Bill Esler

Re: “Being World Class, Literally” Notebook March 2007
May 2, 2007

Thank you for bringing in the importance for sustainable practices to U.S. printers. We are approaching the unthinkable, we may some day have to take military action to prevent a country from irresponsibly burning a fossil fuel, and we may someday value a standing tree for more for its biological functions than for its pulp value.

These are mental exercises, but they will emerge as prices for industrial inputs increase. As we consider converting food to “biofuels” please be aware the industrial economy will also feel the constraints.

I do think the printable media always have a role, but supply chain management and logistics are going to have to optimize the recycling and raw material sourcing to make a real dent in the carbon foot print.

I am new to energetics necessary to grow fiber like paper, but plants and trees need to be fertilized, processed and transported before they are made into pulp. I was involved in “food” side of the equation on mostly annual crops. In food production the estimates range from 5 fossil calories to 13 fossil calories from “field to fork” for that 1 solar edible calorie.

It would be wise for the printing industry to start calculating the fossil fuel calories necessary to make the inks and printable media. With this information the industry can try to optimize production and invest in the best methods to source for the venerable printing art.

No doubt, the rich soil of the prairies of the Midwest will take on a whole new meaning since the 80’s when oil was at its lowest price and farming commodities were suffering. In the production of food, fuel and fiber we are about to alter our perception of the fossil fuel equation. We need fossil fuels, but we have to be really smart about it.

With your dedication to understanding the energy input issues we can help decision makers adjust to the new constraints. In the end efficiency will be our greatest resource. I would much rather trust informed people that have to meet a payroll and pay their suppliers.

Measurement is the fist place to start before it degrades into “postponement” politics. If the printing industry beats the politicians it will save a lot of critical time.

Sincerely,

Victor Rabinovich
www.nakagawa-usa.com
Nakagawa is the leader in converting and distribution of recording papers.

Posted by Bill Esler on May 2, 2007 | Comments (0)