A global working group has launched the Sustainable Print Manifesto, a collaboratively developed framework designed to unify sustainability efforts across all areas of print. The independently created document aims to provide simple, practical guidance that any print business can apply, regardless of technology, market, or geography.
The initiative was formed in response to fragmentation across the industry, with sustainability progress often shaped by local regulation, individual business priorities, or specific technical constraints. The manifesto seeks to bridge these gaps by offering a shared language and an accessible set of principles that are deliberately print agnostic. It is intended for commercial print, packaging, wide format, textiles, labels, and industrial applications.
Developed through 11 working-group meetings, a multi-stakeholder summit in Valencia, a series of webinars, and a collection of long-form articles, the manifesto has no single author. Printers, manufacturers, brands, retailers, technologists, consultants, and trade bodies have contributed throughout the past year, shaping a document intended to guide collective progress and support real-world implementation.
Brands and retailers have also fed into its development to ensure alignment with market expectations and emerging sustainability requirements. Rather than replacing existing frameworks or association-led initiatives, the manifesto is positioned as a neutral reference point intended to sit above technical and regulatory detail.
At its core is a set of nine practical principles focused on achievable improvements, from designing print for purpose and minimising waste to choosing lower-impact materials and inks, improving energy and water stewardship, applying finishing only where required, and reporting impacts using accurate data. Grounded in lifecycle thinking, the framework is designed to scale across businesses of any size.
Industry organisations and suppliers are now invited to pledge their support as part of a growing global community centred on shared learning and coordinated action. Carlos Lahoz at HP, one of the founding partners, said: “I believe in the value of print and the positive impact it has in the world. But I also believe that there’s still room for improvement. To accelerate innovation and progress, collaboration is key. Collaboration built on trust and transparency, towards a shared goal. This is what this manifesto aims for, and this is why I pledge to its principles.”
The twelve founding partners include HP, CarbonQuota, Gallus, Domino Printing Sciences, FuturePrint, Sun Chemical, Nazdar, Kavalan, io.tt, CPI Books, The PackScout, CIMPRESS and Bespoke. Supporting bodies include BPIF and IPIA in the UK, VIGC in Belgium, and PRINTING United Alliance in the US.
