By Marcus Timson

FM Future, owners of FuturePrint are delighted to inform the print world that they will be hosting the EcoPrint Summit, 6-7 June 2023 in Geneva.

It was a little over 10 years ago, Frazer and I launched and ran the EcoPrint Show, which was the first ever, and still, the only event 100% focused on sustainable print technology and production. This event was a trade-show & conference that took place in September 2012 in a converted rail station in Berlin and attracted around 1400 people from across Europe.

While the event delivered against its promise of inspiring, high-quality, thought leadership, it did not run again. The view back then was that it was ahead of its time. The world was not ready for an event of this type, and while sustainability was gaining attention, it was still somewhat of a 'maybe' and not such a critical imperative.

But now we think the industry must come together again to tackle the big issues in a Summit format. To learn, collaborate and gain inspiration to become more sustainable.

Why?

Because a lot has changed in 10 years. Not least the climate of the world. We have just experienced a record summer, it is clear that the world is continuing to increase in temperature while other parts of the world experience devastating floods and climatic abnormalities. So the need to respond to this problem has accelerated.

What has not changed in 10 years is that there is still no Europe-wide/print industry-wide focus on sustainability. EcoPrint Summit will act as a focal point for discussion, and collaboration around some of these major issues. We hope it will also result in actionable outcomes for print businesses, associations, print OEMs, brands and for the wider industry.

And we can only do this by collaborating!!!

Nobody was able to predict COVID. And the same goes for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. These twin factors have given environmental concerns even more impetus. It is almost as if someone has pressed 'go' on the environment. Sustainability is now front and centre and has been given extra impetus with the current energy crisis engulfing the world. To be sustainable is to be efficient. And as any sustainable expert will tell you, reducing the use of resources is the most effective way to impact the planet, people and your profit.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres put the issue of climate change powerfully into context at the recent COP27 Conference

"Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing. Global temperatures keep rising. And our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible."

"We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator."

Clearly, the issue has taken a larger role in politics and the eyes of the next generation of leaders. For younger people, it is a no-brainer to be kind to the environment, and any employer looking to win the fight for talent should take note. Younger people just won't want to work for you if you do not have a handle on sustainability.

Many people who remember EcoPrint in 2012 have said to us, “if you ran this event again then it would have a massive positive impact. It would gain support, and it would be more successful this time around”. With all these considerations, we decided to relaunch the concept of EcoPrint, this time as a Summit with a small expo area. The aims and objectives of the event remain true today! The EcoPrint Summit will run from 6-7 June 2023 in Geneva, the European HQ of the UN, and other important NGOs and an accepted and independent place where big decisions are made.

Right now, the event is taking shape from a concept and format perspective but we wanted to put this news out there as we would like to collaborate with other leading organisations in the world of print to showcase the technological possibilities of sustainable print production, by providing a platform for and access to sustainability experts and discussions for how the print industry can collectively make a difference for Planet, People & Profit. 

‘Be the change’!

Interested in joining the EcoPrint movement? Register your interest here.

Or get in contact with Marcus.timson@fmfuturenow.com

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