Earlier this week, I talked about printing with recycled paper and how the decision on which stock to select goes beyond merely “recycled” to include other factors, including the percentage of postconsumer waste content and whether or not the paper is elemental chlorine-free.
Printing with recycled paper ought to be a no-brainer. Not only do you save trees, but according to Friends of the Earth, the production process used to create recycled paper uses up to 70% less energy than for virgin pulp. It also requires fewer chemicals.
Some marketers sniff at recycled paper, however, because it’s not quite as bright as virgin stock. Yet, one could make the argument that the positive social image associated with recycling can easily offset any loss in brightness—if that was ever really important at all.
More Reasons to Use Recycled
If the points above aren’t enough to overcome the “brightness” appeal, here are just a few more reasons to favored recycled stock. This list is compliments of Barefoot Press of Raleigh, NC.
- Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group, calculates that one ton of virgin uncoated paper (which accounts for 90% of paper used in the U.S.) consumes three tons of wood, more than 19,075 gallons of water, and generates 2,278 pounds of solid waste.
- U.S. pulp mills consume 12,430 square miles of forests around the world each year, an area almost the size of the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined.
- Globally, according to the Environmental Paper Network, 70% of trees used for paper pulp comes from biodiverse forests as opposed to tree farms, much of it from endangered forests.
- Illegal logging has destroyed or degraded 80% of the world’s ancient forests. These forests create oxygen and hold massive amounts of carbon dioxide in the plant life. When the forest is cleared, that carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Scientists estimate that preserving the world’s forests and managing land use sustainably would reduce CO2 emissions by one-quarter. Deforestation accounts for about 30% of the global warming pollution released into the atmosphere each year. (www.sierraclub.org/trade)
- Irresponsible logging undermines the culture and economy of millions of indigenous and rural people who depend on forests for their livelihood. It also leads to erosion, flooding, and water pollution, and creates conditions that erupt in violence and human rights abuses. (www.greenpeace.org)
How important does that “super whiteness” look now?
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I remember when I was little, my mom bought notebook paper made of recycled paper that was kind of gray and it was much softer than regular paper. I was so embarrassed to take it to school! Of course now, I would be happy and proud to use recycled notebook paper. I would say those that can’t see the good in using recycled paper are immature, as I was when I was young. And, the brightness of a white postcard or flyer doesn’t do anything for me – if I see a recycled sign at the bottom of the page, or if the page is light gray and soft, I’ll know the company is doing something from the environment and that will encourage me to buy from the company more than bright white paper ever will!
I remember when I was little, my mom bought notebook paper made of recycled paper that was kind of gray and it was much softer than regular paper. I was so embarrassed to take it to school! Of course now, I would be happy and proud to use recycled notebook paper. I would say those that can’t see the good in using recycled paper are immature, as I was when I was young. And, the brightness of a white postcard or flyer doesn’t do anything for me – if I see a recycled sign at the bottom of the page, or if the page is light gray and soft, I’ll know the company is doing something from the environment and that will encourage me to buy from the company more than bright white paper ever will!
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best brochure printing
Wow, this one is really looking one of exceptional post. And the existing information about greening print marketing is really looking just awesome and incredible. I am really totally crazy about this existing information of this post. Thanks for sharing some authentic thing about Greening print marketing.
best brochure printing