Over the past decade, “being green” has gone from a popular catchphrase to a serious goal companies and consumers commit themselves to. Research from the Annual Tork Sustainability Study in 2013 found that 78 percent of people say they buy green products, and that number continues to rise today.
For many companies concerned with print’s impact on the environment, the obvious knee-jerk reaction has been simple: Stop using commercial printing and turn exclusively to digital.
But given the standards and practices common among professional printers today, giving up printing altogether can actually do more harm than good––just one of many disconnects between public perception and reality.
Let’s explore how commercial printers take an active role in actually improving the environment by looking at three commonly held myths about modern printing and then touch on the systems in place that keep printers green.
Myth 1: “Print is bad for the environment”
Unlike many of the resources we consume on a grand scale, paper is actually one of the few truly sustainable products.
Environmentally responsible printers use paper products harvested from well-managed forests. For every tree cut down and used for paper, several are planted. While the long-term benefits are obvious, young trees provide an important short-term benefit by absorbing harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Myth 2: “Paper destroys forests”
Just the opposite, actually. According to the USDA Forest Service,
“Four million trees are planted everyday in the United States. Of this amount, the wood and paper products industry plants on average 1.7 million trees daily.”
The growth of U.S forests is 36% higher than the volume of trees removed each year. This means the more paper we use, the larger our forests grow.
Myth 3: “Producing paper wastes energy and fossil fuels”
This was certainly true years ago, but over the past several decades, paper and pulp producers have made huge investments in efficiency by ditching fossil fuels for renewable energy sources, reducing emissions and wasteful resource use across the board.
How sustainability certifications ensure printers stay green
How do you know a printer is truly as green as they claim to be?
Several independent non-profit organizations have created rigorous standards under which printers and the forests they harvest from are certified for sustainable practices. Certification status can usually be found directly on a printer’s website or by calling for additional information about what sustainable services they provide.
So, what specific accreditations should you look for?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is the gold standard when it comes to sustainable accreditation with a reputation for being the most demanding, credible certification system today.
Supported by some of the largest environmental protection groups like the Sierra Club, WWF, and the National Wildlife Federation, there are more than 380 million acres of FSC-certified forest around the world.
Printers who earn this rigorous accreditation provide FSC-certified source quality printing materials through a highly controlled Chain-of-Custody system, which traces the path of products from the forest all the way to the final user.
Harvesters, processors, manufacturers, printers, distributors and everyone else involved in this supply chain are required to be fully certified before labeling or promoting their products as such.
How the FSC’s Chain-Of-Custody process ensures a truly sustainable product
The FSC uses accredited third party auditors to assess companies interested in offering sustainable products.
Each certifier uses its own evaluation process based on the FSC’s policies for Chain-of-Custody, allowing the organization to stay neutral while supporting the integrity and reliability of the system.
This process requires all printing materials be tracked from an FSC-certified source through the manufacturing processes, giving customers a wide range of sustainable products which all adhere to the same responsible guidelines.
How Suttle-Straus takes an active role in sustainable professional printing initiatives
We’re a proud FSC-certified service provider, offering a variety of sustainably sourced and recycled paper options while taking it upon ourselves to diligently recycle all paper, cardboard, plastic, metal and wood products used inside our facilities.
Through ongoing environmental initiatives, we’ve gone beyond simply offering sustainable materials by reducing the amount of recycled paper we use by approximately 30% since 2008.
Our FSC-certified Chain-of-Custody system verifies the validity and scope of each supplier’s FSC certificate status prior to each order we place with our vendors to ensure all materials are sourced properly.
In addition, all FSC materials are labeled, tracked and kept separate from other products inside our facility. When products are shipped, our invoices identify FSC product categories, material type and certification number directly on the documentation you receive.
Have questions about our sustainable printing services or want to talk to our team about sourcing your next printing project from sustainable materials? Contact us today.
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