Going Green

Eco-Label Primer

By Richard Romano on February 7th, 2012

Over at Environmental Leader, Sappi Fine Paper’s Laura Thompson has a two-part primer on eco-labels for the paper and print industry.

Here’s an example of a self-declaration regarding the environmental attributes of paper:  Paper is made from renewable resources with high levels of renewable energy and is recyclable.

If you trust me and/or my credentials, this statement alone might make you feel comfortable about using paper.  It is hard to imagine a material with a stronger sustainability position. However, it is undeniable that not all paper mills have the same environmental footprint, and not every company sources their wood fiber responsibly. Herein lies the value of certification programs.

Here in the Going Greenosphere, we know these thing fairly intimately, but they never get communicated often enough to “outworlders.”