How to select an "environmentally responsible" paper for your printing needs

These days more and more business and consumers are wanting to minimize the impact of their activities on the environment.

Studies still show that printed marketing materials, like posters, brochures and business cards, are still the most effective way to get the word out about products, services and events.

It should be reassuring that nearly every major paper used by commercial printers and local print shops today is certified to come from sustainable, well managed forests that operate in an environmental and socioeconomic responsible manner.

In late 1990's, the Forest Stewardship Council established a rigorous certification process for forests and paper mills with paper that can be tracked back to a certified forest being designated in one of two ways:

• "FSC Mix" if the paper contains any virgin pulp or
• "FSC Recycled" if the paper is made from 100% recycle content.

To learn more visit fscus.orgfscus.org.

In addition to FSC certification, there are four additional ways to designate paper has come form a sustainable forest: American Tree Farm System, the Canadian Standards Association, the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) or Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

To learn more visit GreenBlue Stop by or call your local print shop to learn more about what paper options are available and which paper would be the best choice to meet your needs.