A keynote conversation between Lakeside Book Company CEO Dave McCree and Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged mixed with panel discussions on bread-and-butter issues at the Book Manufacturers’ Institute's (BMI) annual meeting held on October 28 in Naples, Fla.
BMI executive director Matt Baer was successful in his goal of not making the conference only about meeting the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulations, the objective of which is to prevent forest degradation by mandating that only "deforestation-free" products, including books, can be sold in the European Economic Area. The topic was a major focus of BMI’s Mastered program held on October 1 in Boston, and took on a new life a couple days later when the European Commission approved a one-year delay in implementing the regulations, which were set to go into effect on December 31.
The postponement was good news for U.S. printers and publishers, but Lisa Faratro, director of environment and sustainability at the U.K.-based CPI Group, and Jenna Mueller of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) both advised those in attendance that they should not slow down their efforts to comply with the regulations. Faratro made it clear that the postponement was just that, stressing that no actual changes to the regulations can be made before 2028. She also noted that more “green” legislation that could affect the international supply chain is brewing in the U.K.
Mueller reiterated that the FSC is developing tools that will help publishers and printers meet the EUDR requirements. Both speakers acknowledged that the issue remains a complicated one, but urged executives to recognize the fact that they cannot drag their feet in preparing to meet the EUDR requirements. Baer, who served as moderator of the panel, said that BMI is planning to form a working group to develop best practices for meeting the EUDR requirements.
Printing executives also received some encouraging forecasts about transportation and trucking costs from Avery Vise of FTR Intelligence. Vise noted that the number of trucking jobs has risen steadily after falling during the early months of the pandemic. Given the increase in jobs and the modest expectations for economic and freight growth in the short term, Vise said that he sees little chance of a driver shortage in the next year. The adequate driver supply should in turn mean that, while rates may go up in 2025, the increases will be modest and will likely come later in the year.
The annual meeting also saw BMI present its annual awards and to seat two new directors. The Signature Award, given to a BMI member "who has made a valued contribution to the welfare of the industry and/or the Institute," was presented to Suzanne Wiersma of Wallaceburg Bookbinding & Manufacturing. Additionally, David Hetherington of Books International; Sheri Jammallo, formerly of Canon; and Christian Schamberger of Mercury were inducted into the Cased-in Club, which honors BMI members "who have served in the industry for more than 20 years and have worked with the BMI with distinction."
Joining the BMI board during the meeting were Chris Kurtzman of the CJK Group and Steve Zweber of Thomson Reuters Core Publishing Solutions.