Kermit the Frog said, "it isn't easy being green" and although I can't
confirm it, he may have been involved in production printing. As today
marks the 38th annual Earth Day, you should take a second to reflect on
the environment and your business' impact on it. You may not be
completely happy with what you see. You might agree with Kermit.

At Xerox, we focus a significant portion of our R&D investments on
innovative programs that deliver measurable sustainability results.
It's core to our business and our beliefs. And, when working with
customers, we look at how they can lessen the impact of their operations
on the environment - while not sacrificing profit. Many customers have
been focusing on the environmental impacts of their businesses not only
because it can have a direct positive effect on their bottom line, but
also because many of their own customers are starting to ask about
environmental impact and certifications.

Taking the first step is often the hardest part but by initiating a
simple dialog with partners and customers you can begin the journey
and get on the path to sustainability! We have developed 10 tips to help
you evaluate and get started making positive changes. Also, take a look at
how the "Green Gene" runs deep at Xerox around the world!

Take a look, there's a lot of useful info and,
as always, we welcome any comments or ideas you have.

Tom Wetjen
Vice President, Worldwide Graphic Communications Industry
Xerox

Posted by In The Balance at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Green initiatives are turning up everywhere — including the printing industry. Two, top professional networking and educational organizations for U.S. print buyers — Print Buyers Online.com and the Print Buyers International — report growing interest in the topic, evidenced in their online poll results and attendance at their annual conferences’ green seminars.

One result: digital printing’s inherently green characteristics are gaining new favor. For example: digital’s distribute-then-print processes reduce energy-intensive transportation, print-on-demand lessens costly warehousing and landfill waste, and personalized printing cuts page volumes by targeting information more precisely.

Today’s leading digital print services providers are addressing environmental issues with a passion, including members of the Xerox Graphic Arts Premier Partners – a global affinity network of close to 700 vanguard Xerox-equipped graphic communications industry customers. Three Xerox Premier Partners that have taken leadership roles in establishing environmentally friendly, sustainable work practices are: QuantumDigital, Austin, Texas; EarthColor, Parsippany, N.J.; and Sandy Alexander, Clifton, N.J. All one needs do is visit their homepages to learn more about each company’s sustainability programs.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting with these three Xerox Premier Partners to find out more about their respective environmental programs. Their compelling stories are documented in this article, published in the February 2008 issue of Graphic Impressions magazine. We encourage you to please take a look at how each of these printing industry leaders is reaping business and social benefits by “Going Green.”

Xerox also has run a leadership environmental program since the early 1990s and was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, recognizing the company’s economic, environmental and social performance. For more information on how Xerox is contributing to a sustainable environment, visit: www.xerox.com/environment.

Let’s go, green!

Bob Wagner
Vice President, Creative Services Business and
Premier Partners Program
Xerox Corporation
robert.wagner@xerox.com

Posted by In The Balance at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A group of environmental gurus, eco-friendly printers, designers, students and vendors got together last week at CalPoly for The Business of Green Media Conference in San Luis Obispo. Robert Tapella, public printer of the U.S. (and proud CalPoly grad) spoke at dinner. Other speakers included forward-thinking print companies like EarthColor, branding experts, folks from Seybold, and a production director from the eco-friendly, West Coast winery Fetzner Vineyards - to name a few.

During a panel on sustainable sourcing, Marcia Haynes, EVP of corporate sourcing at NBC Universal (check out "Green is Universal,") made an excellent point. "Sales reps need to sell differently in today's environmentally conscious world. If you get stopped on the first green question, you're not the best person for the job," she said.

Moderator Don Carli from the Institute of Sustainable Communication paraphrased: "If a sales person is putting a green fig leaf on in the morning and walking out the door to sell green, there's a problem."

There were many good points made by many speakers at this conference, but that one struck a chord. Amidst all the environmental hype, everyone who stands in front of a customer, whether you're a printer or an equipment vendor, needs to have a working knowledge about environmental issues, trends and advantages. That's a tall order in a world where environmental sensitivity is at an all time high. But it's a responsibility. And it requires a deeper level of understanding of what is being done and what remains to be done for all of us to be more environmentally aware.

This was one of a few green conferences I'll be attending this year, including SustainCommWorld in Oct. in Boston. There's a lot to learn at events like these and they are drawing decent crowds. About 200 people showed up at CalPoly in little San Luis Obispo -- and it's no easy place to get to (for me, 2 planes and a 4 hour drive from LA in pouring rain.) But it was worth the trip, especially if it helps keep me from wearing a green fig leaf.

Ed Gala
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
Xerox Corp.

Posted by In The Balance at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)