As our eco-awareness grows, so will this section. Here's a starting collection of eco-friendly design tips to consider for your next project.
All recycled paper is not created equal
Using recycled paper no longer means printing on brown paper with chunks of wood in it! There are lots of choices, but some are more environmentally friendly than others. About half of the paper used to make recycled paper comes from pre-consumer waste – paper that never makes it to the consumer market. Another third comes from post-consumer waste, for example, the paper you toss into your recycling bin. Post-consumer is considered more environmentally friendly as less virgin pulp is used to create new paper.
Is your paper certifiable?
You may have noticed the “FSC-certified” logo on some paper packages. What does it mean? FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council, an “international organization that brings people together to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests.” The FSC-certified label allows consumers to recognize wood and wood products that are responsibly harvested and processed – so you can feel good about your choice. Twin Fish can help you choose an FSC-certified paper for your next print job.
Veggie inks: Not just for vegetarians
Ever noticed the strong chemical smell coming from products that have just arrived from the printer? That’s the smell of petroleum-based ink. These inks have high levels of solvents, which, if sent to a landfill, can leach into the water table. As an alternative, request vegetable-based ink for your next project. They are more biodegradable, renewable and easier to de-ink during recycling. We also find they give brighter colours and rub off less on the hands – so there’s really no down side.
Go local
A great way to reduce your environmental impact when planning new marketing materials is to find a local printer. A local printer means less shipping, which is good news for the environment. Plus, we know things tend to get a little rushed when it comes to fabricating and printing marketing materials. If your printer is local, you won’t be forced to use rush air shipping, which is the worst possible thing for the environment. And as a bonus: no rush means no rush charges!
Take your eco-awareness to the next level
Sure, you recycle paper, you have company travel mugs – but do you really know the environmental impact your organization has? If you’re ready to get serious about the environment, its time for an eco-assessment or eco-audit. There are a variety of levels of commitment: from using online tools to do your own assessment, to hiring a consultant to do a full assessment of the environmental impact of your business practices. This is a great opportunity to create measureable eco-aware goals.