April 2 was the 3rd Annual Sustainability Business and Design Conference at FIT in NYC. I went to talk to the guys from Monroe Litho who were presenting, Making a Difference One Project at a Time. It was a great little breakout session by a company from my hometown, Rochester, NY. Monroe Litho is on the leading edge of sustainability in the print industry. They have been 100% wind power since 2006. They are one of the only printers in the Northeast to be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and SGP (Sustainable Green Printing Partnership) certified. What this means is, they are held accountable to some pretty high standards, and they do so voluntarily. It made me feel as if it’s possible to actually create as a designer and inch things in a more positive direction at the same time. I am finding my own clients to be very open to the idea of using more environmentally conscious papers and printing. Most people assume incorrectly that it will cost more. And the truth is, it really does not cost more than traditional printing methods, in the short or long run.
Next up, the Keynote Presentation: Nature as Sustainability Mentor, Model and Measure. Mark Dorfman, Green Chemistry Naturalist at Biomimicry Guild, Renewables & Environment Consultant, gave a great overview of products that have been developed based on nature and those that are in the works. The most recognizable example is probably velcro, which mimics the burdock root in all it’s clingy glory. It’s fascinating stuff!! All of this is the kind of thing I can’t get enough of. I did my Graphic Design BFA thesis on sustainability. Maybe I should have gone to school for something else, I don’t know, but it I love the challenge of trying to meld it all together.
Photo: www.ontariowildflower.com
