How can print production measure and communicate its circular impact and contribution to the SDGs?

2 Circular impact assessment

To measure your circular impact, you need to define and track indicators that capture the environmental, social, and economic aspects of your print production. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic approach that evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle. Material flow analysis (MFA) is a technique that quantifies the flows and stocks of materials within a system. Additionally, circular economy indicators are specific metrics that measure the degree of circularity of a product, process, or organization. These methods and tools can help you identify hotspots and trade-offs, measure material efficiency and circularity, and compare different scenarios and alternatives.

3 SDG alignment

Communicating your circular impact and contribution to the SDGs requires aligning your circular goals and actions with the relevant SDG targets and indicators. The SDGs cover a wide range of topics and issues that are interconnected and interdependent, and that can be influenced by print production. Specifically, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) focuses on sustainable consumption and production patterns, resource efficiency, waste management, eco-design, green procurement, and consumer awareness. SDG 13 (Climate Action) is concerned with combatting climate change and its impacts, as well as strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity. It includes targets on greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, carbon pricing, and climate finance. Lastly, SDG 15 (Life on Land) is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, with targets on forest management, land degradation, desertification, and wildlife protection.

4 Reporting frameworks

In order to report your circular impact and contribution to the SDGs, you should use credible and consistent reporting frameworks that can communicate your performance and progress to clients, stakeholders, and regulators. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a widely used framework that provides standards and guidance for sustainability reporting, covering topics such as materials, energy, water, emissions, waste, and procurement. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is a framework that focuses on the financial materiality of sustainability issues for different industries and sectors. Additionally, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) encourages businesses to adopt and report on 10 principles related to human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. It also offers tools like the SDG Compass and the SDG Action Manager to help align your circular goals with the SDGs.

5 Best practices

To improve your circular impact and contribution to the SDGs, you can follow some best practices that can help you optimize your print production process and enhance your communication strategy. Conducting a circular audit is a comprehensive assessment of your current print production process and its circular potential. It can assist in recognizing gaps and opportunities for improvement, as well as prioritizing actions and interventions. Engaging stakeholders is also an essential part of your circular communication strategy. It can help you comprehend the needs and expectations of clients, suppliers, employees, and regulators, while also building trust and collaboration. Additionally, showcasing stories is a powerful way to communicate your circular impact and contribution to the SDGs. They can demonstrate the advantages and difficulties of your circular print production, while inspiring and influencing others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?