FSC. SFI. Rainforest Alliance. What do any of these environmental certifications say about your company, your print products and the process used to create them? Learn about the various environmental certifications, what it takes to get authorized to use them and the various operational, branding and financial considerations related to certification.
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Source. This term most commonly has referred to the origin of names on a list for rental. No longer. Now, direct marketers must get acquainted with a new application--paper source. Aggressive logging to support demand for paper products has drastically reduced the size of the world's forests, which play a critical role in absorbing the carbon dioxide gases that fuel global warming.
BOSTON—05/20/08—Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced the recipients of its 2008 North American Printers of the Year gold award winners. Culled from a field of almost 2,000 entries, the eight gold winners were selected from 48 silver and judges’ winners. The eight gold winners will now compete for the distinguished Sappi International Printers of the Year title to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2008. The Sappi Printers of the Year awards competition recognizes print excellence and innovation for work produced on Sappi papers. Printers may submit entries for any of the eight categories: Annual Reports, Books,
WHEN IT comes to printing on paper, the field is crowded and the competitive situation is intense. Commercial printers looking for ways to differentiate themselves have cast an eye on the market for printing on plastic as a way to add value and boost profits. Sales of UV-equipped presses are said to be on the rise, suggesting that more printers are working with plastic now than ever before. Even so, it would be an exaggeration to say that printing on plastic is sweeping the industry. This is not to say that printing on plastic isn’t an attractive opportunity with plenty of profit potential, but
CHICAGO—May 16, 2007—Too many companies today overlook one of the simplest routes to environmental stewardship—ensuring that all printing paper they use is responsibly sourced and produced. With increasing environmental transparency in the paper and printing industries, it is now easier than ever for businesses to go green. That view comes from Derek Smith, a former paper industry executive who now consults to businesses, printers and marketers on the critical link between paper and the environment. “Most businesses, from Fortune 500 firms on down, haven’t made the connection between the paper they use and their environmental footprint,” said Smith. “I’m trying to change that. Often times, it’s
PRICE INCREASES, or attempts to implement them, are what’s on tap in the paper sector. Along with raising quoted prices per ton, paper companies could feel renewed pressure to pass along higher energy costs through surcharges if oil prices do climb toward the $100/barrel mark predicted in the most bearish outlook. The Lane Press, in Burlington, VT, put an interesting spin on that latter market development. Under the “Did you know?” heading in its last two “Paper Prophet” newsletters, the printer pointed out to customers that “Lane Press’ close proximity to Northeast paper mills slashes transportation costs and reduces fuel surcharges.” There hasn’t been
by Chris Bauer Managing Editor The press manufacturers’ “big iron” may have taken up mammoth amounts of floor space and received the lion’s share of headlines at PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05, but not to be forgotten are the booths often found on the fringe of the McCormick Center’s halls. Here, there was plenty of news to be found from paper, ink and other consumables providers. For example, while donning white lab coats, executives from International Paper announced that its entire range of uncoated freesheet papers for imaging, commercial printing, envelopes and forms would be improved to a new standard of whiteness and
BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Can it ever be reasonable to have a wholly positive outlook for printing paper? The answer would seem to be "no," at least from the buyer's perspective. Paper is so essential to print that one feels compelled to look for any potential sign of trouble. The cost of being caught short is too high and memories of the bad times (shortages and soaring prices) too lasting not to err on the side of caution. Plant strikes are just the latest additions to the list of reasons for paper buyers to adopt a cautious outlook. Other concerns have been
BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The end had to come sooner or later. Everyone knew the buyer's market for printing stocks simply couldn't last forever. Eventually, the adjustments made in papermaking capacity by suppliers and increasing demand fueled by the economic recovery had to bring price increases that stick. Paper companies have announced or already implemented price hikes for most grades, and another round of increases may be in the offing before the end of the year. There's little reason to hope for a repeat of 2003, when increases were floated, but never fully implemented or were subsequently rolled back. Perhaps the clearest
BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Paper costs can account for as much as 60 percent or more of a typical commercial printing job. For that reason, the fortunes of both industries are inextricably linked. But it is not a one-to-one relationship. Paper pricing and availability can swing in cycles that don't mirror printing business activity, either in timing or degree. Printers are insulated from the impact of rising paper prices, at least to some extent, because the material is more or less a pass-through cost. In recent years, both industry segments have been enduring a dramatic drop in pricing power. Paper companies have
