The steering committee meeting included well known industry identities such as Bernard Cassell – CPI Group, Adam Crowe – PMP, Craig Dunsford – Offset Alpine Printing, Angus Dorney – Bluestar Group, Adrian Fleming – Kodak (for GAMAA), Ben Heraghty – GEON Group, David Leach – Look Print (for GASAA), and Philip Andersen – Printing Industries.

While media was not privy to discussions, Bernard Cassell – the driving force behind the campaign – told Australian Printer prior to the meeting, the strong presence of industry heads was testament that more had to be done to change public perception of the print and paper industries.

He says, “I am pleased with the presence here, it shows there’s now a broader recognition amongst the industry that something needs to happen. APIA started this but now others have joined us so we can sit down as a whole industry not just the paper people.

“The campaign has moved forward since its creation and now with more of the industry on board we expect it will increase significantly.”

Australian Printer understands during discussion the committee heard the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had replied to a letter, sent by Bernard Cassel in September, outlining concern of the number of misleading statements made about the sustainability of paper based communications.

The steering committee is expected to meet with ACCC representatives in Canberra within the next few weeks.

Tim Woods, principle of Fitzpatrick Woods Consulting – who is running the APIA campaign, told Australian Printer that the response from the ACCC was a “breakthrough” for the campaign.

Woods says, “The steering committee is already looking at a number of key issues and the industry should watch this space to see what we are able to achieve when we work collectively.”

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