GREEN scene

Omaha Print Celebrates 150 Years With 150 Trees

OMAHA, NE—To celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary, Omaha Print employees recently planted 150 trees here at Fontenelle Forest. As the Conservation Stewardship Sponsor for Fontenelle Nature Association (FNA), Omaha Print plans to continue to add trees to Fontenelle Forest yearly. Together, Omaha Print and FNA aim to preserve the biodiversity and ecological integrity of Nebraska lands for current and future generations.

CEO Steve Hayes explains that the gift of trees is being made in honor of all the company’s employees, retirees and customers. “We have been fortunate to receive the support of the community for so many years,” he says. “Our gift is an enduring way to give our thanks and pay tribute to those who have helped us succeed as a company for 150 years.”

Omaha Print also recently became the first printer in the city to earn Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certification, according to Hayes.

Earth-Inspired Inks

NORTHLAKE, IL—The new Earth Series sheetfed inks, with only 2 percent VOCs, have been launched by Kohl & Madden. The eco-friendly inks are formulated using 38 to 51 percent vegetable oils, such as linseed and soybean. To promote the “green” inks, Kohl & Madden is using a photo of the earth and sun.

The company’s sister division, Rycoline, has developed a line of chemically matched low- and no-VOC fountain solutions and washes that are also being promoted as part of the Earth Series eco-friendly products.

INDUSTRYNEWS

U.S. Forest Service Reveals Landmark Study: Forestland Is Still Plentiful

WASHINGTON, DC—The most recent USDA Forest Service data confirms that the United States forestland is roughly as abundant today as it was 100 years ago. According to the Forest Service’s Resource Planning Act (RPA) 2007, there have been state and regional increases in forestland across the country. Among the key findings in the report:

• There are 750 million acres of forestland in the United States today, about the same as 1907.

• Forestland in Massachusetts and New York have increased more than 70 percent.

• Over the same period of time, forestland in Vermont, Pennsylvania and North Dakota has almost doubled.

• Overall, forestland in the northern United States has increased by almost 30 percent.

• Eleven states had increases of more than 25 percent over the last century; nine had increases of more than 30 percent.

• Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana all have more forestland today than a century ago.

This new data reinforces findings in “The State of America’s Forests,” a 2007 report by the Society of American Foresters that was produced with the support from Abundant Forests Alliance. The full report is available for viewing or download at www.safnet.org/aboutforestry/index.cfm .

Patricia “Trish” Fritz has been named Associate Chief of Staff for the Government Printing Office (GPO) Strategic Environmental Programs. In her new position, Fritz will develop and expand programs that include recycling, reducing energy consumption, reducing the GPO’s carbon footprint and providing federal customers with environmental printing alternatives.

Fritz, who previously worked with Congress and the Departments of Energy and Interior, will also assist industry leaders in creating a certificate program for more environmentally responsible paper usage by federal agencies, and she will advise the GPO on ways to move the agency into a facility that is green-building certified.

PRINTERNEWS

“Love Your Mother” was the message on an invitation from Dome Printing. “Come to Dome’s Earth Day celebration and make your mother proud,” the predominantly green, 8.5x11˝ postcard reads on the flip side. “Come in and show some love to your dear old Mother Earth.

“Take a tour of our plant and see what we are doing to protect Mom,” it continues, noting that guests were also to be treated to free organic eats, free tree plantings and even free tattoos. “All brought to you by Dome Printing, and Mom, naturally.”

Industry participants in the Earth Day event included Unisource, JC Paper, New Leaf Paper, Spicers, xpedx, Ink Systems, Fujifilm, Pitman, Böttcher Systems and Kodak.

FSC and SFI Chain-of-Custody endorsements have been garnered by Lawton Printers, of Castleberry, FL. The company has also implemented a stringent recycling program, and has been committed to reducing toxic and harmful chemicals in its prepress and printing processes for many years.

Triple Chain-of-Custody certification from the FSC, SFI and PEFC has been obtained by Miami-based Original Impressions. The company has implemented many green initiatives over the years, including offering recycled, acid-free and processed chlorine-free papers; using vegetable-based inks and non-toxic chemicals and cleaning solutions; eliminating isopropyl alcohol from press dampening systems; and employing automatic ink mixers and a solvent recycler.

Printed Specialties, Carrollton, GA, is now FSC and SFI Chain-of-Custody certified.

A “Green Ink” program has been launched by Stuart, FL-based Southeastern Printing, which promotes customer and public awareness of the company’s many sustainability practices, including being FSC Chain-of-Custody certified, offering eco-friendly paper, using VOC-free, vegetable-based inks and recycling throughout the plant.

Bay State Envelope, Mansfield, MA, has been awarded FSC Chain-of-Custody certification.

Toledo, OH-based Metzgers Printing + Mailing has garnered FSC Chain-of-Custody certification, which expands the company’s green achievements that already include a stringent recyling program for paper and metals, the reduction of toxic and harmful chemicals from the prepress and printing process, and determining the carbon footprint of their printing processes by year’s end.

Already having implemented various green initiatives such as energy-efficient lighting and the recycling of ink, wash solvents and paper, Dayton, OH-based Think Patented has added FSC Chain-of-Custody certification.

Recertification of ISO 14001:2004 (environmental) and ISO 9001:2000 (quality) standards has been earned by Pictorial Offset, of Carlstadt, NJ. Pictorial became the first dual ISO certified printing operation in the world in 1999. Also, as the largest printer of corporate sustainability reports in the United States, the printer recently debuted its own, entitled, “Our Commitment to Social Responsibility: Doing the Right Thing.”

Royle Printing, of Sun Prairie, WI, is now FSC Chain-of-Custody approved.

SUPPLIERNEWS

As a manufacturer of “environmentally friendly” high-speed printers and digital printing technologies, RISO is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 100,000 trees over the next four years. The trees will replenish national forests damaged by fire or disease and will be planted on behalf of RISO’s customers and resellers.

Eastman Kodak has been named to the list of “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World,” which selects companies whose sustainability performance falls within the top 5 percent of their market/industry sectors. Selected from among 2,000 of the world’s largest companies, this is the fourth straight year that Kodak has been named as a Global 100 firm. PI