Make the Logo Greener

Clients have become increasingly concerned about their eco-image. And it’s often left up to designers and printers to accurately back up their customers’ claims.

Listed below are a few tips for several common environmental logos. 

Sustainable Forest Initiative® (SFI)
In order to apply the SFI label to a printed piece, the SFI Chain-of-Custody must be intact.  This means that the merchant, printer and/or converter must be certified.

Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque, HOTS® and Domtar Colors are SFI Fiber Sourcing certified.

There are specific rules for appropriate use of the SFI marks at sfiprogram.org.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
In order to apply the FSC label to a printed piece, the FSC Chain-of-Custody must be intact.  This means that the merchant, printer and/or converter must be certified.

Cougar, Lynx Opaque and HOTS are FSC Chain-of-Custody certified and part of the Domtar EarthChoice® family of socially and environmentally responsible paper.

Find more information about FSC at fscus.org or fsccanada.org.   

Recycling Symbol
Used alone, the recycling symbol identifies a product that is both recyclable and made entirely from recycled material. Most products cannot make both claims, so in these cases the symbol is accompanied by qualifying statements to clarify the intended claims.

In the paper industry, the symbol is used mainly to demonstrate the amount of recycled fiber in a product.  Products made from 100% recycled fiber can be marked in several ways.

It is important to note that a recycled logo without a stated percentage implies that the product is made from 100% recycled fiber.

That is why products made with less than 100% recycled fiber need to be marked appropriately. The symbol should be accompanied by a legend identifying the percentage (by weight) of recycled fiber.

Another consideration is the type of recycled fiber. It is not required, but many manufacturers choose to differentiate between pre- and post-consumer waste as the source of the recycled fiber in their product.

Pre-consumer waste is scrap from the manufacturing process that is re-introduced to the process. This fiber has not been used for its intended purpose.

Post-consumer waste is fiber that has been used for its intended purpose and returned for re-use.

For more information, visit afandpa.org.