you use to promote or sell your service?
Recent headlines have said:
“Gen Y Shoppers Drawn To Greener Marketers,”
“Retailers Push Packagers To Think ‘Green’,”
“Good workplaces bring about focused, energetic employees,”
and “Virgin Mobile to Green Up Product Packaging.”
So, the question is…how can your business cater to the growing demand for more sustainable products and services? A few ideas, just for starters:
FOR THOSE PRODUCING PRODUCTS
- Create smaller packaging using recycled (optimal) or renewable, and recyclable material.
- Audit your supply chain. (Did you know that 80% of Honda’s North American suppliers are green certified?)
- “Climate cool” your shipping. Check out the Climate Neutral Network for information.
FOR THOSE PROVIDING SERVICES
- Turn off your equipment when you leave the office each evening; and put it in a sleep or power-down mode when not in use for more than 10 minutes.
- Offset your carbon emissions for all business travel — whether road or air.
- Choose a green design firm (who will specify sustainable options for your promotional pieces) to help you market your services!
FOR BOTH
- Offer green benefits packages to employees.
- Allow time off for volunteer activities.
- Allow employees to telecommute 1 or more days per week.
From CSRwire.com 8/1/07:
Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. announces that all its Graphic Arts Printing and Packaging Papers are made using 100% renewable electrical energy and are manufactured carbon neutral. Monadnock is continuing its leadership in sustainable manufacturing by making significant investments to continue to reduce its carbon footprint and overall environmental impact.
“In 2006, 49% of our electricity was self-generated”, says Michelle Hamm, Manager of Environmental Services. “Since 1904, Monadnock has derived much of its energy from mill owned and operated low-impact hydroelectric generation facilities, and Monadnock remains committed to the use of low-impact hydroelectric power.”
When I said that “the catalog industry can get a bit overzealous in their mailings,” Victoria’s Secret was exactly the company I was thinking about. So, imagine my relief when I read this article recently.
Apparently, a few years ago ForestEthics began a dialog with Limited Brands/Victoria’s Secret regarding their paper use. Now Limited Brands uses paper with 80% post consumer waste recycled content for its clearance catalogs. A few other measures the company is taking in its future catalog production that impressed me are (as stated on GreenBiz.com & ForestEthics.org):
“A preference for FSC certification, the only credible certification for sustainable logging. Limited Brands has partnered with one of its principal suppliers to shift four of its mills to FSC.
Overall catalog paper reduction.
A commitment to continual improvement on environmental attributes of catalog paper and paper use. Progress will be audited by an independent third party and made public.
A commitment to phase out of endangered forests.
One million dollars committed to research and advocacy to protect endangered forests and ensure leadership in the catalog industry.”
Definitely a step in the right direction!
I read on GreenBiz.com last week that Williams-Sonoma is going to begin sourcing almost all of the paper for its catalogs from sources certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
This is great news to me. I know I’m not alone in feeling that the catalog industry can get a bit overzealous in their mailings, with the same products being contained in each publication, and which may arrive as often as twice per month. I think this major, well-respected company is setting a wonderful example to the rest of the industry.
Not only is this a feel-good commitment for Williams-Sonoma to make, it is a wise business decision that will most likely affect their bottom line. In my opinion, they will gain some market share due to this change and the publicity they are receiving from it.
The FSC certification for its catalogs is not the first environmentally sound practice that Williams-Sonoma has made. The company has a track record of choosing paper products with post consumer recycled content for items used throughout the organization.