Institute for Sustainable Communication

The [http://www.sustaincom.org Institute for Sustainable Communication] , (ISC), was founded in 2003 ["Frequently Asked Questions." Sustainable Advertising Partnership. 2007. 3 March 2008. .] and is a non-profit organization that is devoted to sustainability through the printing, digital media and advertising industries. ["Institute for Sustainable Communication." Green Pages. 08 October 2007. 25 February 2008. .] These fields are known together as graphic communication. ISC prepares graphic communication leaders to advance their businesses with sustainable innovations. This helps in generating jobs that not only satisfy the customer, but are environmentally friendly as well. ISC has developed three programs that assist in broadening the use of sustainable business methods: fellowship and mentoring, research and consulting, and education and outreach. ISC is an advocate for transforming businesses into organizations that decrease the cost and environmental impact of business media. ["Institute for Sustainable Communication." SustainComm. 2008. 25 February 2008. .]

Consultations

The Institute for Sustainable Communication provides consultation services to existing graphic communication businesses interested in generating new jobs, becoming trained in new industry skills, and improving their carbon footprint on the environment. A company's carbon footprint is determined by the effect of human effect on the environment through green house gasses, paper waste, and pollution of volatile organic compounds found in inks. The footprint is measured in units of carbon dioxide. Through these consultations, ISC provides a variety of evaluation reports for graphic communication businesses, guiding them in becoming more environmentally friendly. ["What Is a Carbon Footprint?" Carbon Footprint. 2008. 3 March 2008. .]

AIGA REP Report

The ISC observed 37 print projects consisting of 540,000 printed pieces. These printed articles were supplied by American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) from June 2004 to May 2005. ISC also created an online survey by which they collected data regarding print-related issues. Sixty-five AIGA chapter leaders, members, and vendor representatives completed these surveys. ISC found that if AIGA was able to reduce heavy weight and high volume book projects, they would be able to greatly reduce energy and resource consumption.

Piper Jaffray REP Report

In August 2004, Piper Jaffray Companies invited ISC to help find a solution for reducing waste, cost and environmental impact. ISC created the REP Pilot Program for PJC, which consisted of providing customers with sustainable practices in the printing, publishing, and packaging industries.

AIGA Print Design and Environmental Responsibility Report

The Institute for Sustainable Communication teamed up with the American Institute of Graphic Arts in order to develop a guide to sustainable business practices. The guide is titled "Print Design and Environmental Responsibility," and it helps designers reduce the impact of design on the environment. ["Print Design and Environmental Responsibility." AIGA. 29 February 2008. .]

Conferences

SustainCommWorld

SustainCommWorld is function of the Institute for Sustainable Communication. SustainCommWorld holds conferences educating people on sustainable communications in business. This works to generate an environmentally friendly process of creating and marketing a product. Under the guidance of its main founder, ISC, and Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Institute, SustainCommWorld organized"The Business of Green Media" conference and is planning on hosting another one in October 2008.

The Business of Green Media

On January 24, 2008, [http://www.calpoly.edu Cal Poly San Luis Obispo] played host to SustainCommWorld’s Green Media Show. The conference gave the members of the graphic arts department the opportunity to become acquainted with new technology and business practices that will inspire companies to produce their product in a more sustainable way. The presentation included venues for all types of media, from printers and publishers to educators and students. Presentations included key concepts of making business sustainable, tracking the economic “footprint” of communication media, and pushing the government and major industries to include sustainable measures in their business plans. In order to reduce the pressure that the graphic communication industry puts on the environment, companies across the world will need to adopt new programs for energy use, as well as alternative production materials. Also, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act has put more pressure on printers to develop new ways to go about business and to be leaders of innovation throughout the world. [“The Business of Green Media.” The Business of Green Media Conference. 2007. 20 February 2008. ] .

The Green Media Show

On October 1-2, 2008, SustainCommWorld will be hosting another conference in Boston, Massachusetts. “Special Events.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 21 February 2008. [http://www.sustaincommworld.com/conference_programs/special_events.asp>. ] .

Executive Personnel

Don Carli

Don Carli has been in business for 30 years and has spent the last decade working toward sustainable practices. Recently, the Partnership in Printing Production organization awarded Carli with one of the five Luminaire Awards. ["Green Media Newsletter, Vol. 1 Issue 2." SustainCommWorld LLC. 28 February 2008. 28 February 2008. ] This honor was awarded to professionals for their dedicated efforts and contribution to enhancing the printing industry. ["The Luminaire Awards." Partnership Printing Production. 2008. 28 February 2008. .] With SustainCommWorld, LLC he is the executive vice president of conferences [“About Us: Executive Personnel.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 18 February 2008. .] .

Lisa Wellman

Lisa Wellman has been involved in creating new business technology for 25 years [“Backgrounds.” Digital Marketing Corporation. 2003. DMC. 18 February 2008. .] . To cap off her career, she is now leading the SustainCommWorld, LLC as chief executive officer [“About Us: Executive Personnel.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 18 February 2008. .] .

Kathleen Kaiser

Kathleen Kaiser has been working as a trade show executive for the past twenty years along with organizing digital technology expo’s. Presently she is working as executive vice president in business development for SustainCommWorld, LLC . [“About Us: Executive Personnel.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 18 February 2008. .] .

Terry Wellman

Terry Wellman has had a twenty-five year career in computer technology with companies. He has been responsible for worldwide communications, marketing, product management, special events and international sales. Presently he is working as vice president of marketing for SustainCommWorld, LLC . [“About Us: Executive Personnel.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 18 February 2008. .] .

Oya Demirli

Oya Demirlihas technical expertise in digital imaging and rich media publishing. [“About Us: Executive Personnel.” SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show. 2007. 18 February 2008. .] .

Graphic Communication Institute

The Institute for Sustainable Communication collaborated with Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo to establish The [http://www.grci.calpoly.edu Graphic Communication Institute] (GrCi)in July 2001. The institute is an outreach effort set up to establish hands on learning for professionals in “custom training programs, consulting, and laboratory testing and research initiatives” [“ GrCi Serves the Printing, Packaging, Imaging and Publishing Industry.” The Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 20 February 2008. ] . Cal Poly faculty and industry experts work to train people in new technology to promote sustainable production facilities. GrCi is one of the main sponsors of "The Green Media Show"

References