Playtime is over. Time for action!

Climate change demands action. Every day we are confronted with the global impact of climate change. Now it is time to take the necessary measures. That’s the message that Roularta Printing – and by extension the Roularta Media Group – is putting into action with their Sustainability Charter. At the forefront is Roularta Printing with a sustainability strategy that is not only ambitious, but also inspiring and feasible. Based on the charter, which includes several “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs), Roularta Printing strives for CO2 neutrality by 2040. An ambitious strategy that naturally requires targeted climate action, an SDG that we would like to discuss in more detail.

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Ambitious but achievable

The fight against climate change, of course, cannot be won in a day. It requires concrete and joint efforts that fit into a larger whole. In the case of Roularta Printing, a more sustainable energy and raw materials policy can significantly reduce the ecological footprint, making the intended CO₂ neutrality by 2040 a feasible option. In addition, we can do for each of our customers a footprint calculation of their printing with us. We can see how it is possible to reduce that footprint. Responsible production and consumption as a company is of paramount importance in this respect.

But it doesn’t stop there. We are taking the lead in environmentally friendly business and actively creating a greener future. This includes proactive investment in new sustainable technologies, such as replacing machines long before they are worn out. In 2023 alone, for example, three relatively new ovens were replaced, an investment of 4.5 million euros, to increase energy efficiency. In addition, this year, new greener LED factory lighting was installed. We are setting the bar high, because future generations also have the right to a habitable world.

Mapping our objectives

To realize our SDG climate action, we formulated multiple, measurable, objectives that each contributed to CO₂ neutral and sustainable entrepreneurship. Here is an overview:

CO₂ evolution

What gets measured gets managed. A concrete step-by-step plan (measure – analyse – reduce – neutralise) maps annual CO₂ emissions and their evolution. It includes both the emissions directly caused by Roularta Printing and those that we don’t have control over but for which we can present a purchasing charter to our suppliers.

Commercial vehicles

By 2028, the total emissions of the company’s fleet should be reduced by 80% compared to 2019, thanks to gradual electrification. However, that target seems within reach much earlier, as the rapid conversion means CO₂ emissions were already just 861 tonnes in November 2024.

Results for 2024 based on results as of November

Renewable energy

Roularta Printing also exceeds all expectations in terms of renewable energy. The original target was to double the number of solar panels on the Roeselare site by 2025 compared to 2020. This target is now well exceeded, with no fewer than 3,000 additional solar panels to be installed by 2025.

Biodiversity

By 2026, we want to have a stable population of several target species that are now endangered, such as the hedgehog, the kestrel and the marsh marigold. As such we are planning various initiatives like the construction of biodiverse business parks (with projects such as bug hotels), the placement of starling boxes and environmentally friendly weed control.

Reforestation & tree planting

In collaboration with non-profit organization Lignaverda, Roularta Printing contributes to the reforestation of no less than 41 hectares in Senegal, the equivalent of about 58 football fields. With an annual CO₂ capture of up to 205 tons, the ecological impact of this initiative is significant, and thanks to the selected tree species, the local social impact is highly positive too.

Roularta Printing. Your partner in sustainability.

It is clear that we are sparing no effort or expense to tackle climate change, a fact that also reflects on you as a publisher when you opt for Roularta Printing.

At Roularta Printing, we believe that sustainable choices are the key to a better future. Together we can build a world where entrepreneurship and environmental awareness go hand in hand.

Let’s build a sustainable future together. Contact us today and discover how your printing can contribute to a better world for us all.