Green printing tip no. 29: Why environmental views are not always in the core of business?

A new year (and a decade) began and we are back on our weekly series of green printing tips, where we bring you information on green printing in collaboration with Greg Barber, an experienced eco-friendly printer.

Today Greg is offering his view on the barriers that get businesses not to adopt greener printing practices.

What are the main reasons that environmental views are not always in the core of business?

Tip #29

The main reasons for not following the most appropriate environmental path in purchasing environmental printing , are lack of education and fear that it will cost too much money.

We started this topic in the new group in Linkedin called "Green Values In Business", with the question "Do you know the Definitions of Environmental terms"? Almost 100% of the people I ask do not know the definitions of the basic environmental terms.

Without that knowledge, you can be easily Green Washed. I pointed out earlier that printers that sell 14 PT coated business cards are using paper that was bleached with Chlorine Dioxide, which is called ECF (elementally chlorine free). Sounds good, but it isn't good. Chlorine mixed with other compounds will cause a deadly, toxic chemical called " Dioxin" to be created. Once in our
waterways, it will poison us.

The best bleaching process for paper making is PCF (processed chlorine free). No dioxins are created from this form of bleaching that uses Oxygen or Hydrogen Peroxide.

Lack of education and "not" lack of wanting to do the right thing. People don't know better. And, the fear of costing a lot more money. But, that could be a lack of education as well. Do you know that I have a 100% Post-Consumer Waste recycled paper that is "not" more expensive than many virgin opaque papers?

Most people do not know that I stock 100% PCW paper that will not increase the printing price, since my paper is under 90 cents per pound. Many of my clients are happy to learn these definitions so they can make the correct decisions that they "really" wanted to do in the first place.

I need my story told.

For additional information on green printing, please call Greg Barber at (973) 224-1132, or email greg@gregbarberco.com.

Also, if you have any questions you would like us to address in future tips please email us to info@ecolibris.net .

Latest tips:

Green Printing Tip #28 - Green printing resolutions for the New Year!

Green Printing Tip #27 - Can you save money on paper on your next greeting cards order?

Green Printing Tip #26 - What can we do to reduce the carbon footprint of direct mailing campaigns?

You can find links to all the tips we published so far on our green printing tips page, which is part of our green printing tools & resources.

You can also find further valuable information on Greg Barber Company's website - http://www.gregbarberco.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!