Earth Day, Business Realities, and the ROI of Sustainable Print
Eric Genova – Senior VP Professional Services – 04/22/2025 08:00 AM
Today is Earth Day, and while it might be tempting to treat it as just another awareness campaign, we see it a little differently at DG3. Earth Day gives us a reason to pause and ask the kind of questions we should probably be asking more often: Are our efforts to be more sustainable actually working? Are they good for business? And do they really make a difference?
We’re right in the middle of our sustainability blog series, and this Thursday, we’ll be sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a recent initiative that’s helping us reduce waste in a very real way. But for today, we want to zoom out a bit.
You might be thinking about why companies—including ours—keep putting time, money, and energy into sustainable practices. Because these things don’t happen by accident. They take effort. And they come with costs. So: is it worth it?
Here’s what that effort looks like in print:
- Choosing recycled or certified paper stocks (which often cost more).
- Rethinking coatings and finishes to reduce environmental impact (which can change how a piece looks or feels).
- Taking advantage of USPS sustainability promotions (which require planning and process changes).
We’ve made all these shifts at DG3. Not because they were easy, but because they felt like the right thing to do. And, as it turns out, they’ve also made smart business sense.
Why More Businesses Are Choosing Sustainability
If you’ve ever wondered whether sustainability is just good PR or whether it truly makes business sense, you’re not alone. It’s a question that comes up a lot—and the good news is, we don’t have to guess. There’s a growing body of evidence that shows sustainability isn’t just compatible with smart business—it can actually drive it.
Consumers are showing up for sustainable brands.
According to a 2023 McKinsey & NielsenIQ study, products making ESG-related claims grew 28% over five years, compared to 20% for products that made no such claims.
Efficiency and sustainability often go hand in hand.
Smarter, more targeted mail means fewer pieces, less waste, and better ROI. Add in USPS discounts (up to 5% for qualifying sustainable mailings), and it starts to add up quickly.
Environmental responsibility matters to talent and investors.
More than 60% of Gen Z and Millennials say a company’s environmental practices influence their decisions about where to work and what to support, according to a 2023 Deloitte study.
What Kind of Difference Does It Really Make?
When we talk about sustainability, it’s easy to get caught up in ideals. But the truth is, the outcomes are very real. We’re not just hoping for change—we’re seeing it, and we’re measuring it.
Yes, in measurable ways:
- The US recycled paper industry has saved 350+ million trees over the last 20 years.
- Recycled paper uses 70% less energy and water to produce.
- Reducing just one ton of paper waste saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space, according to the EPA.
When enough businesses make even modest changes, the impact is enormous.
Final Thoughts
Sustainability isn’t just a marketing angle or a compliance checkbox. It’s a long-term strategy for building a smarter, more responsive business—one that’s better equipped to meet the demands of today and tomorrow. Yes, it takes investment. Yes, it requires change. But we’ve seen firsthand that the return is there, in more efficient operations, stronger customer relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose behind the work we do.
We don’t pretend to have it all figured out. But we do know that progress doesn’t happen by staying still. It happens by moving forward, one decision at a time, in the direction that feels right—for your people, your customers, and yes, for the planet.
Check back Thursday for the next post in our sustainability series. Until then, thanks for spending a few minutes with us. And happy Earth Day.