I borrow this paragraph from Re-nourish…

Graphic designers have made some fairly amazing and powerful work since the inception of the profession with the early Art Nouveau movement in 1890. We have changed public opinion on wars, politics, as well as influenced new consumer behaviors that dramatically increased the world’s economic output. We’ve made life simpler (at times), faster and easier to navigate. However, as much progress as the design profession has made for society at large, we’ve also been responsible for helping to create an over-consumptive population and an ecosystem teetering on disaster. With every new print piece we produce we make or brand we promote, we also impact the general health of our planet through the vehicle and materials we choose to use.

I believe it is necessary for designers to be planet-conscious about their work. However, the success of greener designs hinges upon the outcome of the collaborative suggestions-decisions process between the designer and the client about the greener-good. One must do ones part for the earth eh.

Here’s a must read… the Re-Nourish Sustainable Design Checklist (PDF)

And if you’re a organization thinking bout a greener printing environment in the office… looky here

And if you’re me and need pint size steps you can take today – try these things that I do: I would, try to design faster, so I use less electricity. Using the wacom for marquees (selections) coz it’s faster and more accurate than a mouse’ selection. Don’t print drafts (coz I lack a printer haha – I suppose you can select economical prints on recycled paper). Use energy saving bulbs on your mood lights/table lights and spot lights. Keep and re-use post-its if it’s used for just ‘one’ word. And… turn off ur speaker, monitor and notebook cooler when it’s not in use… besides, the blue and green LEDs are quite distracting at night.

And, use a Starbucks tumbler for ur lattes (you get an RM1 discount)!

Meanwhile, I’ll mourn the lack of green printers in Malaysia.

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1

v16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.”
v17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.
v18  The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. 

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3

v1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
v2  A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
v3  A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
v4  A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
v5  A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
v6  A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.
v7  A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
v8  A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12

v9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.
v10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
v11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
v12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
v13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
v14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Dear Kester, life is lived but once, if you – at the end of the road, choose to relive and make better a life lost and devoid of meaning, it’s too late. Now is the time.