The Marks of Sustainability
Lately, sustainability has gone from a buzz word in communication design and printing to a necessity. More often, our clients would like to communicate their own environmental stewardship on print pieces.
In the design process, paper selection is a big part of demonstrating environmental responsibility.
The corporate sign-off on the back cover of many print pieces has become crowded with logo marks demonstrating environmental certifications. Although they are becoming more prevalent, you may not be familiar with them. Here is a brief guide on the marks you are mostly likely to see.
Recycle Logo
This indicates that a product or package is recyclable and/or made with recycled materials. The recycled logo requires at least 30% pre-consumer content.
Post-Consumer Waste (PCW)
PCW is material recovered after being used by the consumer, as opposed to waste from industrial processes. To communicate paper contents an equation is used (total amount of recycled content first and amount of post-consumer waste second,
for example: 100/30 PCW).
FSC Certification www.fscus.org
Ensures that the paper meets the Forest Stewardship Council’s standards for responsible forest management. The FSC chain-of-custody logo indicates that every entity that touches the finished product—from the forest and logger to the paper manufacturer and merchant, and finally printer—is FSC-certified.
Chlorine Free Certification www.chlorinefreeproducts.org
The Chlorine Free Products Association promotes total chlorine free policies, programs and technologies throughout the world.
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Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) is reserved for recycled content paper. PCF papers have not been rebleached with chlorine-containing compounds. Minimum of 30% post-consumer content is required. -
Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) is reserved for virgin fiber papers. TCF papers do not use pulp produced with chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds as bleaching agents.
Green Seal www.greenseal.org
Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment by promoting the manufacture, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services, including printing and writing paper.
Green-e www.green-e.org
The Green-e logo indicates use of certified renewable energy such as solar electric, wind and geothermal. Green-e is the nation’s leading independent certification program for renewable energy products.
