Welcome to the Escape Blog

Here we go then. We know we want FSC approved stock and we’ve chosen to use vegetable inks but how green do we need that stock to be?

There are actually three types of FSC certified paper:

1. There’s 100% FSC which is paper made by a certified mill.
2. Then there is FSC Recycled. This must be made from 100% post-consumer waste and made by a certified mill.
3. And finally there is FSC Mixed Sources. This one must have at least 50% of the virgin fibre coming from FSC certified forests and the remaining percentage has to be from a controlled source.

At this point I’ll share with you what a controlled source is not:

• Harvested wood from forests that are being converted to plantations or other non-forest use.
• Wood that is illegally harvested.
• Genetically modified organisms.
• From an area where high conservation values are threatened.
• Where there is or has been violation of peoples’ civil (and traditional) rights to harvest the wood.

So there you have it and if you want samples of any of these types of paper, you know where I am.

Head’s up for all our UK readers interested in design and print - well print really. I just heard an advert for a tv programme on Monday (14th April) 9pm on BBC4, which has the double whammy of having Stephen Fry present it…

Stephen Fry and the Machine That Made Us

Stephen Fry goes in search of the story behind the inventor of the printing press, Johann Gutenberg, travelling across Europe to find out how Gutenberg kept his development work secret, and how his approach started a cultural revolution.

In order to fully understand the man and his machine, Stephen assembles a team to help him build a copy of Gutenberg’s printing press as well as learning how to make the paper and type so that they can print as Gutenberg once did.

So, you’ve been mulling over the green issue for your printing and you’ve managed to get a favourable price on FSC approved paper but is that enough?

To be even more environmentally friendly you may want to ask about the inks that are used on your printing.

Traditional printing uses inks that are petroleum based and are used with alcohol based solvents. As they evaporate, they release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs not only damage the environment by creating ozone pollution (or greenhouse gas), they can also contaminate soil and groundwater, when sent to landfill.

So you may want to consider soya or vegetable-based inks as these have a much lower rate of VOC emissions. It won’t be a surprise therefore, to know that de-inking of vegetable based inks for recycling is much easier.

One other thing - if you use metallic or fluorescent based inks, you might want to re-think that decision, they contain pigments which can be damaging to the environment and to human health such as cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury.

So, next time you are ready to place your order for printing on your environmentally friendly paper - don’t forget to ask about the inks.

We are experiencing an increasing demand for “greener” print, so for those of you that are considering moving into this area, here is a mini guide.

The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) was set up in 1993 and is an independent body, to certify that forests are well managed, sustainable and being constantly renewed. The FSC is supported by environmental groups such as Greenpeace. Over the past 13 years, over 90 million hectares in more than 70 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC-certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. FSC operates through its network of National Initiatives in 45 countries.

More detailed information can be found on the FSC website.

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) was established in 1999 as an independent non-profit making organisation. It has the same objectives as the FSC but it’s main advantage is that there is twice as much certified product available under this scheme.

More detailed information can be found at the PEFC website.

The main purpose of both organisation’s certification is to maintain a “chain of custody” from the forest to the end user to ensure that the product is distinctive from non-certified products.