Paper is one of the most widely used materials in print, and choosing the right paper is an important part of reducing the environmental impact of a printed product.
But “sustainable paper” can mean different things. Recycled content, responsible forestry, carbon impact, recycled content, paper weight and end-of-life recyclability all need to be considered when choosing the most appropriate material for a project.
What is FSC®?
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is a global certification system designed to promote responsible management of forests. FSC certification covers environmental, social and economic considerations, including protecting biodiversity and the rights of workers and local communities. https://my.fsc.org/my-en/fsc-claim-labels-and-logo
For printed products, FSC Chain of Custody is particularly important. It provides a system for tracking FSC-certified material through the supply chain, from its source through processing and distribution. This gives customers confidence that an FSC claim on a finished product is supported by an independently verified chain of custody.
There are different FSC labels, including FSC 100%, FSC Mix and FSC Recycled, reflecting different types of certified and reclaimed material.
Why does responsible sourcing matter?
The environmental impact of a printed product starts before it reaches the printing press.
Responsible paper sourcing can help organisations:
- support responsible forest management
- reduce the risk of sourcing from unacceptable or illegal sources
- demonstrate responsible procurement
- support wider environmental and social objectives
- provide credible evidence for sustainability reporting and procurement requirements.
Our approach
Pureprint has been FSC certified since 2001, and responsible sourcing remains an important part of our approach to materials procurement.
We work with customers to select papers according to the requirements of the project rather than assuming that one paper type is automatically the most sustainable choice.
The right decision can depend on the purpose of the product, specification, quantity, required lifespan, recycled content, recyclability, carbon impact and how the product will ultimately be used.
The key message: there isn’t one universally “greenest” paper. The objective is to make an informed material choice based on the whole application.
Useful links/resources:
→ FSC: What is FSC?
→ FSC Chain of Custody
→ Pureprint FSC Certificate