Principles to Progress: The Sustainable Print Manifesto Enters Its Next Chapter

The past eighteen months have marked a remarkable period of momentum for the Sustainable Print Manifesto - a project that began with a simple but powerful question: how can sustainability in print be made more relatable, more practical, and more achievable for the businesses that actually produce the world’s printed output?

What started as a conversation has grown into a movement.

After 13 development meetings, an in-person summit in Valencia in April 2025, two well-attended educational webinars, and a formal launch in Berlin in December 2025, the Manifesto has moved decisively from idea to action. Along the way, it has attracted considerable press and media attention, engaged leading global brands and retailers, and secured the backing of 10 outstanding founding partners who share a belief that meaningful change in print must be collaborative, realistic, and grounded in production reality.

At its heart, the Sustainable Print Manifesto recognises a fundamental truth: the majority of environmental impact in print sits in production, and production is dominated by small to medium-sized businesses. These are companies operating under commercial pressure, often without in-house sustainability expertise, and frequently overwhelmed by conflicting information, regulation, and green claims. The Manifesto was designed specifically for them.

Rather than prescribing perfection, it offers nine clear principles that provide a framework for improvement - wherever a business is on its sustainability journey, and whatever sector of print it operates in. That clarity of purpose has resonated across the industry.

A major strength of the project has been the breadth and credibility of its leadership and contributors. The leadership group brings together senior sustainability voices from across the print ecosystem, alongside manufacturers, suppliers, printers, and independent experts. This mix has ensured the Manifesto remains practical, balanced, and rooted in real-world production challenges rather than abstract theory.

Equally important has been consultation beyond the print industry itself. Input from major brands and retailers has helped align the Manifesto with the expectations increasingly being placed on print supply chains. This two-way dialogue - between those who commission print and those who produce it - is essential if sustainability ambitions are to translate into measurable progress rather than additional pressure.

The project has been powered by FuturePrint, whose independence, global reach, and deep connection to the industrial print community have provided a trusted platform for open discussion. That independence has been critical, giving the Manifesto credibility as a not-for-profit initiative designed to serve the industry as a whole, not a single commercial agenda.

Now, the Sustainable Print Manifesto enters Phase 2 of development - and this is where its impact is set to accelerate.

The next stage is focused firmly on education and activation. Plans are taking shape for an educational programme that brings the nine principles of sustainable print to life through a mix of film, digital learning, and live engagement. The aim is simple: to demystify sustainability further, translate principles into practical actions, and give print businesses tools they can genuinely use.

A key milestone will be a dedicated Summit as part of FuturePrint Week in Valencia on 29-30 September 2026. This will provide a focal point for sharing progress, showcasing real-world case studies, and connecting pledgees, partners, and practitioners from across the print ecosystem.

Momentum is also building through a growing list of pledgees - companies that have formally committed to the Manifesto’s principles and to continuous improvement. This expanding community is perhaps the strongest signal yet that the project is meeting a real need within the industry.

Sustainability in print does not require grandstanding or guilt. It requires clarity, collaboration, and credible leadership. The progress made so far by the Sustainable Print Manifesto shows what is possible when an industry comes together with honesty and intent.

Phase 2 is not about reinvention - it is about amplification. And with the foundations now firmly in place, the next chapter promises to be the most impactful yet.

Join the Next Phase

As the Sustainable Print Manifesto enters Phase 2, FuturePrint is inviting development partners to join the group and help shape the next stage of the project. Development partners will play a vital role in supporting the continued evolution of the Manifesto, contributing to educational programmes, content development, and live initiatives designed to bring the nine principles of sustainable print to life.

By joining the development group, partners become part of a collaborative effort to inspire positive, practical change across the print industry - supporting education, knowledge sharing, and real-world action at scale.