Channel Navigation Timson: EU Ecolabel is an opportunity for printers to promote sustainability EU Ecolabel 'an opportunity for print' By Gordon Carson Wednesday, 19 September 2012 A new European eco-standard could offer UK printers an opportunity to promote sustainable printed products. The EU Ecolabel for printed paper products, similar to the Nordic Swan label, was approved last month by the European Commission after eight years of negotiations. Printers will be able to have individual products assessed against the EU Ecolabel, but it is not a general environmental management standard such as ISO 14001. To gain approval, products must be printed on paper bearing the EU Ecolabel, as well as meet other criteria relating to the entire product life-cycle, such as the types of consumables used, recyclability, emissions, waste management and energy use. Any parts of the product that are sub-contracted to another supplier must also fulfil the accreditation requirements. Marcus Timson, co-director of the EcoPrint Europe show, which takes places in Berlin later this month, said that, unlike the paper sector, the print industry lacked a chain of custody standard for its products. "The consumer doesn't think of print but of design and substrates," he said. "This might be an opportunity to promote printers' sustainability -- print is very sustainable if done properly." However, Timson added that there was already confusion in the print industry about environmental accreditation, with more than 30 existing standards and labels, while the fragmented nature of the industry meant the introduction of a new label