The association says printing companies will be faced with increased electricity and water charges as well as other increases cost imposts in the areas of raw materials and transportation.

Members who are looking at ways of reducing their environmental footprint have a number of programs that they can access including the Climate Ready Program and the Re-tooling for Climate Change Program, according to Printing Industries.

On December 15 last year the Federal Government released a white paper outlining its final design of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the medium-term target range for reducing carbon pollution.

The Government has decided to set a price cap for five years, of $40 per tonne at Scheme commencement, rising at five per cent real per annum. Current intention is to commence the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme on 1 July 2010. The Scheme will be Australia’s primary policy tool to drive reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, Printing Industries says.

The Government has set a medium-term target range to reduce emissions by between 5 and 15 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. The long-term goal is to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.

The Scheme will cover around 75 per cent of Australia’s emissions and involve mandatory obligations for around 1000 entities. There are around 7.6 million registered businesses in Australia: the overwhelming majority will not, therefore, face any direct obligations under the Scheme.

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