Hello-

It’s said that the printing industry like many other industries is just now starting to pick up steam and going "Green."  We’d like to go on record that we went green over a decade ago.

It was not about a popular thing to do, it was the right thing to do. Every eco-choice we make has an impact on our planet. It’s a very complex cycle: a government policy in one country affects a child’s health on the opposite side of the globe.

But we believe one printer in Sterling, Virginia, acting responsibly, does make a difference. From recycling waste paper, metal plates, cardboard, cans, bottles and removing disposable kitchen products to ensuring our electronics are all Energy Star compliant; our first efforts go back before 1992, when we eliminated alcohol from fountain solutions on presses and recycled printing plates and paper.

How are we going further? Here are just a few ways.
- We are reducing emissions (VOCs) by using press press solvents with140+ flash point.
- We are creating less toxic waste with new plate processor chemistry, less hazardous solvents on press.
- We use vegetable based inks made from soy or linseed oils.
- We use and promote renewable resources such as FSC papers.
- We don’t make sludge.
- All of our used oil is recycled.
- All of our paper and cardboard is recycled.
- Wastes, which are hauled off site, are not dumped into landfills or waterways but fuel-blended to power cement kilns.

We are continually looking for ways to reduce our footprint and have appointed ambassadors internally to keep us inline and informed.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you,
Chip Peyton, VP Operations

What’s FSC?
ColorCraft is proud to be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. What does that mean? As the name implies, they watch over our trees.

This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1993, certifies sustainable forestry practices and encourages the use of FSC certified paper. They have developed standards emphasizing environmentally- and socially-responsible criteria to certify and label wood products from well-managed forests.

The FSC tracks the wood from its forest of origin all the way through the chain of custody to where the product is sold. An FSC certified product has been harvested and produced in a stringently eco-sensitive manner. This offers customers around the world the ability to choose products from socially and environmentally responsible forestry.
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Pulp Fiction
Isn’t recycled enough? Not all paper even if recycled, may come from a certified source. ColorCraft can steer you in the right direction for paper companies that are also making the effort in the plant and on the page. These companies are on the front lines in educating landowners about responsibly managing their forests. There are times you simply need a paper that doesn’t carry the FSC seal, we encourage you to ask if the paper company has a program in place to educate their suppliers.
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Provide a Market – The Price vs. The Cost
The majority of US forests are private. Development is the fast way for many to simply make a profit by selling their land. By providing a market i.e. you, the customer request FSC paper, the options increase and therefore the chance of success will increase.
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Relevancy
“Forests help to slow global warming because they store vast quantities of carbon. They control flooding, purify water, and cycle nutrients and soil, ultimately influencing food production for billions of people. And they house an incredible array of living organisms, which provide a foundation for the resilience of natural systems and the genetic material for valuable new products.” (Global Forest Watch: Canada’s Forests at a Crossroads, World Resources Institute, 2000, p. 9)
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Sterling Ink
Is PMS 370 green or green? To reduce or eliminate the VOCs that pollute the air and irritate the workers, heavy metals that seep into groundwater and solvents needed to cut through the oil; ColorCraft uses non-petroleum based, linseed and vegetable oil inks. In addition we have the option of the lowest VOC ink called Toyo Hy Plus 100.
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From the Ground Up
So how does paper get to you? We spoke earlier about the tracking from forest to printer. Here is a quick look at the trail and how you fit into the FSC custody chain.

Reap the Benefits
Take some time to experience what we want to pass on to future generations.

Hike in the woods | Take a deep breath | Play ball in the park | Marvel at a waterfall | Enjoy the shade | Swim in a lake | Feed the ducks on a pond | Sail on the Bay | Walk barefoot | Teach your grandchildren about what you did to make a difference | You can’t afford the gas anyway, ride a bike. Buy what you need not just by unit cost.