This article appeared in the March 2025 issue of Australian Printer, authored by Next Printing’s Pranil Chandra
2024 was a year of remarkable progress for Next Printing. One of our key highlights was our continued growth in sustainable solutions, which now represents nearly 40 per cent of our business – a significant leap from less than 10 per cent just three years ago.
A notable achievement was the introduction of our carbon emissions calculator, enabling us to provide emissions data at a project level. This tool has resonated strongly with our clients and has driven deeper conversations about sustainability.
However, while achieving 40 per cent sustainability-led work is encouraging, the remaining 60 per cent presents a challenge – particularly in managing materials such as polyester fabrics and other plastics.
Transparency around the material’s emissions and recyclability remains elusive.
Additionally, our industry faces increasing demands to do more with less, often within shorter timelines. To address this, we’re developing automations – both software and mechanical – that will streamline processes and ensure efficiency.
Attracting top talent is another persistent challenge, but we’re tackling this by promoting a purpose-driven story. Our sustainability ethos is resonating with a younger workforce, helping us appeal to individuals seeking careers with meaningful impact. Even so, attracting and retaining the best talent in this competitive market requires constant effort.
To further strengthen our position, Next recently acquired some assets of Blow Up Imaging, including its customer list and remarkable team of employees. This strategic move represents an exciting opportunity for growth and innovation. Integrating these valued customers and talented individuals into our operations is a priority. While we recognise the challenges involved in fostering a seamless transition, we are determined to make this acquisition a success.
Our key priority for 2025 is enhancing our commitment to sustainability. By leveraging our carbon emissions data at the project level, we aim to move beyond superficial buzzwords like ‘recycled’ or ‘green’ and educate our customers about what sustainability truly entails. We’re also targeting a pivotal goal of ensuring more than 50 per cent of our work becomes sustainability-led by the end of 2025.
Additionally, we are focused on further automation to streamline production processes, enabling quicker responses to the tightening lead times in the industry. At the same time, we will maintain our emphasis on integrating sustainable practices into every facet of our operations.
Lastly, we aim to align our brand ethos with future-forward professionals who value purpose and innovation. To support our commitment to cultivating talent, we are transforming our management and leadership styles to empower employees at all levels. We aim to encourage decision-making that not only drives positive outcomes for our business but also contributes to the personal and professional growth of our team members.
In terms of trends, sustainability is a clear growth area business should focus on this year. Experiential print is another exciting avenue. By combining print with physical structures and interactive elements, businesses can create memorable experiences for audiences.
Print that integrates seamlessly with digital campaigns can further enhance brand engagement. Additionally, workflow automation remains a growth enabler.
Streamlining processes and implementing cutting-edge technology will allow businesses to tackle the growing demand for faster turnarounds.
Understanding the origins of materials also presents both a significant challenge and an exciting opportunity for the industry. The environmental impact of raw material extraction and processing should be better understood.
Through knowledge we can unlock opportunities to educate our customers about the origins and lifecycle of the products they use. By raising awareness, the industry can foster trust, drive demand and connect with younger generations.
In terms of market trends in 2025, brands will continue to evolve their strategies to blend digital and physical mediums, exploring ways to captivate audiences with real-world experiences. Print companies that can merge these elements creatively will thrive.
The continual interest rate rises throughout 2024 led to a noticeable decline in brand spending, particularly towards the latter half of the year. This tightening of budgets reflected broader economic pressures, as businesses sought to mitigate increased costs and preserve stability.
However, with the recently announced interest rate cut, there is renewed optimism for the industry. We expect spending to rebound significantly in the second half of 2025, driving renewed investment and innovation as brands regain confidence and allocate resources towards growth initiatives. Shorter lead times will also persist as a pressing trend. Economic conditions will prompt brands to delay decisions, and the pressure will fall on printers to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.
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