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All Paper Is Not Created Equally
EBSCO Media obtains FSC certification, making them an industry leader
in green printing

All paper is no longer created equally. Today, selecting paper for a print job is a complicated task requiring knowledge of paper type, content and how the trees are raised and replenished. A once black and white topic, paper choice is now full of twists and turns.

To provide their clients with more responsible paper options, EBSCO Media (EM) has become one of the first Alabama printers to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a distinction that gives them a strong competitive edge in environmentally friendly printing.

The FSC

Created in 1993 by forest managers, paper producers, conservation groups and other social interest groups, the Forest Stewardship Council is the original forest certification system. The FSC is designed to provide direct accountability, a guarantee that forests meet its standards on the ground, and a rigorous chain-of-custody system to verify that labeled products are connected to certified forests.

The FSC Forest: The FSC requires that all certified forests are responsibly managed, meaning clear cutting is prohibited, the replacement of trees with non-native or genetically modified trees is prohibited, and on-the-ground protection for all imperiled, threatened and endangered species is in place.

The FSC Paper Supplier: An FSC paper supplier is required to use lumber from certified forests, properly label all products based on the amount of recycled material used and prohibit the use of any non-certified content from controversial sources such as illegal logging. It also monitors chemicals and bleaching agents used in paper production.

FSC certified paper is available in a variety of types, including paper that is made with 100-percent post-consumer waste, and partially recycled paper that includes some virgin paper fiber.

Now that EM is FSC certified, it is able to provide customers with paper options that come from responsibly managed forests and are produced in an environmentally responsible way.

The silver bullet?

Carol Sosnin, director of marketing and technology, is the first to admit there is no silver bullet to solving environmental issues in the printing industry. FSC certification, however, is one solid step in the right direction.

“We are creating a demand for responsibly managed forests and recycled paper,” Sosnin said. For example, catalog producers are being criticized for sending out so much paper. EBSCO Media, along with other FSC certified printers, is providing a greener option for these producers.

“If enough people insist on this level of quality, then more suppliers will move to responsible practices,” Sosnin said. “We are creating demand.”

FSC certification is no small feat for EM. In order to label a printed product as FSC certified, the printer must maintain meticulous records of the printing process, from the type of paper selected, to where it came from and finally to properly labeling the finished job with the appropriate FSC logo. “There are a lot more steps,” Peggy Gordon, director of marketing services, said. “But it is, without a doubt, worth it.”

By adopting FSC certification, EM has made the move to becoming a green leader in reducing the printing industry’s imprint on the environment. This certification is only a portion of what EM does to reduce its environmental impact. Gordon explained that the company has been recycling paper scraps since 1986. “It is in our best interest to recycle,” Gordon said. “We recycle an average of 1.2 million pounds of paper annually.” Press plates, solvents and waste ink are also collected and sent to recycling centers instead of landfills.

Even the production process is designed with an eye toward conservation. Production coordinators work to sequence jobs by type, thereby reducing the number of press changes and the amount of ink wasted. By implementing electronic prepress methods, EBSCO Media is able to skip the film stage of printing which speeds production times, eliminates photo chemicals and reduces the amount of water and energy used in each job. Similarly, digitally printing documents allow EM to eliminate plate printing entirely.

By adopting environmentally responsible procedures, and offering green choices to customers, EBSCO Media is doing their part to help preserve our forests and our environment for years to come. Future changes in the press room will increase these efforts and pave the way for responsible printing.

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