PFFC - September 2007 - (Page 36)

GREEN CONVERTING You can be eco-conscious and Paper Possibilities create compelling, cost-effective Virgin, Recycled, and Tree-Free | The strongest and most pure paper fiber that comes directly from trees is called virgin fiber. packaging. Just spend a little Because it has not undergone prior printing or converting, papers made time strategizing up front. with virgin fibers can be the cleanest papers available, depending on the By David Lunati, Monadnock Paper Mills Inc. bleaching process used. Due to its purity, however, virgin paper has the most direct effect on the consumption rganizations that make enviof natural resources. ronmental responsibility a top Fortunately, virgin fiber can be priority are realizing that not only are traced to its origins via third-party certification the results great for the environment, programs, such as the Forest Stewardship they’re also good for business. Lower energy Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative costs, less waste, and invaluable goodwill among (SFI), or the Programme for the Endorsement customers means potential repeat business. of Forest Certification (PEFC). This “chain of In the competitive cosmetics and custody” certification assures users that only personal care marketplace, the importance appropriate trees are used to source the fiber and of environmentally sustainable products no old-growth forests are being used. is especially true. As consumers become Recycling has become an increasingly increasingly savvy, they look for products with important factor in paper manufacturing. It all-natural ingredients and pay attention to a has been estimated that recovered fiber now brand’s environmental stance. accounts for approximately 37% of the domestic Undoubtedly, cosmetics and personal care raw materials used to make paper products. brand managers must turn the same attention Recycled paper, in fact, takes much pressure off to packaging and manufacturing as they do landfills and forests alike. to ingredients. But being environmentally According to the Environmental Defense responsible also presents a new set of challenges. Fund and the Alliance for Environmental For brand managers, graphic designers, Innovation, compared to the manufacture of printers, packagers, and converters, the rising coated virgin fiber paper, recycled paper offers cost of operations and consumables means all the following benefits: parties in the supply chain must be mindful uReduces total energy consumption by 38% to ensure their printed products are created in uReduces net greenhouse gas emissions by 40% the most cost-effective ways possible yet still uReduces particulate emissions by 36% have customer appeal. Add environmental uReduces wastewater by 32% friendliness to the mix and you may get an earful about cost-to-benefit ratios, print quality uReduces solid waste by 46% suffering, and so on. Over the past decade, recycled paper— But eco-friendly design, print, and packaging which can include post-industrial waste, can, in fact, be cost-effective, good for Mother post-consumer waste (PCW), totally recycled Nature, and compelling to store shoppers. Just fiber, or blends of each—has greatly improved pay a little green-minded attention to five key in quality. In many cases, recycled paper elements during the project-planning phase. O 36 | SEPTEMBER 2007 WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - September 2007

Table of Contents First Glance From the Editor Calendar of Events Web Lines Process Management News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Narrow Web Sustainability: Going Green? What's the Score with Wal-Mart's Scorecard? Straight Talk From Your Trade Associations Learn 5 Key Elements to Creating Cost-Effective and Eco-Conscious Packaging Install Energy-Efficient Light Fixtures and Reap the Environmental Benefits People, Profit, Planet: How to Balance the Impact of a Triple-bottom-line Philosophy Show Preview What’s New Products Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index Experience Speaks

PFFC - September 2007

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