You may have heard the term “FSC Accreditation/Certification” used by print companies previously but not fully understood it’s meaning and benefits to the environment, below is some information of the processes involved in trying to be a ‘green’ company.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC was established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation and is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management worldwide.
FSC Accreditation is a certification system that provides an internationally recognised standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organisations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.
The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value. See www.fsc.org for more information.
It is the case that recycled papers tend to cost slightly more than papers manufactured from non-sustainable sources, however the more demand that is created for earth-friendly papers and cleaner manufacturing processes, the greater the chance of reduced prices more swiftly. For companies wishing to print their corporate literature and collateral on FSC Accredited paper stocks, not only do the papers come with certification of where they have come from, but the actual wood used can be traced back to guarantee its authenticity (subject to request).
As well as an awareness that papers and boards need to be further sourced from sustainable forestry as an eco-friendly act to the environment, print processes have been given the green treatment too. Good print production houses are more frequently using waterless print production techniques as well as the reduction in usage of solvent based inks in favour of more natural organic-based inks too. Couple this along with non-solvent based varnishes and advancement in biodegradable plastic laminates, we can all help to ‘do our bit’.
Design Inc. is committed to eco-friendly print processes and paper manufacturing methods and we are doing everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint including the use of electronic artwork supply, PDF invoices and estimates and even car pooling when commuting to work and meetings.
Would you like to do a bit more to help the environment? all FSC certified papers need to be quoted specifically on estimates and invoices to guarantee their chain-of-integrity so if this is of special importance to you and your company, don’t forget to mention so when requesting prices.
If you are considering a forthcoming creative/marketing project, you may be interested in receiving Design Inc’s Information Pack.
