One of the most talked-about issues in the global print industry, sustainability is something all print companies are chasing yet only a few really have a firm grasp on what they can do to become a more planet friendly business.
Many manufacturers make claims about how their hardware, consumables, media and software can help printing businesses to become more sustainable. However, what is often absent is additional support to enable printers to track progress and make improvements and changes.
HP has developed a solution for this as part of its Print OS production operating system – the HP Sustainability Amplifier. Available to anyone with a Print OS account, this programme is designed to empower printers and converters to achieve environmental goals and deliver more sustainable prints to their own customers.
“Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s a business imperative,” said Noëlle Peutat, Global Strategic Sustainability Lead, Large-Format Printing Business Unit at HP. “HP Sustainability Amplifier is here to help you lead with purpose, offering tools, insights, and recognition to advance your sustainability journey.
“HP PrintOS Sustainability Amplifier helps you assess your current sustainability status and provides actionable insights to boost your impact. At the same time, you can tap into additional resources and get recognised by HP for the work you’re doing in this area.”
Of course, manufacturers will wax lyrical about their offerings, but the real proof comes from those that have used these systems and solutions and come out the other side with real, tangible benefits.
Step forward Richard Bottrill, Head of Engineering and Sustainability at Pearce Signs, an HP user. He said: “The HP Sustainability Amplifier stood out as it offers sector-relevant benchmarking and demystifies all of the abstract sustainability ambitions across sectors into something structured, with measurable actions, something Pearce Signs has made central to its strategy through our ‘Measurable, Achievable, Accountable’ mantra.”
What can users expect?
So, what is all the fuss about? Importantly, HP Sustainability Amplifier is available as part of HP Print OS at no extra cost to HP users. While printing companies do have the option of working with third-party companies to analyse and improve their methods to become more sustainable, this often comes with a hefty price tag that can be off-putting.
In essence, the programme shows HP users what they are doing well already and then highlights areas for improvement. It is divided into three core areas: Self-Assessment, Resource Centre and Recognising Progress.
First, users are invited to complete a self-assessment of their business to establish its sustainability rating. This is based on five categories – fundamentals, business, climate action, people and community – with each area featuring questions about the customer’s business.
After answering these questions, the programme generates a report on the user’s sustainability performance, scoring them out of 100%. This comes with a three-tier rating system of ‘Beginner’ for those just starting out on their path to sustainability (0-30%), Intermediate (31-70%) and Advanced (71-100%).
Alongside this report will be data on how a business performs compared to other companies, with a comparison against peer averages, as well as personalised recommendations for each category, with scores broken down for each area.
From here, customers can head to the Resource Centre to find out about how they can better their own sustainability efforts. This includes training modules, data, guidelines and other assets for best environmental practice. While some of these will have an associated cost, HP said there is real value in taking part.
Finally, the Recognising Progress section allows HP customers to link in with HP and its own goals of becoming a more sustainable business. By signing the HP sustainability pledge, users can gain HP-administered badges to mark their environmental achievements, which they can then show to their own customers as proof of their improving credentials.
To achieve these badges, users simply need to upload the required documents and proof of progress as they go. They earn points for each validated document and move up levels to unlock exclusive recognition and promotional assets that can be easily downloaded.
A thought from HP users
Switching back to Richard at Pearce Signs, who said while the company was already deeply invested in sustainability, HP Sustainability Amplifier has helped advance this to a new level.
“It highlights gaps in data and opportunities where we can add value, such as providing clarity around industry expectations for Scope emission data,” he said. “Unlike other benchmarking tools, it is included in our HP PrintOS subscription.”
Upon using the programme for the first time, what did Richard learn about the business? He said while the self-assessment highlighted its maturity in policy and action, showing the company is ahead of the peer average, it also, crucially, indicated it still has some way to go.
“Sustainability is always in beta; it’ll never be complete, as there are always innovations and better ways to do things,” he said. “It helps focus our next steps, as it reveals the sections where we’re missing out on points. Most align with our predefined KPIs, confirming that we’re right to prioritise those areas. The included Resource Centre offers practical guides, next steps and training.”
So, based on Pearce Signs’ experience with the programme and the company’s overall approach to sustainability, has all the effort to become more planet friendly been worth it? Richard said that the answer is a simple one.
“Sustainability is already affecting your bottom line, whether you realise it or not,” he said. “Clients are asking; our major accounts now routinely request ESG data in tenders. Without tools like this or similar frameworks, you’re invisible or disqualified.
“Costs are shifting. From energy savings to waste costs and recycled material premiums, there’s real ROI in optimisation. Then there is people care, both internally and externally. Employees expect purpose, and clients demand integrity. Greenhushing is just as damaging as greenwashing now.
“Programmes like the HP Sustainability Amplifier aren’t about extra paperwork. They’re about de-risking future opportunities, staying relevant and winning work in a rapidly changing landscape.”
While only available to HP users, the benefits of programmes like this are hard to argue against. As Richard said, it is not about extra admin work or time going over spreadsheets but instead making valuable and realistic changes to your business that will support you and your staff in the long run.
