I read a book this month called Six Degrees, a one-degree-at-a-time look at what our planet might become as global warming hits home. One degree is bad enough, six is not worth thinking about. Unfortunately, the thermal mass of our planet is huge, creating sufficient delay between our actions and the world's response to make it difficult to appreciate the result of our lifestyles.
Luckily, for future generations, we have scientists that can look back at the world's geological history, analyse today's activities and predict the future. The saddest comment was that it may soon become pointless protecting areas of outstanding natural beauty because they simply won't exist in 100-years.
Due to the thermal delay mentioned above it is unrealistic to think the world's sceptical population will shut up shop tomorrow. However, the most developed societies, our own included, are starting to take a lead. For my children's sake this is probably the most important decision the human race has ever taken.
I would like to thank the printing industry for its efforts to date. My work calls for me to monitor the activities of many industries and I am in no doubt the printing sector has embraced environmental issues like few others.
The benefits are two-fold. Firstly, if we work hard, we may just save a habitable planet. Secondly, as energy and material prices keep rising, we might also have one of the most cost effective printing industries in the world. Not such a dull decision after all.
Jon Barrett
Editor
How many of your customers have asked about the carbon footprint of your printing service?
