Abstracts - Integrated creative services

With the advancement of the digital age we've seen a huge shift in our own business over the last five years. While Abstracts' origins lie in the traditional world of design, print and press advertising today 50% of our business is purely digital and this figure is steadily increasing. Cultural changes in the way people access media are having profound effects on the demand for print. Combine this with today's emphasis on corporate social responsibility, topical climate change and the advantages associated with digital communications increase even more. However in a truly integrated campaign there's a happy marriage between both. What's important is to ensure your print is produced according to standard green principles (which won't necessarily cost your business anymore but will improve your corporate conscience and environmental credibility).

Ask yourself the following 6 questions:

1. Is your literature produced according to the ISO 14001 standard?

This internationally recognised scheme provides a framework for ongoing environmental monitoring and continual improvement. Accredited subscribers are expected to improve recycling rates, reduce energy and water consumption and adopt general efficiency measures.

2. Does your paper come from a certified resource?

Whole forests are destroyed to supply raw materials for non-certified/non-recycled paper. Factor in the news from the WWF that the UK is the world's third largest importer of illegal timber http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6316419.stm there's an ever stronger reason why you should opt for recycled or FSC certified paper.

The best way to ensure your paper is from a well managed source is to look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world's forests. The number of FSC-certified forests is growing rapidly, covering 84 million hectares worldwide - about 10% of the world's production forest. Forests are inspected and certified against 10 Principles of Forest Stewardship, which take into account environmental, social and economic factors. http://www.fsc-uk.org/

3. Do you use recycled paper?

According to Friends of the Earth, just one tonne of recycled paper saves approximately six mature trees and 3.3 cubic yards of rapidly diminishing landfill space. Recycled paper is made from waste paper which means it spares new trees from being cut down. It also takes much less energy to produce. Recycled paper can cost a little more, however on many jobs this really won't show a significant increase. There is now a much wider choice of high quality recycled paper available.

4. Does your print use vegetable based inks?

Vegetable or soya based inks use vegetable oil instead of petroleum. They have much lower rates of voc emissions (carbon containing gases and vapours released from solvents used during the printing process). Because they are derived from renewable sources it's easier to remove them from waste paper during de-inking.

5. Is your print produced using 100% renewable energy?

The printing industry is now the 5th largest manufacturing industry in the UK and the process uses significant amounts of energy contributing to harmful carbon emissions. You can help reduce energy consumption and the amount of carbon emissions generated in the production of your print by sourcing print produced using renewable energy. Renewable sources, as defined by HM Treasury, include biofuels, onshore and offshore wind and hydro-power.

6. Do you opt for a water based coating rather than an oil based sealer?

A water based coating is less harmful than an oil based sealer which emits harmful vocs into the environment.

If you'd like to discuss increasing your green print credentials please contact Zoë