FESPA UK has launched the latest program called ‘Sustainable Waste Academy’, aimed at informing and educating on the importance of a sustainable environment throughout the industry. It will be held in the sustainability training room at its headquarters in South Yorkshire. Jon Hutton will teach 1-day courses that are designed to educate companies on all aspects of sustainable waste management.

On the other hand, Hutton of Reconomy Ltd and FESPA UK’s sustainable waste consultant, is uniquely positioned within the UK printing industry to specialize in waste, recycling and sustainability management. Jon is a recognized figure, an industry speaker and passionate about continuous improvement in sustainability and the development of a circular economy.

This educational project will begin with a first course for printers and signage, which will be part of a 3-stage program that will expand in the coming months to educate a broader cross-section of the industry in a variety of different areas.

At the upcoming meeting, a variety of important topics will be addressed including, among other issues, the changing landscape and attitudes of consumer print waste, effective waste management,

Attendees were able to learn about a wide range of products from suppliers, offering the option to have discussions about ways to treat and dispose of these materials as waste, as well as incentives to move towards a sustainable path.

The course has been designed to show those companies already on the waste journey how they can use what they are doing to promote their business to customers and will provide them with the information they need to stand out from the crowd.


According to Suzi Ward of FESPA UK, she and Jon have been working together on projects related to waste management for more than two years. After working with Jon on FESPA UK waste management projects for over 2 years, while there is a lot of useful information for businesses, there is also a lack of clarity and a big gap in understanding the reality of waste management and what can be achieved within print and signage.


“Both Jon and I are passionate about being able to offer companies the opportunity to increase their knowledge in a way that allows them to have open and honest conversations with their customers about what can realistically be achieved with their end-of-use products. There is also too much Greenwashing out there and this will give companies the confidence to challenge what they are being told and ask the right questions, so they know what they are being told is true.”he added.
Finally, Jon Hutton advised that further meetings were needed on the topic of waste management in order to understand the circular economy, as well as the UK waste industry and its infrastructure.


“During these exciting courses, I will delve into areas such as developing a waste management strategy for today’s graphic consumer markets, the circular economy, the UK waste industry and recycling industry infrastructures and a practical roadmap for a sustainable waste management journey. This will enable companies to identify more suitable materials and help brand their business as sustainable. You will acquire the tools and understanding to make a positive impact, differentiate projects and meet the expectations of an increasingly conscious world.” reiterated.