Big Picture - September 2017 - 20

SUSTAINABILITY:
The Ultimate ROI?

How renewable business practices can
make your shop more profitable.
BY JOE HOLT

Sustainability. In 2017, that term most

likely elicits one of several responses. Perhaps it's
a sense of pride as it relates to your business,
processes, and employees. Or, maybe it's apprehension at the perceived associated costs of
"going green," not to mention time and energy
spent converting your facility and systems. It may
even be outright confusion, because these days,
how does one even know what sustainability
entails? Wherever you may fall on that spectrum,
at some point, the question of whether or not
sustainability is worth the investment and hassle
has probably crossed your mind.

Some businesses go green because they believe it's the
right thing to do: for their employees, their community, or the
planet. Some do it because, as the nation continues its shift
toward greater utilization of renewables each year, more and

more clients are interested in, or required to work with,
sustainable service providers. And some do it because they
want to turn more of a profit.
Wait. What's that now? Businesses can make the switch to
sustainability and see an increase in profit? It's absolutely
possible. By making smart choices and thinking more in the
long term, businesses across the country have proven a return
on initial investment and profit growth.
According to findings from the 2016 Sustainability Global
Executive Study and Research Project by MIT Sloan Management
Review and the Boston Consulting Group, of more than 3000
respondents surveyed, about one third say sustainability-related
actions and decisions have increased profits. However, in
organizations that made more wide-ranging, sustainabilityrelated business model changes, that percentage jumps to
60 percent.
From switching out solvents and ramping up recycling
efforts to adjusting artwork for optimal orientation and updating
overhead lighting, with a little ingenuity and the willingness to
look at your business through "green-colored glasses," you'll
find efficiencies and opportunities are all around.

BIG PICTURE

September 2017

'There's No Magic "Green" Bullet'

An Image Options team member cuts UV-imaged, eco-friendly, white Falconboard
event graphics. Designs are expertly oriented to maximize space on a single sheet and
reduce waste.

In Orange County, California, Foothill Ranch is home to notable
companies like Oakley, Cox Communications, and Nike, plus
Image Options (imageoptions.net), a marketing communications company specializing in all aspects of retail and corporate
marketing efforts from design through engineering, production,
and delivery. And, they're certified as a member of the
Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP).
If you're unfamiliar, the SGP is an independent nonprofit
providing a certification label for sustainability in the printing
industry, according to their website. The organization is
viewed as the industry standard for the certification and
continuous improvement of sustainability and best practices
within print manufacturing operations. Before its creation,
there were no boundaries or parameters set as to what defined
a sustainable printing operation. Now, SGP provides a
benchmark for print facilities' sustainability endeavors.

http://www.imageoptions.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - September 2017