GREEN scene
PRINTERNEWS ‘Green to Gold’
STUART, FL—Southeastern Printing was recognized by the Martin County (FL) Business Development Board (BDB) at its 2008 “Business Appreciation Awards” ceremony. Southeastern received a “Green to Gold” award for best exemplifying green leadership in product, practice and process. The award advocates the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment.
Now Certified
The following companies have received chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and/or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
Print Tech, Mountainside, NJ: FSC.
Wright Business Graphics, Kent, WA: FSC.
SUPPLIERNEWS
Pumping Up Eco-Friendly Paper Production
SETÚBAL, PORTUGAL—Known as the “hard worker,” the Eucalyptus globulus is a natural resource that can regenerate itself. It is no wonder, then, why Portuguese company grupo Portucel Soporcel (gPS)—the largest Portuguese producer of “green energy” coming from biomass—chose the Eucalyptus globulus as the prime raw material to produce its uncoated Navigator brand of papers. Compared with other trees, the Eucalyptus globulus provides more pulp and, therefore, more paper for the same amount of wood. And the low lignin content also implies fewer chemicals in pulp making.
Papermaker Earns Eco Recognition
MEMPHIS, TN—Verso Paper was awarded the 2008 Environmental and Energy Achievement Award from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) for its work with the Bucksport (ME) Environmental Innovation Partnership—a collaboration between Verso’s Bucksport Mill, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. EPA, the town of Bucksport, the University of Maine and environmental groups.
Verso Paper received the award for making significant gains in energy conservation and reducing the carbon footprint of the mill. Improvements included reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 30 percent, sulfur dioxide emissions by 54 percent and water use by 8 percent
Pace Industries announced that BIOGRAPH.ics, a certifiable biodegradable agri-base plastic, was selected as a finalist at the International Bioplastics Conference. The award was presented to Pace for the use of the plastic in the manufacture of Apple iTunes gift cards, shown above.
The U.S. Department of Energy recognized Quebecor World Oberlin, in Oberlin, OH, with an Energy Saver award for achieving more than 7.5 percent total energy savings, which was accomplished, in part, by reducing its natural gas consumption plant-wide by approximately 25 percent.
DG3 North America, Jersey City, NJ, will be purchasing 4,320 renewable energy certificates (RECs) over the next seven months from Hess Corp. to accompany electricity purchases. A REC represents the property rights to the environmental benefits derived from electricity generated by renewable resources such as wind, solar, biomass and wave motion.
AbitibiBowater is implementing FSC certification at three of its woodland operations, totaling approximately eight million acres in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, Canada. The decision builds on a company-wide decision made early last year to certify 100 percent of all forestlands managed by AbitibiBowater by the end of 2008.
Having already earned SFI and FSC chain-of-custody certifications, xpedx has achieved PEFC certification, making it tri-certified.
Heidelberg has released its eighth Sustainability Report. In the environment section of the report, the manufacturer shows how comprehensive reductions in energy, paper and ink consumption protect the planet and help cut printers’ costs. For a copy, e-mail environment@heidelberg.com.
Finch Paper has upgraded its digital uncoated paper portfolio with the announcement that three of its products—Finch Fine iD, Finch Fine Digital and Finch Color Copier—are now made with 10 percent post-consumer recycled fiber. These papers are also FSC and SFI certified.
Reliable Paper Recycling, a recycling company serving the Tri-State region (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania), has announced its new zero-landfill initiative. Owning more than 75 trucks and operating 11 separate sites within the region, the Jersey City, NJ-based company (with sister firm Reliable Wood Products) is now working with printers to recycle everything from wooden pallets to paper, cardboard and plastics. For more info, visit www.reliablepaperrecycling.com.
Spicers Paper has achieved SFI certification at all of its locations across the United States.
INDUSTRYNEWS
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has revamped its Website (www.sfiprogram.org) and has launched a new blog, www.goodforforests.com, which provides a forum for thought-sharing and comments on trends, hot issues, SFI developments, forest health and certification.
