Going Greener — Printing Cleaner Thinking Beyond Recycled Paper
• Sustainable products have an overall 17% market share and a 32% share of growth. • Products marketed as sustainable grew 2.7x faster than those that were not. • 78% of consumers feel that sustainability is important. • 62% of people say they “always or often” seek products to purchase because they are sustainable. • 84% of customers say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company. Source: TheRoundup.org 2 3 Table of Contents Sustainability Organizations & Certifications Recycled Content Eco-Friendlier Manufacturing Recyclable & Degradable Materials Reusable Items 6 8 12 10 A Commitment to Sustainable Sourcing 4 Today, sustainability is central to various aspects of business, from enhancing brand reputation and driving innovation to influencing consumer behavior and boosting revenues. It has become the new standard, reshaping the economic landscape. In a recent study by global management consultancy Bain & Company, it was revealed that consumers globally are willing to pay as much as 12% more for products with a lower environmental impact, as they express increasing concern over climate change and environmental sustainability. (source: esgtoday) Printed products like marketing materials, signage and packaging are a natural place to look for eco-friendlier options. But what makes one printed product "greener" than another? Using recycled paper typically comes to mind first; however, there are several other factors to consider when trying to reduce environmental impact. In this booklet, we share five sometimes surprising ways to help achieve your sustainability goals. We also provide product recommendations in each of the categories. Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC ®) certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. FSC® C018308 The Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI ®) is a North American organization that aims to promote sustainable forest management in North America and responsible procurement of forest products around the world.
Custom Secure Prescription Pads Printed on SFI® certified stock, these prescription pads are also tamper-resistant and contain several security features. Wall Calendars - Scenes Across America This 13-month calendar has beautiful nature scenes and is made with more sustainably sourced stock. Astrobrights® Spot Color Postcards Ten color options are all made with more sustainably sourced materials. These postcards are printed with black spot color allowing the design to stand out from the bright color background. Full Color Business Cards These business cards not only look natural, they are. ENVIRONMENT® Desert Storm is an eco-friendlier stock that is more sustainably sourced and made with 30%+ post-consumer fiber. FasTurn® Labels Our FasTurn® labels can be ordered in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and our 30% and 100% recycled stocks are more sustainably sourced. The paper industry now plants three times more trees than it cuts down each year, working hard to maintain and increase forest and woodlands around the world, with an area the equivalent of 1,500 soccer fields being planted every day. Source: Pepper Communications It’s a fact! Using sustainably-sourced materials in the manufacturing process means the materials are grown and manufactured in ways that use fewer natural resources, respect nature and people, and ensure the welfare of those resources throughout the supply chain. They provide an opportunity to lessen the environmental impact of daily operations without the added costs of post-consumer materials. A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE SOURCING Be part of the solution. Consider these products... technology 1409 W Concord Dr. Boston, MA 02108 617.555.0014 617.555.0017 technology 1409 W Concord Dr. Boston, MA 02108 617.555.0014 617.555.0017 4 1 1 "Committed to using responsibly sourced paper." "Printed on eco-friendlier paper." 5 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 Printable statements:
Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. Source: University of Southern Indiana Paper can be recycled up to seven times after its initial use. After that, fibers get shorter and too weak to bond into new paper, so virgin fiber from trees must be added to continue the cycle. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency It’s a fact! RECYCLED CONTENT Small change, huge difference. Printing on recycled paper is the most visible and commonly-recognized method used to reduce the environmental impact in printing. Recycled paper can contain pre-consumer (manufacturing) or post-consumer waste (PCW). The paper is typically identified by the percentage of recycled content, and is available in a wide range of weights, colors and finishes. Engraved Badges, Wall & Desk Signs The 2-ply plastic used in our engraved name badges, wall and desk signs, contains 5-20% regrind materials. The scrap material can be ground down and repurposed into a finished plastic sheet. 2000 Plus® PrintPro 40 Customizable self-inking stamps are great for use at home or in the office. They produce thousands of impressions and are perfect for quick, repetitive use. The stamp housing contains over 70% recycled materials. This is a certified climate neutral made product, with a reduced CO2 footprint. Full Color Post-it® Note Pads Custom Post-it® Note Pads are the perfect place to jot down a note and keep branding top of mind. Made with more sustainably sourced stock containing 30% recycled material, these pads are an eco-friendlier choice. Full Color Letterhead This letterhead is printed on Classic Crest Natural White 24lb. text, one of our stocks that features 100% recycled content. Holiday Greeting Card - Snowy Glow Printed on 100# McCoy Silk, a substrate made up of 10% PCW. Using a mixture of materials from FSC® certified forests, recycled materials and/or FSC® controlled wood makes this an eco-friendlier option. 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 "This paper contains recycled materials" "Printed on recycled paper" Printable statements: Consider these products...
ECO-FRIENDLIER MANUFACTURING Making smaller footprints. The production, conversion and finishing processes used to create printed products provide plenty of opportunities to reduce environmental impact. Historically, printing methods often prioritized efficiency and cost over environmental considerations. Today, greener production methods have significantly reduced the environmental impact of printing - from more eco-friendly inks and coatings, to reduced energy consumption and waste disposal. Stand Up Pouch Flexible Packaging is a great way to stay ecoconscious. It uses less plastic than rigid forms of plastic packaging and is lightweight, making it easier to transport which reduces fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. Post-it® Note Cube Post-it® Note Cubes are noteworthy not only because of their full color printing but because they are manufactured in a landfill-free facility. Folded Cartons Unlike many competitor products, these cartons are produced in the USA and require no overseas shipping - reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Full Color Decals Our window, wall and floor decals are printed with a water-based latex ink or a UV Gel Ink set which carries the UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification for low VOC emissions levels. Short-Run Digital Business Cards Our four color flat business cards (in quantities from 250-1000) are run on digital presses, saving on paper, ink and plate waste, not to mention chemical cleaning solvents. Digital printing also uses less energy than offset printing. 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 "Manufactured using eco-friendlier practices" "Printed in a facility committed to sustainability." "Made in the USA" Printable statements: A recent study found that, for a small print run, offset printing used 3.7 times more paper than digital printing for the same job. That same study found that offset printing used about 16g/impression of ink, while digital printing only used 1g/impression. Source: Wilen Group Using a recyclable plate such as KODAK TRILLIAN instead of poly plates for offset printing can offer a potential 70% reduction in chemical usage and also last longer, for greater efficiency. Source: Kodak It’s a fact! Consider these products...
The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags. One person using reusable bags over their lifetime would remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment. Source: CleanTechnica An average restaurant (of 2,600 square feet) will need at least 2,000 pages worth of disposable menus per week. That’s equal to twelve trees per year! Multiplying that by the 1 million restaurants in the United States (per the National Restaurant Association), that could represent 12 million trees used solely for single-use (menus) in restaurants. Source: eightfold.ai It’s a fact! REUSABLE ITEMS Reduce when you reuse. Printed products that are used multiple times can be more eco-friendly than single-use products. Although some durable products may require more energy or resources to produce initially, each re-use reduces the impact of the single-use product going through the manufacturing process and entering the waste stream. Many of these products can be used hundreds of times before needing replacement. Reusable Grocery Bags A great alternative to plastic bags, reusable grocery bags can be screenprinted with logos or custom messaging. Dry Erase Name Badges An ideal option for businesses with many employees, these badges can be used over and over again. Names can be written with a standard dry erase marker and wiped clean for the next use. Polyweave® Zip Bag Lead-free, phthalate-free PolyWeave® is made of poly with fabric woven through it, giving it superior strength. These bags can be used over and over because of the longevity of the materials. Plastic Menus Printed in full color on both sides, these washable menus can be cleaned and used repeatedly. 2000 Plus® PrintPro Self-Inking Economy Dater Made of up to 70% recycled content and a self-inking component that allows for fast, repetitive stamping, these daters feature a 10-year date band, so they can be used for several years before replacement. 10 11 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" "Reduce your impact - Please Reuse!" "This product is designed for reuse" Printable statements: Consider these products...
Project Drawdown estimates that recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by 5.5 to 6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking over one billion cars off the streets for one year. Recycling is a practical yet easy change to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit the climate crisis. Source: https://drawdown.org/solutions/recycling It’s a fact! Marcello™ Wheat Straw Pen This pen barrel is made from compostable wheat straw composite, a smart, more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. Available in several unique colors. Water-Activated Packaging Tape This reinforced packaging tape combines reliability with a more sustainable option. As the glue is activated with water, it securely adheres – providing a tamper-evident seal. Customize packaging tape with your logo and marketing message to increase brand visibility. This tape can be left on the box when recycling. Corrugated Plastic Yard Sign Get your message out there in the heat, rain and wind with corrugated plastic yard signs. These durable signs can last up to nine months, and the plastic is recyclable. Terraboard™ Envelopes Containing pre-and post-consumer recycled content, these mailing envelopes are durable enough to protect your mail and can be recycled afterward. Polypropylene Snap Envelopes Designed to simplify daily workflow, these envelopes offer a wide array of uses, ensuring documents and belongings are organized and accessible. Made from recyclable polypropylene, these items are more energy efficient to produce than paper and can be reused for years before being recycled. RECYCLABLE & DEGRADABLE MATERIALS Diverting waste from landfills. The overfilling of landfills has become a major concern for many areas of our country and world, as the amount of trash continues to grow faster than it can decompose. Recycling products printed on substrates such as cardboard, paper, and plastic can reduce the size of our landfills. Use our "Printable Statements" to encourage recycling and show your commitment to the environment. 12 13 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 "Please Recycle Me" "100% Recyclable Material" Printable statements: Consider these products... Most of our other paper products are also recyclable.
"We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world." Howard Zinn GRNV042024
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