In his latest article for Large Format Review, Marcus Timson, Director of FM Brooks and co-founder of EcoPrint Europe Live 2012, praises Apple’s sustainable approach to design...
It’s a really simple principle. If we design with the right materials in mind at the start of the creative process, then it is likely that the resulting product will be kinder to the environment, better for society and ultimately boost our profits.
And when it comes to design, there is no other brand as iconic as Apple.
But Apple is not really noted as being a particularly sustainable company. However, its success – and indeed Steve Jobs success – was grounded in a need to fuse art and science. The attention to design detail is well documented and no one can deny that Apple’s financial sustainability is very healthy indeed.
Through innovation, this business grew like no other, yet Apple has also done what it can to minimise the environmental impact of its outstanding growth.
Because Apple designs products with maximum efficiency – through innovative design allied to the use of the right materials – it reduces its overall carbon footprint whilst boosting its economic growth.
If you refer to the Apple website, it states: “We know that the most important thing we can do to reduce our impact on the environment is to improve our products’ environmental performance. That’s why we design them to use less material, ship with smaller packaging, be free of toxic substances used by others, and be as energy efficient and recyclable as possible.”
If you’ve bought an Apple product, you will know that the packaging alone is a work of art. It is very much part of the purchase experience. Its creation will surely have followed the Apple ethos in its printing and production. That in itself is a big force for change and Apple does this because it knows it has to align with the fact its customers want their products to chime with the trends and concerns of the marketplace.
On its website, Apple continues “Since 2008, as our revenue grew 74%, our greenhouse gas emissions grew only 57%. And we’re the only company in our industry that can claim that every product we sell not only meets but exceeds the strict energy guidelines of the ENERGY STAR specification.”
Those of us who admire Apple for its innovation, its astronomical growth and market leadership, can also rest assured that its products have a commitment to the environment as well. Design inspires growth, innovation and sustainability and a strategic commitment to sustainability has significant benefits for profit and planet.
For more information on Apple's environmental stance, please visit http://www.apple.com/environment/
For more information on Eco Print, please visit www.ecoprintshow.com
