Lawrence addressed three possible carbon tax schemes which included a cap and trade tax, a broad-based carbon tax and a voluntary market mechanism.

He said the while the broad based system, which shifts the cost to the end users, was the most effective way to reduce carbon immediately, it was not a “vote winner” and the cap and trade style tax was the most likely outcome of the ongoing debate.

He says, “The cap and trade system is a great way to drive efficiency for big business and would only affect the top end of Australian businesses not the SME’s. Most printing companies don’t fall into the group of major energy users.”

Lawrence also said the voluntary market mechanism tends to be a favourite for the printing Industry as it’s the customers who drive the green credentials. However he noted a number of pitfalls for this strategy, namely there is potential for corruption.

He says, “Under this system two companies could both claim to be carbon neutral, while measuring two completely different things. My gut feeling is this is not going to work, we need an over arching scheme to drive the change.”

Meanwhile, Chris Sewell, CEO and founder of carbon audit provider The Gaia Partnership, demonstrated his company’s C02 carbon calculator application which he claims is finding wide acceptance throughout a range of industries.

The calculator is currently used by the ANZ bank and its print provider for Australia and New Zealand, Stream Solutions.

In a pre-recorded audio presentation, Peter Sharpe, manager of sustainable sourcing at ANZ said that in 2010, ANZ engaged with a selection of its print service providers, stakeholders, industry bodies and government to provide input into ways of incorporating ANZ environmental standards across the purchase of commercial print.

He says, “The C02 counter from The Gia Partnership was selected by ANZ and our current print provider in Australia and New Zealand has now installed the C02 counter into their reporting systems, enabling ANZ to estimate the C02 which is generated from our purchasing and print requirements.”

Sharpe concluded, “We encourage the printing industry to continue its pursuit of carbon reduced print services and request printers to take up the challenge.”

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