Sustainability

Chicago-based InnerWorkings, a leading global provider of managed print and promotional solutions for corporate clients, has earned Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody (COC) certification from the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program.

Headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga., Wise’s Portland, Maine facility has earned FSC COC certification for its business forms, commercial printing and document services groups.

Making a business more eco-friendly has little to do with the company’s size or its pocketbook.

Memphis, Tennessee-based Verso Paper Corp. recently announced its release of “A Climate of Change - Sustainability Report 2008.” The report details Verso’s progress to its commitment to respect a sustainable balance among environmental, social and economic needs.

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) wants to know what you think. The GPO recently released a request for information (RFI) seeking opinions from paper manufacturers and distributors about the most sustainable paper products available for it and other federal agencies to review.

Independent Printing has upgraded to a more environmentally-friendly ink formulation at its De Pere, Wisc.-based commercial printing and folder manufacturing facility.

Minneapolis-based Blanks/USA has added EcoBlanks to its innovative line of die-cut blank substrates.

Boston-based Arthur Blank & Co. introduced the AB Recycled FinancialCard into its GreenLine suite of environmentally oriented products. The AB Recycled FinancialCard is made from 100 percent pre-consumer recycled plastic core—88 percent recycled with an overlaminate—and is specifically designed for financial institutions for use in credit and debit card applications.
 

Kermit the Frog said it best. “It’s not easy being green.” Printers probably commiserate with everyone’s favorite amphibian when the topic turns to adopting green business practices. However, some experts don’t believe it has to be a difficult task. In other words, printers don’t have to kiss a frog in the process.

When addressing attendees at the Sustainability in Printing conference held at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia last June, Gary Jones, director of environmental, health and safety affairs for The Printing Industries of America, Sewickley, Pa., stressed there would be a culture change going forward. Instead of a policy, he cautioned, businesses of all sizes will need a formal management system, along with continuous improvement measures, put into place.