While the majority people have different ideas about what it means to be ‘green’, most agree on the importance of eco-responsibility. A growing push from consumers for environmentally conscious products has driven businesses in all industries to develop smarter ways of thinking. While some companies go to great lengths to limit their impact on the environment, other businesses spend more time and money advertising their green status than they do on resources and environmental practices. This practice is referred to as ‘greenwashing.’ Finding companies who are honest about environmental intentions is becoming more and more difficult for consumers in an ever growing sea of eco-friendly claims.
Knowing the facts about a business and their practices is the only way to be certain of its environmental position. Beware of broad claims about environmental friendliness - the proof is in the details. When shopping for a printer, eco-responsibility is crucial. Researching a printer before committing to a company based on environmental claims can be very useful. Environmental responsibility should be easy to spot.
- Is the printer certified by reputable organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)?
- Do they use low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) inks?
- What is the company recycling policy and what lengths do they go to in order to cut down carbon emissions?
Our mission at CNPP is not simply to reduce the carbon footprint of individual printers, but the entire print industry in general. CNPP approved printers care about the environment and are committed to sustainable printing practices.
The only option consumers have is to become more perceptive. Take a good look at printed material you receive in the mail that advertise a business as eco-friendly. How can you be sure if their green promises are true? Look for details like CNPP leaf on printed materials. Companies who fail to make responsible choices from the start (such as offsetting their print related carbon footprint) are probably not serious about limiting their environmental impact.
The proof is in the details. Please print responsibly.