Surviving the Sustainability Maze

Your clients are budget-conscious. Explain to them from the outset what they can expect and, in turn, they will be happy to have solid reasoning/information that they can pass on to their clients.

Certifiable chlorine free. ECF, PCF, TCF...Until recently, any claims as to the bleaching process of a paper were...well, a gentlemen’s agreement. There was no governing or environmental organization that would double check if a claim made was actually substantiated. The Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) is filling this void. With Neenah Paper as the first mill to obtain certification, others are sure to follow.

You might feel inundated with all these certifications, but they are here to ensure that you and your customer get what you pay for—that any claims made are rightful, and that you truly do your bit for the environment.

Using the right labels. “Do I have to apply in order to use a recycled logo on the back of my printed piece?” This was only one of many “basic” questions we received from hundreds in a recent survey of the readers of our e-newsletter, revealing that there is still a cause for confusion on various levels. Possibly the biggest uncertainty is around the use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logos.

Recycled, Green Seal, Green-e: These are the easy ones, and you do not need any special permission to use them. When it comes to FSC, it’s a different story. The FSC is possibly the most stringent organization when it comes to their certification and use of logos, but also the most recognized forest stewardship authority around the world.

From the original tree to the paper mill, to the paper merchant to, yes, you (the printer), many hands are involved to produce and get the final paper product on-press. Given this long supply chain, the FSC has set forth strict mechanisms to ensure that every link in this chain adheres to their standards—the chain- of-custody. If only one link in this chain is not certified, you cannot use the logo on the printed piece.