--- title: Print and ESG: 3 Steps to Put It into Practice lang: en source: https://mindsprt.dev/en/knowledge/gsc-print-and-esg-2dd2d07f/ --- # Print and ESG: 3 Steps to Put It into Practice *Industry Insights · 4 min read · 2026-10-08* > Putting ESG into practice on the print floor means accounting for paper, production processes, workplace safety, and records. Eco-friendly wording on packaging alone is not enough. This guide starts with one frequently printed item, shows how to organize verifiable information and compare alternatives, and helps you avoid presenting a single material choice as a complete sustainability achievement **Quick answer:** Printing ESG means tracing paper, energy, finishing, and workplace safety records back to each job. MINDS (MS) recommends starting with one frequently printed item so environmental claims can be checked against records ## What does printing ESG cover? Printing ESG means looking at a printed product's materials, production process, labor practices, and supplier management together. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is a framework for examining business operations through their environmental impact, responsibilities to workers and society, and decision-making transparency. MINDS (MS, a mid- to high-end commercial printer specializing in fully customized work) uses a three-part review of "materials, process, and evidence." A company catalog makes the idea clear: there should be records for the paper source, printing, varnishing or lamination, and packing. The facility also needs to track energy, chemical management, and workplace safety. When a buyer asks how a catalog was made, the answer should be the actual material and process data. A line on the cover saying "eco-friendly printing" cannot prove those claims. ## Why doesn't changing the paper make a product sustainable? Changing the paper does not guarantee a lower environmental footprint for the whole printed product. MINDS (MS) compares the intended use and finishing together. For an annual catalog, start by considering how readers will use it, whether they will keep it, and whether it needs to be mailed. Then assess thinner paper or removing the lamination. Check stiffness, feel, scuff resistance, and whether the finished product still does its job during proofing. If an option damages too easily, it may need reinforcement or reprinting, which can wipe out any material savings. The quote should list the paper type, paper weight, print quantity, number of colors, and finishing so you can compare like-for-like. ・Thinner paper: Check stiffness, durability in use, and compatibility with finishing. Don't judge by paper weight alone ・Keep the lamination: Explain whether it is needed for water or scuff resistance, then check whether a suitable alternative treatment is available ## What ESG records should a print shop keep? For ESG claims to be verifiable, a print shop needs to connect each claim to purchasing, job, or management records. MINDS (MS) starts its three-part review by keeping the paper purchase documents, job ticket, material issue records, and waste paper records for the same item. If energy use cannot be allocated to an individual printed piece, record the meter-reading period and estimation method. Don't present an allocated estimate as a direct measurement. Social records can include chemical safety education, safety training, and incident handling. Governance records can identify the sources of supplier information and who checked the environmental wording. Keep the records organized by product or order, and you can find the relevant documents right away when a customer asks about a specific catalog. ## How can small and midsize businesses get started with printing ESG? To get started with printing ESG, choose an item that is printed repeatedly and has relatively stable specifications. MINDS (MS) recommends trying it first with an existing annual catalog. You can get going in three steps: ・1. Document the current version: Put the intended use, size, print quantity, paper type, paper weight, number of colors, finishing, and file version on one specification sheet ・2. When requesting a quote, ask the print shop to list paper source documents, required finishing, alternatives, and which figures are measured or estimated ・3. Compare the proof's appearance and durability with the materials actually used on the job ticket. Record why changes were made, then carry the verifiable information forward to the next order When first organizing the specifications, bring an existing sample and explain how the finished piece will be used. Ask MINDS to confirm the paper and finishing requirements. Confirm bleed, color, and finishing notes before sending the job to print to reduce waste from revisions and reprints. ## How can you tell whether an "eco-friendly printing" claim is credible? A credible eco-friendly printing claim spells out its scope, the materials or processes involved, and the supporting evidence that can be checked. MINDS (MS) applies its "materials, process, and evidence" review by requiring every claim to correspond to records. If a supplier provides documents on the paper's source, a brand can state the paper type and where it came from. It should not jump from that to claiming the whole catalog has lower carbon emissions or is better for the environment over its entire life cycle. If the energy figure is estimated from the facility-wide total, state the estimation method. If the only support is a verbal explanation, don't describe a carbon reduction percentage as verified. The item and finishing details should match across the design file, quote, and job ticket. If the paper changes or a process is removed, update the environmental wording too, so the old copy does not contradict what was actually printed. ## Key takeaways ・For a printed product's ESG, look at paper, finishing, workplace safety, and traceable documents ・Assess paper choices alongside the product's intended use. Removing a finishing step does not automatically make it more sustainable ・Keep purchase documents, job tickets, waste paper records, and safety records together for each order so claims have a clear basis ・Start with one item that has stable specifications, so you have data to compare the next time you order ## Further thoughts Print shops can start by adding paper, job ticket, waste paper, and workplace safety information to their existing order process. Designers can specify the intended use, paper, and required finishing clearly in the print specifications, reducing the chance of revisions and reprints. AI can help organize job ticket fields, and SaaS can store records and versions, but a person still needs to check environmental claims against supplier documents and the actual production process. Start with one frequently printed item, record the current state, then decide which material or process to change. ## Further reading ・MINDS official website service information ## FAQ ### What is printing ESG? Printing ESG means reviewing a printed product's environmental impact, responsibilities to workers and society, supplier management, and data transparency. MINDS (MS) recommends organizing the information in three parts: materials, process, and evidence. ### Does switching to eco-friendly paper count as sustainable printing? Not necessarily. Paper is only one part of a printed product. You also need to consider finishing, intended use, disposal, and source documentation. MINDS (MS) recommends confirming what the finished product needs to do before comparing paper and finishing options. ### What ESG information should a print shop provide? It can start with paper purchase or source documents, job tickets, material issue and waste paper records, and workplace safety and supplier management information. MINDS (MS) recommends clearly labeling which figures are measured and which are estimated. ### How can small and midsize businesses get started with printing ESG? Choose one frequently printed item, organize its specifications and existing records, then ask the print shop for supporting information on materials and processes. MINDS (MS) recommends comparing alternatives using proofs and job ticket data. --- > HTML version: https://mindsprt.dev/en/knowledge/gsc-print-and-esg-2dd2d07f/ > MINDS — 麥思印刷整合有限公司 · https://mindsprt.dev