The International Organisation for Standardisation group WG11 will be charged with formulating an international standard for measuring the environmental impact of printed matter. The aim is to remove the confusion associated with the various carbon measurement models available and create a clear guideline for printing companies wishing to measure their carbon output.

Lawrence was nominated to the new working group by Australia’s ISO TC 130 technical committee. He says the global industry is becoming populated with “private label calculators.

“Although it is good to see firms take this activity onboard, the individual calculators do not give stakeholders of the industry the real opportunity to compare carbon output from firm to firm in a standard way.”

Lawrence represented the TC 130 as a member of the carbon footprinting Task Force.

TC 130 chairman Luke Wooldridge says the Australian committee is delighted by the announcement that he will contribute to the framework of what will be an important new international standard.

“Many printing companies are already very conscious of their impact on the environment however right now there is not one universally accepted method for measuring this impact. It is hoped that when this new standard is eventually released it will create a clear and consistent way for printers to measure their carbon footprint which will inturn help the industry remain competitive,” he says.

Lawrence currently works with a number of organisations in Australia and Asia to help them develop their concept of sustainability.