GREEN GRADS Hosted Critical Debate On Sustainable Design At Clerkenwell Design Week
London, UK – May 20th 2026 – GREEN GRADS hosted a pivotal round-table debate titled "Going Green in the Real World: how the GREEN GRADS are disrupting design," which happened on Wednesday, 20 May at Haberdashers' Hall during Clerkenwell Design Week.
The event explored the urgent challenges recent design graduates face when implementing sustainable ideals within commercial industries.
With a growing roster of 250 innovators, the initiative is now interrogating how these emerging professionals maintain their environmental integrity while navigating strict commercial realities.
The debate featured three alumni alongside three prominent industry sponsors, examining the friction between academic theory and real-world manufacturing.
Salma Garana, a 2025 graduate who invented a new material from waste cellulose cigarette filters, highlights the complexity of this transition. “My challenge is bridging the gap between theory and industry. I’ve had to find sustainable processors and re-engineer our raw materials to meet strict fire regs. And I’ve had to accept – it’s so tough! - that without meticulous planning, a theoretical closed-loop take-back scheme can actually increase your carbon footprint.”
Olivia Howick, a 2021 graduate now working at PriestmanGoode, faces similar hurdles in the transport sector. "Sustainability is a challenge. We have such strict parameters and specifications,” she explained, adding that she explores undyed yarns and low-impact textiles for interiors to help reduce aircraft fuel consumption. Woodworker Samuel McBride echoed these sentiments, stating that while sustainable practice requires compromises, there remains a genuine thirst for ecological furniture driving industry change.
Industry sponsors also weighed in on the commercial viability of green design.
Luke Pearson, co-founder of Pearson Lloyd, observed that sustainable design demands extra time and resources, which often conflicts with clients seeking short-term gains.
However, he asserted, "Sustainability CAN be commercial. It can strengthen brand value, differentiate products in crowded markets, and ultimately contribute to long-term profits."
Fellow sponsors share this authoritative commitment. Eco-activist Ella Doran advocates for regional sourcing and collaborative, thoughtful production. Meanwhile, Simon Terry of Anglepoise emphasised that longevity and repair must be inherent to a brand's identity, urging the industry to go deeper, be bolder, and help people fall back in love with the things they already own.
About GREEN GRADS
GREEN GRADS is a not-for-profit UK initiative founded in 2021 by multi-award-winning design journalist Barbara Chandler and co-directed by Michael Czerwinski.
The platform identifies, promotes, and enables a new generation of UK graduate eco-activists, connecting them with manufacturers, design practices, and the public to address the biggest environmental challenges facing design today.
For more information please click here
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Birmingham, UK – August 2026 – Epson has announced its participation in The Print Show and The Sign Show 2026, taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC Birmingham.
Visitors to the Epson stand will have the opportunity to explore the company's latest professional printing technologies through live demonstrations, gaining direct insight into how UV, Direct-to-Film (DTF), dye-sublimation and signage solutions can unlock new revenue streams and support business growth.
Three technologies will headline the stand: the SureColor V4000 UV flatbed printer, the SureColor G9000 Direct-to-Film printer, and the SureColor F300 dye-sublimation printer
Raleigh – NC – Aigust 2026 - North Carolina State University has been chosen to lead a 10-year Department of War initiative aimed at modernizing textile manufacturing in the United States to support the defense industry.
The FutureTEX award – which includes $36 million in its first year and has a ceiling of $480 million over a decade – brings together industry, government, university and nonprofit partners to advance manufacturing technologies of textiles for military and domestic applications.
London, UK – August 2026 – UK-based sign and graphics specialist Signs Express has successfully delivered a striking retail installation for the England World Cup Fanatics Shop Experience on London's iconic Carnaby Street, using a range of printable media and laminates from global adhesive media manufacturer Drytac.
Reken – Germany – August 2026 – FabricVision GmbH, a textile and fabric solutions company, has announced a significant operational milestone, marking nearly one year of intensive infrastructure development with the installation of a sign outside its warehouse facility.
While the sign itself may appear modest, it represents the culmination of a year defined by substantial investment and operational transformation
Mexico City, Mexico – August 2026 – HP Graphic Arts has announced its participation in FESPA Mexico 2026, taking place from 10–12 September at Centro Banamex, Mexico City.
The HP Large Format team will be on-site to present its latest advancements in HP Latex and HP DesignJet technologies, offering print professionals a firsthand look at the future of large format printing.
FESPA Mexico is one of Latin America's foremost events for the print and visual communications industry, drawing together professionals, partners, and businesses seeking to stay ahead of an increasingly competitive market
Bracknel – Berkshire - August 2026 – UFABRIK, a leader in high-performance textile solutions, today highlights one of its latest innovation: the UFabrik Opaque Textile ECO.
Engineered for retail, events, exhibitions, banners, and soft signage applications, this groundbreaking blockout textile sets a new standard for sustainable, high-quality print media.
The UFabrik Opaque Textile ECO has been developed to deliver ultimate colour reproduction with both UV and Latex inks.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – August 2026 – Sun Chemical, a leading producer of printing inks, coatings, and supplies, has announced its participation in the 27th International Advertising Industry and Digital Printing Technologies Exhibition, SIGN İstanbul.
The company will exhibit at Hall 5, Booth 5C09, where it will present its latest innovations across textile printing, graphics, and packaging solutions to industry professionals from across the region.
Soyang Europe has strengthened its hardware team with the appointments of Andy Webb as Commercial Director and Ian Windebank as Wide-Format Print Specialist.
Both join Soyang with immediate effect, bringing decades of combined experience across print technology, hardware sales, customer support and the wider print industry.
Milano, Italy – August 2026 – Viscom Italia, the leading international trade fair for visual communication and the sign industry, has announced that Hyper Personalisation 2.0 will be a defining theme at its upcoming 2026 edition.
The event will take place on 28th and 29th October at Allianz MiCo Milano, bringing together industry professionals to explore the technologies and trends reshaping the future of print and visual communications.
Hyper Personalisation 2.0 marks a significant evolution in how the printing industry approaches customer engagement
Liverpool – UK – August 2026 – Hobs Repro, the UK's largest independent print network, has selected Razar, produced by Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, as part of its continued commitment to innovation and industry-leading service delivery.
The partnership marks a significant milestone for both organisations, bringing together two of the print industry's most forward-thinking names.
El Reno, Oklahoma – August 2026 – Trans-Tech, LLC, an AAR-M-1003 compliant railroad graphics manufacturer and the largest user of premium vinyl in the Southwest, has built its reputation on a straightforward promise: same-day railcar markings, every day.
Powered by a floor of over 20 Summa roll cutters, the El Reno-based company has upheld that standard for two decades, keeping North America's railcars compliant and on the move.
Hanover, Germany – August, 2026 – ColorGATE has announced its participation in the DIPA Workshop – Digital Manufacturing Toolbox, taking place on 15 September 2026 at Kursaal Stuttgart.
The half-day workshop, running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, will bring together leading experts from across the digital manufacturing value chain ahead of Surface in Motion 2026.
Faversham – Kent - August 2026 – Prinfab, a UK-based print-on-demand textile company, has revealed how the industrial Monna Lisa ML-8000 printer sits at the heart of its high-quality, fast-turnaround production model.
By leveraging one of the textile industry's most advanced digital printing systems, Prinfab is removing the barriers that have long prevented independent designers and entrepreneurs from accessing commercial-grade fabric printing.
Nottingham – UK – August 2026 – Tennants UK, a specialist number plate manufacturer, has announced the installation of a second VeloBlade Nexus digital cutting system, significantly expanding its in-house production capabilities.
The investment is designed to meet growing demand from dealership groups, increase manufacturing capacity, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Spilsby, Lincolnshire,- August 2026 - Countryside Art, a producer of premium bags and kitchen textiles, has announced its commitment to printing exclusively onto 100% cotton across its entire product range.
Central to this commitment is the Mimaki TX330, a high-performance textile printer that delivers the colour consistency and vibrancy that both the brand and its customers demand.
Green Bay, Wis. — August 2026 — BW Converting will introduce textile manufacturers to the capabilities of its Baldwin TexCoat® G4 precision spray finishing system at the 33rd Apparel Sourcing Show, taking place Aug. 18–20 at the Tikal Futura Convention Center in Guatemala City.
The company will participate through its local agent, Maprimaq, at booths 25 and 26.
Soyang Europe, a leading manufacturer and distributor of digitally printable wide-format and superwide-format media, surface coverings and advanced print production hardware solutions, has underlined its long-term commitment to its partnership with Platinum Technologies LIYU by making a major investment in new customer facilities and technical expertise.
Frankfurt am Main – August 2026 – Heimtextil, the world's leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, is set to reveal its highly anticipated Trends 27/28 forecast in a digital live premiere on 7 September 2026 at 14:00 (CEST).
Developed in collaboration with the internationally recognised design platform Alcova, the event will explore one of the most defining tensions in contemporary living: the home as both a space for performance and a place of retreat.
Nanjing – China - August 2026 - The company’s integrated solution portfolio combines digital printing equipment, high-performance printing consumables, and workflow integration to help print providers improve production efficiency across DTF, UV, and sublimation applications.
Driven by shorter production runs, growing demand for personalized products, and increasing sustainability requirements, the printing industry is transitioning from traditional analog production toward more intelligent and integrated digital manufacturing systems.
Hanrun Paper, a global digital printing solutions provider, helps drive this transformation by integrating hardware, consumables, and production workflows into a more connected, efficient, and flexible digital manufacturing ecosystem
Leicester – UK – August 2026 - VeriVide Limited, a leading authority in colour assessment and quality control, has announced the availability of the NCS Exterior Fan Deck, a comprehensive colour tool designed specifically for outdoor environments.
Comprising 322 carefully selected colours, the Fan Deck is tailored for professionals working across architecture, landscaping, property development, and exterior product manufacturing.
Dorking UK – August 2026 – The FESPA Foundation has announced a landmark initiative to unite the global print community under a shared commitment to education, sustainability, and meaningful social impact.
Guided by its "Print for Good" principle, the Foundation is calling on industry stakeholders worldwide to contribute to a movement that positions print as a force for lasting, positive change.
Telford, UK – August 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd today features the availability of the Graphtec CE8000-130 1300mm Vinyl Cutter Plotter, a high-performance cutting solution designed to meet the demands of the sublimation, sign writing, and sticker and label creation markets.
Priced at £3,495.00 + VAT and backed by a one-year warranty, the CE8000-130 represents a significant step forward in cost-effective cutting plotter technology.
Gaziantep, Turkey – August 2026 – Zimmer Austria, in partnership with ERA, is continuing its installation of a Colaris machine at Plato Halı, one of Turkey's leading carpet manufacturers.
This marks the 13th Colaris machine to be installed in Gaziantep, with mass production expected to commence shortly.
Following its successful market launch at the beginning of the year, Felix Schoeller has now received the 2026 Pinnacle Award for RubyPaper in the “Technology” category.
Each year, the PRINTING United Alliance presents the award to pioneering innovations in the printing industry.
This year, a total of 154 entries from 54 companies were submitted for the Pinnacle Award.
Felix Schoeller is one of just 15 companies that entered the competition with a product for the first time and received an award straight away.
North Bergen – NJ – August 2026 – Roland DG Europe has announced that Coach USA's Perfect Body successfully produced 25 FIFA World Cup bus wraps using the TrueVis XP-640 wide-format printer, running operations up to 16 hours a day during one of the company's most demanding production seasons to date
Greentex, a leading innovator in sustainable printed fabrics, has announced its participation in Printing United 2026, taking place from 23 to 25 September at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Building on the momentum of last year's event, Greentex will debut an immersive booth concept themed "Garden Casino," offering attendees a distinctive way to explore the company's latest fabric collections.
New York, NY – August 2026 – X-Rite Pantone, the global authority in colour standards and colour science, and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a global leader in creative education and part of the State University of New York (SUNY), have announced a strategic partnership to advance colour education and digital innovation across the apparel, footwear, soft goods, and textile industries
St Laurent – Quebec – August 2026 – Inkcups, a leading manufacturer of printing equipment and inks, has published a new customer success story featuring Spector & Co, a prominent promotional products supplier.
The case study highlights how Inkcups' direct-to-object (DTO) printing technology is enabling Spector & Co to meet the growing demand for premium, retail-inspired promotional products.
Altrincham – Cheshire – August 2026 – Friedmans, a leading fabric printing specialist today festures its new Printed Solids service, designed to help garment makers achieve perfectly coordinated fabrics across a range of bases.
The service addresses one of the most persistent challenges in garment construction: matching plain fabrics, such as nylon, with coordinating stretch nets and other materials.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Durst Graphics has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place from 23–25 September in Las Vegas.
The company will use the event to present its latest advances in digital printing, software, and finishing solutions across multiple booths in partnership with key industry players.
Visitors can find Durst Group at Booth C1614, where the P5 Series will be on live display.
The showcase will highlight the practical applications of three flagship systems: the P5 350 CORE, the P5 350 HS, and the P5 350 HSR —