Saying that you are eco-responsible is different than being able to prove that you are eco-responsible. For many, being able to show your commitment to the environment in a definable way could be a key to showing the world that you are truly an eco-friendly company. To do this, the efforts you make have to be certified by an independent agency. Within our industry there are a few governing bodies that are considered the standard for certifications: Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

The PEFC is the agency that ensures that the other two certifying organizations are maintaining proper requirements and standards. FSC and SFI certifications were developed to promote the purchase of paper that was manufactured with processes that are eco-aware.

Certified paper is actually little different that non-certified paper. The key difference is not in the paper but in how the lumber that the paper is made from is harvested. To be certified, the wood that is used to make the paper must be harvested in such a way that the process is sustainable. Logging companies that provide the lumber must be able to show that their efforts are not reducing the forests, typically by having aggressive planting projects that coincide with their logging efforts.

Chain of custody is the second phase of any certification process. Printing manufacturers must prove that paper that comes in as certified is never mixed with paper that is not certified. In their plant, they must show how paper shipments are handled, what processes are in place, to ensure that paper that is certified maintains its integrity.

What does certification mean to you, the end-user? Using a certified print manufacturer allows you to put a certification logo on your print project. This allows you to promote your company as eco-responsible whether it’s on brochures, folders, statements or envelopes.

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