International Print Day 2026

Today is International Print Day 2026 and this year, the theme is #PrintWorks

#PrintWorks celebrates the proven power of print to deliver results, create opportunities, and bring ideas to life. From marketing campaigns and packaging to books, labels, signage, and beyond, print worksbecause it combines creativity, technology, and skilled people to produce communication that gets noticed, remembered, and delivers results.

#PrintWorks is also a recognition of the people and technology, from ideas to installation, that drive innovation, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and create meaningful connections between businesses and their audiences.

On International Print Day, share examples of how print works for you, your organization, your customers, and your community. Show the world the creativity, collaboration, and impact that make print an essential part of modern communication.

The official International Print Day 2026 poster has been created by Craig Bower at Design That Rocks.

You can read the whole article HERE

Enjoy the day ...and get busy with the hashtag on social media #IPD26 #PrintWorks

https://internationalprintday.org/

Posted by Justin Hobson 21.10.2026

Zeta - Papers for business

 The ZETA range of business papers has been around for decades and should need no introduction. For many years it has been the gold standard for stationery papers in Europe, with it's excellent availability in all European countries and Fenner Paper became the UK stockist in 2015. The range has now been refreshed with the addition of a new Laid finish and new shades, including Diamond White, which is now presented in a new swatch designed by Wolfgang Forsch, who has handled the re-brand.

The new swatch is DIN A4 size, portrait format and is a 6pp gatefold. The cover is printed on Zeta Linen, Brilliant 350gsm and is printed in black plus a fluorescent orange.

The swatch shows the new stock range together with all the weights, surfaces and colours...

These fine papers are manufactured at the Reflex Paper mill in the town of Düren in Germany, which was founded in 1857 and the mill also produces transparent papers, label papers and artists papers. All ZETA products are made from Chlorine Free pulp (ECF) and carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

If you would like one of the swatches, please email me: justin@fennerpaper.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson on 15.07.2026

Independent Paper Show - Manchester

The Independent
 Paper Show is coming to Manchester! Yes, next week is the first ever Manchester edition of the IPS will be presented at Soho House and all are welcome.

Fenner Paper, together with a whole host of other paper companies will be presenting their ranges and we do hope you will come and see us.

The dates are as follows:

June 9th: 2pm – 6pm + Networking drinks (5pm – 7pm)

June 10th: 12pm – 5pm

Here are pictures from the show in London last year...

Register now... https://papershow.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 05.06.2026

World Cup 2026

With the World Cup fast approaching, I can reveal our new wall chart for you to follow the fixtures...

World Cup 2026 will be the biggest tournament to date with 48 teams competing in 104 matches, in stadiums across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Argentina are the defending champions but face stiff competition from a number of teams, including France and Spain. England will head to the tournament under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel and Scotland return to a World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

This is the latest in a series of beautifully designed typographic wallcharts which have all been designed by David Coates, who is an independent designer. My thanks to Dave for making it all happen - a perfect way to combine his love of type and football!

The wall chart shows the entire tournament schedule - and with 48 teams, it's our longest ever - the size is 315mm x 980mm long! To keep it light enough for posting, it is digitally printed on our Offenbach Bible 60gsm.

We have sent out a number of these wallcharts to our football loving design clients, but if you want to make absolutely sure you get a copy, you can email me justin@fennerpaper.co.uk ...as long as you promise to use our papers!

https://davidcoates.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 01.06.2026

50 Years of Print

Next month there is a fabulous exhibition which is celebrating 50 years of work by our friends at Harvey Lloyd Screenprinters.

The month-long, free exhibition in Newhaven (6th-27th June) celebrates the vitality of the UK graphic arts scene, explored through five decades of screenprinting history drawn from the archive of Harvey Lloyd.

Curated by Owen Gildersleeve, the show brings together leading contemporary figures including Mr Doodle, Mr Bingo, Orla Kiely, Anthony Burrill, Supermundane, Sarah Boris and Seb Lester, alongside many other archive works and newly commissioned limited-edition prints.

Alongside these established names, Grand Matter will introduce a select group of emerging artists, placing new talent in direct dialogue with industry heavyweights and reinforcing Harvey Lloyd’s role in supporting the next generation.

Delivered in collaboration with Look Again, the monthlong exhibition is supported by a live programme of drawing performances, talks and workshops — positioning the project as both a celebration of legacy and a platform for future creative growth.

You can read all about it HERE

...and to top it all, there is an opening night of talks on Saturday 6th June (£10 tickets) with Mr Bingo, Louise Lockhart, Adrian Johnson, Sarah Boris & Tom Pigeon and you can book for that HERE

https://www.lookagainnewhaven.co.uk/fifty-years-of-print

Posted by Justin Hobson 11.05.2026

Today is Earth Day

 Earth Day is an annual event first held on April 22, 1970. It now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

What better day to tell you about our new range from FAVINI called Sparto made using Esparto grass, post-consumer waste and bagasse, the by-product of sugar cane processing.

Sparto is Favini’s new eco-friendly paper, made with alternative fibers and without tree cellulose. It takes its name from esparto, a perennial grass that thrives in hot, arid climates and acts as a natural barrier against desertification.

Sparto sustainable paper is perfect for creating luxury packaging, high-quality printing and sustainable design projects. Sparto’s eight colours are inspired by the natural environment that we help to protect with this truly special paper.

Detail images showing the inclusions in the paper:

Sparto is FSC™ certified and made with 100% self-produced hydroelectric energy. It contains esparto fibre, post-consumer recycled material and bagasse, the by-product of sugar cane processing.

Design and art direction of the swatches is by Silk Pearce. If you would like a copy of the Sparto swatch, just ask me for one! Email justin@fennerpaper.co.uk

https://www.earthday.org/

https://www.favini.com/gs/en/ 

https://www.silkpearce.com/ 

Posted by Justin Hobson 22.04.2026

Some very good news for the paper industry...

 Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning

Sweden is shifting its schools away from screens and back to physical books and paper. The government is making this change to fix falling reading and writing scores. The Scandinavian country is spending over €100 million to buy printed textbooks and is even looking to ban mobile phones in schools and seems in sharp contrast to Denmark's recent dismantling of their postal service Read Here

You can read the BBC article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly0vk77vdko

Posted by Justin Hobson 16.04.2026

V&A censored catalogues after demands by Chinese printer

Today Printweek reports that a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Guardian has revealed that the Victoria and Albert Museum agreed to remove images from one of its exhibition catalogues after requests from its Chinese printing contractor.

The museum was asked by C&C Offset Printing to delete a map that did not comply with the Chinese communist party's censorship requirements.

The map, which was intended for the catalogue accompanying the upcoming V&A exhibition Music is Black, depicts a 1930s illustration of British Empire trade routes.

https://www.printweek.com/content/news/va-museum-yields-to-chinese-printer-demands

You can read The Guardian article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/apr/14/v-and-a-censored-catalogues-demands-chinese-printer

Posted by Justin Hobson 15.04.2026

IPS Manchester

The Independent
 Paper Show is coming to Manchester! Yes, this June, the first ever Manchester edition of the IPS will be presented at Soho House and all are welcome.

Fenner Paper, together with a whole host of other paper companies will be presenting their ranges. We do hope you will come and see us.

The dates for your diary are as follows:

June 9th: 2pm – 6pm + Networking drinks (5pm – 7pm)

June 10th: 12pm – 5pm

Register now... https://papershow.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 25.03.2026

A pivotal year ahead in paper

Towards the end of last year two large paper 'supergroups' in the international arena of paper manufacturers, UPM and Sappi, announced plans to create a new joint venture company that would encompass their European graphic paper operations - 20 paper mills are involved with a combined production capacity of nearly 6 million tonnes per annum.

Is this good news or bad news for the paper industry...?

Below is an excellent article written by Jo Francis at Printweek magazine with the background to the joint venture. You can read all about it here: 
https://www.printweek.com/content/briefing/a-pivotal-year-ahead-in-paper

Posted by Justin Hobson 18.02.2026

Danish postal service to stop delivering letters after 400 years

The first post in 2026 which is really rather sad...

The Danish Post Office (PostNord) has ended postal deliveries on 30 December.

Over the last year they have slowly been removing the postboxes and they have now all been removed. You can read the article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/21/denmark-postnord-postal-delivery-letters-society

and watch on the BBC here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls-_j2A1RfA

Posted by Justin Hobson 05.01.2026