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Sustainability goals are everywhere: recyclable packaging, carbon neutrality, or forest restoration—but real progress does not come from ambition alone. It takes structure. It takes systems. It cannot be just another step added to business as usual. Every company wants to go “green” but, without the right systems, even the best intentions end up in the trash. Literally.
To make sustainability stick, businesses need frameworks that turn innovative ideas into everyday actions. That often starts with rethinking how things get done—from materials and workflows to logistics and decision-making. And the simpler a system is to implement, the more likely it is to succeed.
Anthropologie’s Fix Was Simple, and It Worked
Anthropologie ships garments in thin poly bags that most recycling centers cannot process. As a result, these bags often end up in landfills. To fix this, Anthropologie partnered with Waste Management to redesign the process. They matched stores to nearby recycling facilities that could handle the material, trained staff to collect and store the bags properly, as well as streamlined transport to minimize environmental impact.
The result? More than 60,000 pounds of plastic were diverted from landfills. The breakthrough was not a new material. It was a system that worked.
Print and Packaging: Complex Operations, Big Potential
Print and packaging involve many steps, from sourcing and production to shipping and disposal. Without structure, even the best efforts can get lost.
Allied Printing Services made measurable progress by applying lean manufacturing principles. They upgraded equipment, reduced waste, and transitioned to cleaner energy sources. DHL redesigned its packaging to improve recyclability and support long-term sustainability goals. Xerox cut waste through solid ink technology, incorporated recycled materials, and helped customers reduce unnecessary printing through smart software.
HP stands out with a closed-loop system for printer cartridges. Used cartridges are collected, recycled, and turned into new ones. The company also supports forest restoration and designs ENERGY STAR-certified products using recycled plastics. These are not isolated projects—they’re all part of an integrated, ongoing system.
Designing Sustainability from the Start
Companies are building sustainability into the core of their products. Heidelberg reduces setup waste with its Push-to-Stop technology and offers carbon-neutral presses. Canon improves energy efficiency, uses recycled plastics, and cuts emissions throughout the product lifecycle. Ricoh’s Comet Circle model brings it all together, with remanufacturing programs, carbon-neutral operations in Europe, and packaging waste reduction—all underpinned by systems that keep things running efficiently and responsibly.
What Makes a System Work
The most effective sustainability systems tend to share a few traits:
- Clear goals and data to track progress
- Shared responsibility across teams
- Simple, easy-to-follow processes
- Tools and automation that reduce friction
- Feedback loops for continuous improvement
- Communication that celebrates small and big wins
- They are part of daily operations and (most importantly) not just something reviewed once a year
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
Improving sustainability does not always require a breakthrough invention. It requires a system…a way of working that is built to last. Whether you are in print, packaging, or fashion, the key question is not just what to change, but how to make that change stick. Sustainability does not start with what you make; it starts with how you make it work.
Customers are demanding more eco-friendly products. Companies that are rethinking their systems—from design to delivery—and investing in better processes are setting new standards. They are not only reducing impact, but also earning trust, standing out in crowded markets, and positioning themselves for long-term success.
And your customers will notice.
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