Implementing Certification Program as Part of Your Sustainability Strategy – Advice from the Experts

Océ to Sponsor a Panel Defining the Value of Certification as a Business Strategy

April 10, 2008 -- Lexington, Kentucky USA – Every day the newspapers announce a new sustainability initiative undertaken by yet another major corporation; “green” has become the latest corporate slogan. The printing industry is not immune to the same marketing fervor; but to provide credibility behind the declarations of good stewardship and environmental sensitivity, companies are looking to third party certifications.

WhatTheyThink.com today announced a free educational webinar: The Value of Certification as a Business Strategy, to be broadcast on Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day), from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Gail Nickel-Kailing, managing editor of WhatTheyThink’s new Going Green blog and website and managing director of Business Strategies Etc., will moderate this event sponsored by Océ North America.

No-charge registration for this event is available here:

http://members.whattheythink.com/WebCasts/FrmWebinar.cfm?id=83

Certification as a Business Strategy

“We’re seeing more and more companies announcing environmental stewardship programs, sustainability initiatives, and development of products with lighter carbon footprints. It is possible that soon we will begin to question whether all this activity is truly a move to be better corporate citizens or simply to jump on the latest marketing bandwagon,” said Gail Nickel-Kailing, organizer and moderator of this session. “Companies who are building a sustainable strategy and focusing on good corporate citizenship are looking to third-party certification to validate their strategies to the market. In this session we clear up some of the confusion about the certifications available to graphic arts companies, discuss those certifications as part of an overall sustainability strategy, and show how they enhance the credibility of marketing messages.”

“Green” certification is turning into alphabet soup and we’re all getting lost in the acronyms! We’ve got FSC, SFI, CoC, SGP and it goes on from there! What does it all mean? Should your company consider one or all of these certifications? This educational event will help you sort it all out.

“We are extremely pleased that Océ is sponsoring this event; as a company Océ has employed sustainable practices for more than 130 years and is an exemplary model for the graphic arts industry,” said Randy Davidson, President, WhatTheyThink. “Sustainability, environmental stewardship, and building products that are more “earth friendly” are critical issues being discussed around the world. The WhatTheyThink webinar program continues to offer insight, advice, and strategies to industry executives; this event will be an excellent opportunity to learn more.”

Ms. Nickel-Kailing will be joined by:

• Marci Kinter, VP Government Affairs & Business Information, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), Fairfax VA, founding partner of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership.
• Maia Becker, Manager of Communications and Client Services, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada, Toronto ON.
• Tom Sineath, CEO, T.S. Designs, Burlington NC; T.S. Designs’ vision is “to transform the world we live in, both in small and large measures alike. Creating economic, ecological, and social prosperity while ensuring that future generations have the same opportunity.” 

Attendees are encouraged to participate in a live question and answer session during this event to get the most from the experience and will be able to view and listen to the presentation using a standard Internet browser with audio streamed via computer.

About Océ

Océ N.V. is a leading international provider of digital document management technology and services. The company’s solutions are based on Océ’s advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives -- locally and around the world. Supporting the workflow solutions are Océ digital printers and scanners, considered the most reliable and productive in the world. Océ also offers a wide range of display graphics, consulting and outsourcing solutions.

Océ employs around 24,000 people, with 2007 revenues of approximately $4.6 billion, operates in more than 90 countries and maintains research and manufacturing centers in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania and Singapore. Océ North America revenues represented approximately half of Océ’s worldwide business in 2007, and employment is currently 11,000. For more information about Océ, visit www.oceusa.com.

About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading online media organization; offering a wide range of publications delivering unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Serving a membership base of more than 50,000, WhatTheyThink also hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, which delivers content directly to related websites and through RSS.

About Gail Nickel-Kailing

A business advisor and problem solver, Gail Nickel-Kailing, Managing Director of Business Strategies Etc., provides business counsel and marketing assistance to companies seeking to increase profits and revenues and reduce costs through business process improvement and implementation of information or workflow management systems.

Through Business Strategies Etc. she offers services such as marketing planning and management, business and product development, and other support services for national and international clients.

More than 25 years of independent consulting, adjunct executive services, and senior positions in a variety of technology and service companies including the US Postal Service, have given her hands-on experience and insight into the challenges of designing, producing, and distributing marketing collateral, direct mail, and other communication documents.

Ms. Nickel-Kailing is a nationally recognized speaker on a wide range of subjects and brings enthusiasm and a unique blend of experience to the podium. As an industry analyst and journalist contributing to publications in the US, Canada, India, and Brazil, Gail has covered a number of “beats,” particularly printing and mailing, including print on demand, variable data printing, and direct mail.

Gail Nickel-Kailing can be reached at www.business-strategies-etc.com.

Gail Nickel-Kailing is a senior marketing and strategic planning consultant experienced in marketing technology-based solutions and services.

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