“Our members show, year after year, that joint action creates real impact,” said Bernd Zipper, Chairman of the Board of the IOP, during the Autumn Conference. “Especially in a challenging market environment, knowledge transfer, collaboration, and the willingness to take responsibility are essential. The Initiative Online Print provides all of this.”

Three New Members and One Reinstatement Strengthen the Network

With Hoodie Hoo Agency GmbH (Essen), Mail Druck+Medien GmbH (Bünde), Lyto Brands Group GmbH (Düsseldorf), and the Spread Group (Leipzig) as a reinstated member, the IOP continues to grow.

• Hoodie Hoo Agency GmbH positions itself as a specialized product and design agency with its own textile production, print production within a European partner network, sourcing expertise with complete in-house product development, and customized shop solutions. The company operates over 50 creator online shops and manages high-volume drops in e-commerce, handling production, fulfillment, and customer support entirely in-house.
• Mail Druck + Medien GmbH is a leading provider of customized print and communication solutions. The company combines state-of-the-art digital printing technologies with data-driven customer engagement, enabling highly personalized print mailings in industrial quality. As a long-established family business, Mail Druck + Medien supports the implementation of efficient, cross-media campaigns. The company was honored as the Most Innovative Company of the Year at the 2025 Druck und Medien Awards.
• Lyto Brands Group GmbH brings together three strong brands — famwalls, Bo&Birdie, and hey balu — under one roof and positions itself as a key player at the intersection of print, e-commerce, and brand communication. As an innovation platform, Lyto Brands Group stands for the ongoing development of the online print ecosystem and for bridging the gap between analog value and digital dynamism.

In addition, Martin Koschei (Managing Partner) and Ralf Büttner (Managing Director) presented Sattler Media GmbH as the successor to the IOP member Primus International Printing GmbH. This year, the company received the Gold Award as Socially Engaged Print Company of the Year at the Druck und Medien Awards.

We are also pleased to announce that a former member has rejoined the association. Spread Group is now once again an active member of the IOP.

“The diversity of our members—from printing companies to software providers to agencies—is what makes the IOP so successful,” says Roland Keppler, member of the Executive Board. “Every new membership brings new perspectives, expertise, and energy to our network.”

ESG Working Group: Despite political uncertainty, sustainability remains central

A key focus was the report by the ESG Working Group, presented by Roland Keppler and Dominik Haacke. The two provided insight into the key initiatives for 2025: an ESG boot camp in Essen, which supported member companies in developing and communicating sustainability strategies, and the development of the EUDR-X data standard, an open exchange format for the printing industry that puts the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) into practice. In addition, the working group provided information about a cooperation between the IOP and the Bundesverband Druck und Medien (“German Printing and Media Industries Federation,” bvdm) to develop industry-specific recommendations for the German Sustainability Code (“Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex,” DNK).

“Our goal is to provide member companies and the printing industry with pragmatic tools to implement ESG issues in an economically sensible and legally compliant manner,” emphasized Dominik Haacke, project manager for the IOP’s EUDR-X exchange format.

From social commerce to artificial intelligence

The second day of the event focused on the future of the online print industry. Johannes Kautz (Hoodie Hoo Agency GmbH) and Matteo Sidiropoulus (ENKIME GmbH) provided insights into the potential of social commerce and influencer marketing—especially in the B2C sector—and discussed how brands can build trust and influence purchasing decisions through authentic communication.  It became clear that creator commerce is more than just a trend: it marks a new stage of development for online printing, in which content, community, and commerce merge into a dynamic value creation model. For the industry, this means a clear direction – away from purely transactional models and toward an emotionally connected, personalized form of digital commerce in which print plays a central role as a tangible expression of digital creativity.

Leon Mehlau (Levanty) and Christoph Clermont (Head of AK KI) then presented the work of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group. Together with representatives from Onlineprinters, Probo, mediaprint solutions, Traffic Print Online Solutions, and Lyto Brands, the participants discussed practical applications of artificial intelligence in print production, marketing, and automation processes.

The participants agreed: data quality, data protection, and a willingness to experiment are crucial for successfully leveraging the potential of AI in a competitive environment.

Outlook for 2026: actively shaping twin transformation

The IOP is planning several initiatives in the coming year to support its members in their digital and sustainable transformation:

• A two-day AI skills training course on 26-27 January 2026 in cooperation with the Berlin law firm Härting and the Hamburg agency Blackboat, leading to certification as an AI officer.
• The volatility of the regulatory environment in Brussels and Berlin makes it difficult for the printing industry to address the issue of sustainability. For us, the responsible use of our resources and transparency in corporate management remain decisive factors for competitiveness, investment strength, and brand trust—both for our customers and our employees.

“Our Agenda 2026 combines sustainability and artificial intelligence – the two key drivers for the future of online printing,” summarized Dominik Haacke, member of the IOP Executive Board, thereby emphasizing the strong commitment to actively shaping the Twin Transformation. The Initiative Online Print has set out on its journey into the future and welcomes anyone interested to join them.