ElandersUSA - Improving Your Story - Environmental Impact

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	Two Kinds of Green
	How Choosing a Truly Environmentally-Active Supplier like ElandersUSA Can Also Improve Your Bottom Line By Jon Lawry As the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day has come and gone, I’m reminded of a comment I recently heard from a customer: “As part of our sustainability efforts we plan to put more emphasis on our web-site instead of printed materials.” Obviously this poses a unique challenge to designers and communicators who still feel a printed piece offers a number of advantages over on-screen viewing, such as sharper images, a tactile feel of quality, and portability. Certainly the printing process can be resource intensive with the manufacturing of paper, the press run, inks and chemicals, and the transportation and consumption of the end product. And it appears obvious that communications in an electronic format would certainly be better for the environment than ink-on-paper, right? That’s what I thought until I read the November 2007 edition of PrintWeek which published a story reporting that “the environmental impact of reading a printed newspaper daily for one year is less than reading news online for 30 minutes per day!” It turns out that the energy required to create, transmit, store and access those bits and bytes for that half-hour of on-line news is a lot more than you think.
On the other hand, after looking into the environmental strategies of ElandersUSA, I learned how they have long been ahead of the sustainability curve, not only for environmental reasons but also because it makes solid economic sense. For over a century, Elanders has worked to become a responsible steward of the environment, knowing that it is also helping to impact their customers’ bottom lines.
For example, emissions from the production of Elanders’ 2009 Annual Report have been compensated through the purchase of carbon offsets. The project enables the replacement of fossil energy by renewable energy through the use of waste from rice cultivation as fuel for electricity and high-pressure steam production. The project meets Elanders’ own high demands on measurable reductions of CO2 emissions as well as positive social effects such as jobs, financial growth, and technical development. This is good for the earth, people, and the bottom line.
Carbon offsetting The act of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce their impact, such as sustainable power generation, changes in land use and forestry. Cotton paper Cotton papers are superior in both strength and durability to wood pulp-based papers, which often contain high concentrations of destructive acids. Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) Paper made from virgin or recycled fiber that is bleached using alternative Chlorine compounds as a substitute for elemental Chlorine. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) An international organization that has developed standards emphasizing environmentally- and socially-responsible criteria to certify and label wood products from well-managed forests. Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) Paper collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it. Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) Paper made from fiber recycled from post-consumer waste (PCW) and unbleached or bleached without Chlorine compounds. PCF paper is the most environmentally-friendly type. Soy ink An alternative to petroleum based ink that contains lower levels of VOCs and is biodegradable. Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) Paper made from 100% virgin fiber (including alternative fiber from sources other than trees) that is unbleached or bleached with non-Chlorine compounds. TCF cannot apply to recycled papers, because the source fiber cannot be determined. Vegetable-based inks Inks made from vegetable byproducts, including soy. Virgin fiber Wood fiber, or Paper pulp, that has never been recycled. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) A highly evaporative, carbon-based chemical substance, which produces noxious fumes; found in many paints, caulks, stains, and adhesives.		ElandersUSA follows strict standards for sustainability through: Utilizing recycled paper whenever possible. Recycling all scrap paper. Re-using all water required in offset printing. Working with paper suppliers who are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Using soy and vegetable-based inks. Unlike petroleum inks, these inks are derived from a renewable resource and do not contain undesirable toxins and carcinogens. They also break down faster and are easier to remove during the paper recycling process. Utilizing biodegradable coatings when possible. Engaging in practices that minimize transport, such as taking advantage of Elanders’ global network to print closest to the point of delivery. Elanders has also earned the following certifications: FSC SFI Climate Neutral Eco-Swan Certified ISO 9001 / 14001 Certified So how can ElandersUSA improve your bottom line? By aligning with ElandersUSA, you can dovetail on these sustainability efforts, including them as examples of your own environment initiatives. At the same time you can rest assured that you are taking advantage of ElandersUSA’s more economically-efficient production, and actually saving energy. …better allowing you to see both the forest and the trees.


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