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What is sustainable graphic design? Content courtesy of www.re-nourish.com

Sustainable graphic design aims to eliminate the negative immediate and future social, economic, and environmental impacts of the printed and digital material produced by the profession. Paper fiber, the substrate most used by the graphic designer currently, should be collected, recycled and injected back into the market as a post-consumer product in order to move towards a sustainable industry. Ideally disposal of paper fiber will be eliminated altogether and instead a Cradle-to-Cradle practice of manufacturing and recovery will be utilized. Sustainable graphic design considers the impact of its creations on communities where materials may be sourced, and aim to support a local economy by working with vendors in their region to increase prosperity and minimize their environmental footprint. Global interdependence, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability are the goals of the sustainable graphic designer. Achieving these goals will thereby improve our quality of life overall.

How is sustainable graphic design different from green graphic design?

Green graphic design aims to minimize the negative environmental impact of a printed or digital piece, where sustainable graphic design seeks to eliminate waste and create a system of equitable and economical artifacts that work more in harmony with nature’s cycle.