The Visual Media Association (VMA) launched Sustainable Green Print + Sign (SGP+S), the industry’s first environment-specific certification standard built by and for Australian print, sign, label, and packaging businesses. Aligned with ISO 14001:2015 and forest stewardship standards, SGP+S provides a scalable and verifiable framework to support real-time ESG reporting, reduce waste, and accelerate progress toward net-zero emissions. Independently audited by SGS Australia, the program sets a new benchmark for environmental responsibility across the visual media sector. 

 According to VMA, over 91% of businesses in the sector are already acting on emissions and waste, and more than 75% are aligned with VMA’s environmental vision. SGP+S offers these businesses a credible, industry-subsidised path to certification starting at just $500 per year, giving procurement teams and brand owners transparent proof of sustainability performance. The program also supports sovereign supply chain goals by prioritising Australian-made products with a lower environmental footprint, offering tools for spot-auditing, compliance, and procurement alignment. 

 As part of its broader advocacy, VMA is calling on all levels of government to adopt SGP+S in their procurement and tendering frameworks and is leading the “Buy Australian Print” campaign. The campaign urges the federal government to return an estimated $180 million in print work currently outsourced offshore to Australian manufacturers, supporting local jobs and capabilities. “SGP+S is more than a certification—it's a national opportunity to strengthen Australian print while leading globally in sustainability,” said VMA CEO Peter Harper.