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Mitsuo Komiyama, President JFLP
During a half-day session, several areas were identified where associations can help their members to apply environmentally- sustainable best practice. It was agreed to create a global portal for the participating associations (and the European national associations), where information and blueprints for possible programmes can be downloaded, as well as solutions achieved by their counterparts elsewhere. The L9 also agreed to set up a global expert network.
Suntory, a major local beverage company, delivered the enduser’s perspective, appropriately addressing the final step in the label value chain. The subsequent dialogue between label converters and their trade associations at this meeting resulted in several recommendations for ways in which industry efforts to stimulate environmental sustainability can be aligned (see separate box), with a major focus on recycling in the label sector worldwide through collaboration on strategies for regional waste management.
Other topics addressed on the agenda included the World Label Awards framework, benchmarking standards, and a survey of regional trends and developments. Delegates were also offered the opportunity during the trip to Japan to visit Toyota and Osaka Seal Printing to see for themselves best practice in Kaizen, the continuous improvement in manufacturing philosophy that originated here.
TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RECYCLING SESSION AT THE L9 MEETING
In preparation for the L9 meeting, a special task force had conducted a survey among the L9 member associations as well as five of the leading national associations in Europe. Taking into account additionally some of the points raised at the meeting, the key takeaways for the participating associations can be summarised as follows:
1. COMMUNICATE: Raise awareness about sustainability by developing (blueprints for) brochures, information packages
and an internet portal; speaker arrangements; sustainability guidelines
2. DATA: Take initiatives to establish harmonised metrics and collect (currently lacking) data to help the industry to
develop and implement regional strategies with measurable results
3. EDUCATE: Identify best practices and establish educational programmes for sustainable design and the incorporation
of sustainability solutions as part of the label industry’s core value proposition
4. FACILITATE: Facilitate the development of recycling solutions; develop working connections between the supply and
demand sectors for secondary label materials; spur people to action in terms of engaging with destination sectors currently out of our scope
A full summary of the L9 meeting can be downloaded from the members-only section of the FINAT website.
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FINAT YEARBOOK 2012 |