Two Sides was conceived in the UK in 2008 by the National Association of Paper Merchants and is now active in 12 countries, having recently spread to the US.

The movement will take over from the ‘Paper Part of Every Day’ initiative, which had been spearheaded by the Australian Paper Industry Association (APIA) with input from Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).

It is intended that Two Sides Australia will be operated independently when it officially launches in January.

‘Paper Part of Every Day’ had been driven by former CPI managing director Bernard Cassell, who has since parted ways with the association.

John Walker, managing director of Sappi and vice president of APIA, tipped his hat to Cassell for his “valiant” efforts with ‘Paper Part of Every Day.

“[That campaign] was all about defending the industry and making it clear paper and print isn’t the bogeyman people make it out to be,” said Walker.

Walker said: “The role of APIA is to facilitate the setting up of Two Sides Australia then we will be looking at people like [PIAA chief executive] Bill Healy to spearhead it and we will look to set up an independent board.

“To us, it is going to be as much about printers as it is about paper suppliers as well as plate makers, ink suppliers – what we are trying to do is bring the whole industry together.”

Healey told ProPrint that the decision to go down the Two Sides route was born out of a need for wider industry backing, without reinventing the wheel.

“People have to acknowledge the good work Bernard did but as time progressed we become conscious that it needs the print guys and GAMAA at the table and a much broader industry reinvolvement,” said Healey.

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