Every company is all about being environmentally conscience today and what better way to green up your company’s marketing than by using print?
Print often gets a bad reputation with people encouraging you to abandon print materials for online mediums such as email and social media. But did you know that spam emails use the “equivalent greenhouse emissions of 3.1 million cars using 2 billion gallons of gas annually”? even switching to online based newspapers may not be as green as you think, reading a paper based newspaper results in “20% less in CO2 emissions.”
Do you know what fights greenhouse and CO2 emissions? Trees! In case you didn’t know trees are a big part of the printing industry. But it’s not all about chopping them down. In fact, “the printing industry plants more trees than it chops down.” The trees used to make paper don’t just come from randomly selected forests, they come from managed timberlands. Making them more like an agricultural crop than an actual forest. It takes 10-20 years for the trees to grow creating their own ecosystems in that time, and the more manageable timberland that are harvested for paper production the more that are planted to keep up with demand.
However not all paper comes from freshly harvested trees. “More than 37% of the fiber used to make new paper products in the U.S. comes from recycled sources.”
Still not convinced printing is green? What about printing on tree-less paper? That’s right if recycled tree based paper still doesn’t set well with you their other options out there, including a synthetic substrate made entirely from mineral powders, limestone or calcium carbonate, with and a plastic bonding agent. This process means that it is 100% tree-less paper. It’s also compatible for digital printing and water proof, making it great for any print jobs that may face the elements.
There are plenty of organizations in place to make sure printing stays green and holds printers accountable. Forest Stewardship Council or FSC was established as a response to concerns over global deforestation. FSC applies the directive of its membership to develop forest management and chain of custody standards, deliver trademark assurance and provide accreditation services to a global network of committed businesses, organizations and communities. FSC certification provides a credible link responsible for the production and consumption of forest products. It enables consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value
Interested in more green printing options? Or about L+L Printers dedication to being a green print shop, contact your L+L sales rep or visit: http://ll-casino.com/san-diego-green-initiative/
Works Cited:
http://printisbig.com/
http://blog.bbsmartsolutions.com/green-and-sustainable-printing-and-paper-facts-infographic/
http://www.youlovepaper.info
