Nucleus - Marketing and Design Newsletter
Green Printing 101
With apologies to a certain mild-mannered muppet amphibian…Who says “it’s not easy being green?” With a little thought and planning, you can substantially reduce the environmental impact of your next mailing, collateral piece or annual report. Not only is this the right thing to do, but your customers will appreciate the effort. And it marks you as a responsible, forward-thinking company that they want to do business with.
For your next print campaign, choose paper that is:
- 100 percent post-consumer waste
- Processed chlorine free
- Uncoated
- Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
- Made by renewable energy sources like wind or solar power
Consider going “tree-free”
Today there are a number of eco-friendly vendors providing paper
made out of sustainable alternative materials, including hemp, kenaf
(a plant closely related to cotton and okra) and even stone.
As an added bonus, using such nontraditional materials can add visual
and textural interest—helping your materials stand out.
And paper is only the beginning.
Here are some other considerations to make your next print job even more eco-friendly:
- Use soy or vegetable-based inks instead of petroleum-based inks.
- Both alternatives are low in Volatile Organic Compounds
- Reduce the amount of inks you use by going with one- or two-color designs
- Save paper by asking your agency or design firm to use standard press sheet sizes
- Request a printer that uses renewable energy sources
Let your green flag fly
If you print your project in an environmentally responsible manner,
don’t forget to let your audience know. Add a brief line of copy
saying so. Include a discreet Forest Steward Council logo or other
applicable mark.
Promoting green design and printing practices can not only look
good, it can make you look good. For tips, techniques and best
practices on going green with your next print campaign, talk to your
Nova representative.