A major buzzword in our new eco-nomy is sustainability. In essence, can a process continue on indefinitely without depleting its resources. If a process is not sustainable, then the environment is obviously going to be affected by the reduction of whatever item is being depleted.

In our industry, the main resource that gets depleted are the forests. A study by the Resource Conservation Alliance estimates that 40% of all harvested timber goes towards making paper. The Forestry Stewardship Council estimates that the United States uses 90 million tons of paper annually.

The environmental movement uses the 3 “Rs” to describe how to reduce our impact on the environment and promote sustainable processes: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Reduction happens in a number of ways, in our industry, and doesn’t always equate to a smaller number of items used. Sometimes, it just means a responsible process that replaces what is taken. Some examples of what reduction processes include:

Paper created by companies that promote eco-responsible logging is a key way to reduce our environmental impact. Responsible logging practices ensure that there is no actual reduction in the number of trees by incorporating a planting process with the logging practice.

Incorporating recycled papers into your paper use to reduce the need for new, virgin papers.

Utilizing electronic communication methods (such as email) in place of paper where possible. In our industry, items like proofs, purchase orders and even invoices can be as easily handled with an electronic document as with one on paper.

While the opportunities to Reduce and Recyle are greater in our industry, there are opportunities to promote the Reuse of products as well. In some cases, obsolete documents can be cut and padded to make note pads. Toner and ink jet cartridges can be refilled and reused. Re-placeable and static cling labels can be taken off and replaced in other locations, reducing the need for additional labels.

 

While it is difficult to find ways to reuse items in our industry, the possibilities for recycling are fairly large. Press waste, printing plates, and color cans are just a few of the items in a print manufacturing that qualifies for recycling. In addition, many papers are now made with some percentage of recycled content. In our links section, there is a link to a Paper Calculator that allows you to see the difference than be made based upon what percentage of recycled paper is used in your paper orders.