Green printing tip no. 51: Can you help us with recommendations?

We are back today 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 after a year of providing you with great 50 tips, Greg has a special request from you.

Can you recommend on green printers that print on Organic T-shirts and Organic Hats?

Tip #51

I have taken 50 weeks to write Green Printing Tips featured in Eco-Libris blog, and now I need your help.

My website www.ecofriendlyprinter.com has all 50 tips listed, as well as Eco-Libris. On the left side of my site, near the bottom, I have a section called Promotional Products.

I need your help this week to expand my list of green printers that feature printing on Organic T Shirts and Organic Hats.

I will add these recommendations to my website. I get so many people asking me who can do printing on T Shirts and hats, and I now have decided to reach out to you.

Don't let me down.

Have a great 4th of July and keep printing Environmentally. We have come a long way to eliminating plastic, to re routing our 100% PCW waste into new printing, saving our forests, using chlorine free bleaching, and Green E Energy.

I applaud our efforts. I thank Eco-Libris for the opportunity to reach out to all of you.

Greg Barber.

For additional information, please visit www.gregbarberco.com and www.ecofriendlyprinter.com. You're also invited to contact Greg via email at greg@gregbarberco.com

You can find links to all the tips at http://www.ecolibris.net/greentips.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

Green printing tip no. 38: Can Hip-Hop "GO GREEN"?

We are back today with a new tip 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 we have a great column written by SpazeCraft, who is a pioneer of the Hip-Hop "education" movement, and is collaborating with Greg on an innovative project that combines the hip-hop tradition with green printing.

Can Hip-Hop "GO GREEN"?

Tip #38

YES, Absolutely!

Hip-Hop music at its core aggregates sounds from many sources to create its unique & ever-permeating music. In essence, it "recycles" sound from both popular & obscure past recordings, bringing new life to the sound bytes in a fresh, new context, composition & form. (it's no wonder it's thrived as a major international art platform through Dance, Music, Rap/Poetry, Visual Arts, Fashion, Philosophy & Education).

So how can the "Hip-Hop" make a difference? The basic steps still apply, don't litter & teach your kids not to, It always starts with the adults in society & educating the community is always a great start.

In the 1970's, Pioneering leaders of the Hip-Hop movement like "Afrika Bambaataa" & "DJ Kool Herc" brought the "GOOD" into the "HOOD", encouraging & inspiring creativity & non-violent expression to get away from the gang influences of the day. Environmental responsibility is an extension of that work. The idea of keeping ones neighbor-hood "clean" leads to keeping ones mind "clean" & works to project this concept further. Hip-hop music from the 1980's-mid' 90's are exemplary of this commitment. Lyrics were fun, educational, full of peace & community spirit, whilst still having the playful competition of skills building show through.

In the 90's, the norm for printed fliers for events were large, over-sized & glossy (& usually with the same exact information on both sides, littering the streets & the clubs). Now event producers are much more aware of their impact, and much promotion is done on the Internet to go viral & cut costs. With the advent of eco-friendly digital printing, we now have better choices for our printing & this also makes us more aware of "who" & "where" we market our performances & products.

As a promoter, If you have all your event information set on the front side of your flyer, why not donate the back of your flyer to a cause you support? or better yet, place information that can educate your reader in the process of promoting your events.

If you set the tone & be the example, others will follow.



Graffiti & Urban artists are always looking for the best ways to publish their works w/ the least impact to the environment.

Designer & hip-hop educator, SpazeCraft of Soh Nup Ink has created an eco-health project called "Hip-Hop(e) for Healing" that educates the masses on Health awareness, Disease prevention & Eco-impact using Hip-Hop Arts as the catalyst.

Soh Nup Ink partnered with Greg Barber to release a series of (business cards sized) eco-health tips that are simple, easy ways to make real impact in your own lives right now. Take these tips with you grocery shopping to make excellent choices in produce selection (especially when "Organic" is not an option).

SpazeCraft is a pioneer of the Hip-Hop "education" movement & is committed to bringing best practices in environmental advocacy & health awareness to the hip-hop community & linking the experts with the masses. for more information on how to become a Responsible Partner in your community: sohnup@gmail.com & for updates in the hip-hop & urban arts community go to: http://blog.sohnup.com


For additional information on eco-friendly paper options, 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 .

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!

Green printing tip no. 37: What are the best paper calculators available online?

We are back today with a new tip 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 and I are presenting our recommendations on a great tool that any paper consumer should take a look at before making their next order of paper.

What are the best paper calculators available online?

Tip #37

Paper calculator is a very useful tool to help you quantify the benefits of using eco-friendly paper. There are some great online calculators that we would like to recommend on:

1. The EDF paper calculator
The Environmental Defense Fund's calculator is a very user-friendly calculator that "shows the environmental impacts of different papers across their full lifecycle."

You choose the type of the paper, quantity per year and % of post-consumer and receive in return the impacts of your choice in terms of wood use, net energy, greenhouse gases, wastewater and solid waste. What I like about this calculator is that it gives you the option to compare between several papers, so this way you can compare for example the differences of using 30%PCW and 100%PCW.

The Paper Calculator is based on research done by the Paper Task Force, a peer-reviewed study of the lifecycle environmental impacts of paper production and disposal, and the underlying data are updated regularly.This calculator got many good reviews as you can read on the testimonials page. Here's one of them: "The Paper Calculator is an intelligent, flexible and comprehensive tool which has helped Dell identify and quantify significant internal environmental savings opportunities and assisted the company's green focus."- Tod Arbogast, Director, Dell Sustainable Business

2. ECO Paper Calculator of Neenah Paper
This is also a very good calculator that gives you the option to learn about the environmental of your choices. Only here it shows you how much you save by choosing a certain % of PCW.

As Neenah explains at the bottom of the calculator page, the environmental impact estimates for savings pertaining to the use of post consumer recycled fiber share the same common reference data as the Environmental Defense Fund paper calculator v2.0 (which is based on research done by the Paper Task Force).

What I like about this calculator is that they try to make the data more relevant for the user by translating the figures into examples we can all relate to. For example,using 30% PCW for 2 lbs of paper will save 6 gallons of water, which equals to an eight minute shower. Using 100%PCW for 10 lbs of paper will save you 4 lbs of solid waste, which equals to the amount of trash thrown away by one person in one day.

3. Mohawk Environmental Calculator
Mohawk Fine Paper also have a very good calculator. It's very user-friendly. You fill in information about the number of lbs (or kg) of paper you want to use, the postconsumer recycled percentage, coated or not coated, do you want it to be made with wind power or not, and do you want it to be made carbon neutral. Afterwords you click on 'calculate savings' and get the savings in terms of trees, water, wastewater, solid waste, greenhouse gases and energy. Mohawk's data is also based on the research done by the Paper Task Force.

Mohawk's calculator doesn't let you compare two types or more of alternatives in one calculation like the EDF and Neenah do. On the other hand, the presentation here is much more graphic, it's easy to bookmark or email calculations, and you can even download the calculator to your computer (it's only 1MB)!

You can find the calculator on the bottom right side of the homepage (third line in the blue part, just below to 'Merchant Login').

You're welcome to check all of these calculators and choose the one that is the best fit for your paper needs. In any case, we hope you'll make a good use of them.

For additional information on eco-friendly paper options, 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 .

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!

Green printing tip no. 36: Is Free Tree Bamboo Good for Printing Books?

We are back today with a new tip 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 presenting us with an interesting option of paper for printing books with a tree free secret ingredient: bamboo.

Is Free Tree Bamboo Good for Printing Books?

Tip #36

That is a good question. Many of my clients are afraid of using Tree Free paper.They think this paper will fall apart. Actually, the bamboo paper is strong, and looks like normal paper.

Neenah Paper now carries this line under the umbrella of their Environment line. Their swatch book, which is my favorite, includes 100% post-consumer waste, 80% PCW waste, and 30% PCW, plus Bamboo mixed with Sugar Cane fiber. You can check it out on their website - www.neenahpaper.com. Go to the right column on the homepage (which is actually their virtual swatch book) and click on Environment Papers.

Sugar Cane and Bamboo fiber make up half of the content of this new line. The other half is post-consumer waste paper. So, we have a mixture of 25% Bamboo, 25% Sugar cane, and 50% PCW.

You have a choice of white paper, that looks like normal book paper or two earth colors. A natural color and a beige color.Some of our clients want the paper to look like a real recycled sheet, and some want the paper to look like a normal paper. The paper comes in book weights and cover weights. The white is 96 brightness, which we consider a bright white sheet.

We have these papers in large size sheets in both the text and cover weight. That makes it possible to run large quantity books on our 40” presses. We also can cut the paper to digital sizes, for the On Demand Market.

We offer both small runs digitally, and large runs via offset. Bamboo, mixed with Sugar Cane and PCW is chlorine free, FSC certified, and Wind E certified.

And the price? The price point is higher than our 100% PCW line, and the less expensive, and less environmental lines that contain 30% PCW.

For additional information on bamboo paper, 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 .

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!

Green printing tip no. 35: Is Direct Mail Dead?

We are back today with a new tip 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 presenting us with a column he found while researching research the internet for new Green Tips. This column is dealing with direct mail and how to make it more efficient and successful, and it's written by Leslie Tane. Now, if you're asking what's so green about making direct mail more efficient, the answer is that greater efficiency will reduce the waste involved in it.

If after reading Tane's tips, you're still looking for further green guidance on direct mail, you're welcome to check out our tip no. 26 about this issue, as well as Jennifer Kaplan's excellent column "9 Ways to Eliminate Direct Mail Waste". We hope all of these resources will get you a better idea on how to make your next direct mail campaign more eco-friendly.

Is Direct Mail Dead?

Tip #35

It's the age of the Internet - e-mail marketing, social networking and blogs. So why would you do printed, direct mail marketing? No one reads that stuff...do they?

Well, you might be surprised. According to the USPS, advertising mail represented 63% of all mail received by households in 2008. Of that, 79% of households either read or scan advertising mail sent to their household and 11% respond and take action.

Compare this to e-mail marketing: Mail Chimp's research indicates the average open-rate for marketing e-mail is about 25% and the click-through/take-action rate is only 4.28%. I'm not a numbers person (is there a graphic designer who is?), but it's pretty clear that direct mail is
far from finished.

There are some things to keep in mind when designing direct mail to increase the chances of your potential customer following through:

1. Take advantage of variable data printing. When I started out, there was one main option for printing in color: offset printing. How times have changed. Not only is it affordable to digitally print short-runs of your printing projects, it's possible to customize your projects using variable data printing (VDP).

For example, say you're designing for an organization's annual fundraiser. If the organization has a database of past donors, including their names, and the years and amounts they've previously donated, it's easy to print that information right in the body of your piece. It personalizes the experience and can make a call for cash less of an intrusion and more of an appeal.

2. Have a clear call to action. A few years ago, I got a letter asking me to support the Fourth of July fireworks display in my town. I take my kids to that event every year and was ready, pen in hand, to write a check. I scoured the letter only to find that there was no return address, no phone number and no way to easily send the money. Sure, I could have looked up the number and contacted them, but expecting your recipients to do that is expecting too much. I never sent the check.

Make sure you provide a clear way to respond to your direct mail. Is there a number to call? A Web site to visit? Make it obvious.

3. Speaking of Web sites, use yours to track the results of your direct mail campaign. Personalized URLs or Web addresses that incorporate the recipient's name are becoming more and more widely used. At the very least, each direct mail piece that goes out should have a dedicated phone extension or Web landing page, so that you can track your results.

4. Design something different. I often save a few weeks worth of direct mail I receive, so that I can have a base of real-world samples. I'll spread them out on my desk to look at them. Then, I'll design something that looks different. If I'm seeing a lot of close crops of faces, I'll pick and image with a person far away, or, even more likely, avoid a picture of a face at all.

Lots of primary colors? I'll go for an off-shade of green. Not many large fields of color? Maybe, that would work for my design. You can't steer clear of all existing designs, but you want to make your direct mailing stand out. The best way to get a feel for what's out there is to look at some of it with a critical eye.

One of the best things about direct mail is that even on a smaller budget, you can get great results.

For additional information on greening your next direct mail campaign, 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 #34 - What should we look for in buying copier paper?

Green Printing Tip #33 - Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?

Green Printing Tip #32 - Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

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!

Green printing tip no. 34: What should we look for in buying copier paper?

We are back today with a new tip 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 shedding more light on the choices almost every office around the world is making while buying copier paper and what should be taken into consideration in this process.

What should we look for in buying copier paper?

Tip #34

The copier paper market is a huge market in terms of paper bought. Probably, in the trillions of pounds bought each year. The copier market comes in several categories. One is the non recycled category, another is the 30% recycled category, and the last one is the 100% recycled market.

Environmentally, the 100% recycled market is the way to go, if you can afford the extra price. If you do, you are helping to keep 70% of the previous waste paper from being landfilled, or incinerated.

If you buy 100% recycled copier paper, that paper is entirely made from previous "printed" paper, which is 100%PCW If you buy 30% recycled, then 70% of the remaining content is made from trees, or pre-consumer waste, and then millions of pounds of printed paper will not go back to the mills to make new paper. Instead, that paper will go to our over crowded landfills, or incinerated, releasing toxic fumes into our environment.

Although there is no way to figure the true cost difference between 30% PCW versus 100%PCW paper, let me try. The less recycled paper is bleached with Chlorine Dioxide and chlorine mixed
with other chemicals in the paper making process will cause Dioxins to formulate. Dioxins seeping into our waterways, and it will, can cause cancer.

The 70% printed paper now needed to be landfilled will cost the tax payer money. So if we have an $8.00 per carton difference between 30% PCW and 100% PCW paper, the hidden costs will need to be considered. How much money is spent on cancer research, and cancer treatment, not to mention loss of life and loss of human productivity, and unemployment payments, etc.

What does that equal in cost per carton? What is the cost per carton to each of us to pay the taxes on running landfills, and incinerator plants?

So the $8.00 per carton difference is really a lot less if you could add these hidden costs to the real cost per carton of the less recycled paper.

To make sure you are getting the correct paper, if you are buying the 100% recycled copier paper that is manufactured only with post-consumer waste paper, look for the emblems printed on the cartons and the packages.

You need to see 100% PCW. You need to see 100% PCF, which stands for Processed Chlorine Free. The 100% PCW recycled papers are bleached with Oxygen or Hydrogen Peroxide, and NOT chlorine. You should also look for the FSC and the Wind E emblems, as well.

So, consider all factors when considering the extra money in being more environmental. You would be helping future generations deal with our mess, and our health issues, and your actual cost per carton may not be the $8.00 per carton you originally were dealing with. We might be saving money in the long run, and living a cleaner life now.


For additional information on buying copier paper, 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 #33 - Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?

Green Printing Tip #32 - Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

Green Printing Tip #31 - How to produce the greenest hang tags?

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!

10 Tips for an Environmentally Responsible Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day doesn't have to mean a box of commercially produced chocolates or an expensive dinner out. Get inspired with these ten meaningful ideas from RecycleBank blogger Jessica Harlan.

If you'd like to celebrate Valentine's Day in a way that's less commercial, more environmentally responsible, and infinitely more meaningful, let these ideas inspire you.

1. Make a fancy dinner at home. Spend some time in advance pouring over your favorite recipe books or searching recipe sites for elegant, lavish choices that you wouldn't ordinarily splurge on. To make it even more special, treat yourself to a bottle of nice wine or Champagne, start out with a course of fantastic artisanal cheeses, and make or buy a decadent dessert. Be sure to buy all the groceries a day or two in advance and allow enough time to be able to cook together in a leisurely manner – sharing in the cooking process is half the fun. Pull out your fine china and linens, then light some candles to set the mood.

2. Give a living plant instead of cut flowers. A dozen red roses are a quintessential Valentine's gift, but they're not exactly good news for the environment - the flowers could be heavily sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals (bad news for you and the workers who pick and handle the flowers.) Many are flown from South Africa or Latin America, travel that uses resources and causes pollution. Instead, find an eco-friendly florist or garden shop and give your sweetie a living plant that will stay green long after those red roses wilt.

3. Make your own truffles. Don't waste your money on fancy commercial chocolate brands – instead, head to the kitchen and make your own truffles. Recipes can easily be found online for a delicious, thoughtful gift that also helps the earth.

4. Or, buy chocolate responsibly. If playing chocolatier in your own kitchen is beyond your skill set, try to do a little research and find sweets that are organic, fair-trade and made locally so you're supporting small business people in your community.

5. Shop for gifts at thrift and antique stores. Your local flea markets, thrift stores or even eBay can be a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind, meaningful gifts for your honey. Look for vintage purses, a pretty glass vase, or some beaded necklaces that you can take apart to make your own personalized piece.

6. Take a jewelry making class to make a handcrafted bauble. If you plan far enough in advance, you can take a jewelry making class (or, for the time-pressed, even a one time only afternoon workshop) so that you can make a piece that's truly unique and from the heart. Look online for a class and you might even find someone who teaches you about giving new life to old objects, like this one taught at New York City jewelry store Lunessa.

7. Splurging on a diamond? Go conflict free. Most commercial diamonds are mined in ways that harm the environment and the workers. If you are going to splurge on a diamond, make sure it's a conflict-free gem. There are plenty of eco-responsible jewelers, such as Green Karat who specialize in recycled precious metals and responsibly mined sparklers.

8. Create a home spa experience. Instead of a gift certificate to a fancy spa, create a luxurious spa experience in your own home. Find recipes for homemade bath salts, scrubs or facials, then light some candles and put on some Sade.

9. Make your own Valentines. Whether they're for your child's classmates or for friends and loved ones, making your own valentines can be a satisfying way to use the things you've been hoarding, such as scraps of fabric and ribbons, random buttons, and old greeting cards and magazines. Gather up all the materials you think you might need, buy some construction paper or card stock at your supermarket, and get to work.

10. Go risqué responsibly. Looking for some sexy underthings to spice up your night? Stay away from synthetic fabrics like polyester satin, and seek out lingerie made from natural and environmentally responsible fabrics like bamboo, organic cotton, hemp and silk. Green Cheeks Boutique has romantic options ranging from colorful thongs made from silk remnants to lace-trimmed, organic cotton babydolls.

These tips can also be found at RecycleBank.com (http://www.recyclebank.com/live-green/lifestyle-cat/469)

Green Printing Tip No. 33: Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?

We are back today with a new tip 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 talking about a very clever green marketing idea for trade shows that will keep no one there indifferent to your company, especially if they love to smell!

Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?
Tip #33

Yes. I have been working on my Eco Circles SM Networking Cards for 6 months, and I figured out the final key to getting your attention! My Eco Circles are 3.375" Diameter, and look like bar coasters.

We print them on Tree Free paper, mixed with Post-Consumer Waste (PCW). They are much more popular than business cards, or bookmarks, or pads. There is enough room on the back of these cards to write a quote, or ask a question, while at these networking events. But, now we came up with the final link to a very successful attention grabbing idea.
















We print around the circumference of these circles a tagline that says, printed on Tree Free Mango or tree Free Banana or Tree Free Coffee or Tree Free Lemon or Tree Free Sugar Cane with soy based inks using Green E energy, etc. 90% of the people try to see if my cards smell like a lemon or their favorite coffee, etc.

That intrigued me, and I began to look for environmentally sound fragrances to add to the printing, and we found them. We will now print your company information, and mission statement, and print the tagline around the circumference , and the clients getting these cards will be astonished to actually smell the scent.

These cards will make a huge impact on those people that receive them. The price is reasonable and we will have the final costs soon. Compared to pads or bookmarks, this is an inexpensive, environmentally-friendly idea, and I personally know it works to have people really read the cards, smell the scent, and remember you.

For additional information on Eco Circles, 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 #32 - Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

Green Printing Tip #31 - How to produce the greenest hang tags?

Green Printing Tip #30 - How do you become Carbon Neutral in your next print job?

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!

Green Printing Tip #32: Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

We are back today with a new tip 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 talking about a paper that was used to print the first book made on a printing press - The Gutenberg bible.

Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

Tip #32

Yes. We used to carry a Hemp Blend a few years back, made by the Crane Paper Mill. That line was discontinued and we now have a Hemp Line again.

Recently, my firm brought Hemp Paper into stock in two cover weights and 1 text weight. We feature 110# cover for making
business cards and postcards and for invitation printing.

Hemp comes in a natural cream color, and has specs in the paper, making it look recycled as well as tree free. Hemp is mixed with Post-Consumer Waste and is tree free, or void of tree fiber.

We also have matching envelopes in 4.375 x 5.5 (A-2), 4.75 x 6.5 (A-6), and 5.25 x 7.25 (A-7) invitation sizes. We also have envelopes in a #10 size to accomodate letterheads. The color of the Hemp paper is a natural light brown color.

And the price? The hemp paper is 50% higher than our 100% PCW lines, but it's still affordable. For example: $60 for 500 business cards versus $90 for Hemp business cards.

We also are carrying Tree Free papers in Bamboo, Sugar Cane, Lemon, Mango, Coffee, and Banana. Like the Hemp, these plants are mixed with Post-Comsumer waste to make the new paper.

Finally, here's another interesting fact about hemp and hemp paper: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.

For additional information on hemp paper, 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 #31 - How to produce the greenest hang tags?

Green Printing Tip #30 - How do you become Carbon Neutral in your next print job?

Green Printing Tip #29 - Why environmental views are not always in the core of business?

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!

Green Printing Tip #24 - Can we be Greener in our use of Inter Office Envelopes, Presentation Folders, and Outgoing Envelopes?

After one week off, we're back with another tip for you 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 discussing some of the widely used office materials that are made of paper and how they can get greener.

Can we be Greener in our use of Inter Office Envelopes, Presentation Folders, and Outgoing Envelopes?

Tip #24

I have done my research, and my answer is a definite YES, and we are saving you money doing it!

I recommend using the patented Conformer products. Their Inter Office Envelopes are made from 100% post-consumer (Milk Jugs), which means you are saving plastic from going to the landfills, and using really strong Inter Office Envelopes. They expand to hold twice as much "stuff". And, at the end of the day, these envelopes can be used again, eliminating all the waste from going into the garbage. Many companies already recognized the potential of these Inter Office Envelopes and reuse them multiple times.

Next, we have the Conformer Presentation Folders. They truly expand to 1/2" or 1". The construction of the expansion pockets is in the top and bottom of each pocket, and on the spine. This patented construction eliminates the need for re-inforced edges, and lamination coating (which is not recyclable). The paper is thick and FSC certified.

Finally, you can put these stong and expandable presentation folders into an even stronger translucent recycled plastic envelope that also has the Conformer expansion on all 4 sides. Direct Mail agencies tell us that the response rates go way up when potential clients can see the Pocket Folder or whatever is put into these patented, translucent envelopes.

The Conformer Expansion Envelopes are made from Recycled Milk Jugs, which enhances the strength. No need to buy Tyvek envelopes or even boxes. Your products will ship safely in these mailers.

Your savings begins to mount, as the shipping weights go down, and the visual look of your mailing goes up. Not using boxes, eliminates the plastic tape and over packing on the insides.

So, take a look at www.conformer.com. Call me (973 224 1132) or email me (greg@ecofriendlyprinter.com) with any questions. I will walk you through the process of becoming more sustainable in your office correspondence, all the way through to your outgoing mail..

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 #23 - Are there inexpensive Green papers for brochures?

Green Printing Tip #22 - What does I-Tone mean?

Green Printing Tip #21 - What new developments have surfaced in Green papers?

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!