Nittany Valley Offset, a leading Mid-Atlantic and New England printing company, has introduced two major green printing initiatives in response to growing interest in print procurement that meets sustainability practices. The firm now provides printed materials that meet the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard for environmentally responsible procurement procedures. In addition, they now print with an eco-friendly ink, which is rated very high in the newest environmental impact index adapted by the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM).

Spurred by the growing need for high quality, four color printed materials that are both supplied at cost effective prices and produced in an environmentally responsible printing plant, Nittany Valley Offset (NVO) now helps clients preserve natural resources, conserve energy usage, and reduce toxins emitted into the air and water.

"Our operation is a far cry from the simple use of recycled paper with post consumer fiber," said Robert Butkins, President of Nittany Valley Offset. "The criteria for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification require creating manufacturing systems which demonstrate the company is fully committed to sustainable forestry practices." NVO also uses low-VOC based inks. NAPIM established an “Eco Task Force” that developed and launched the NAPIM Bio-Derived Renewable Content (BRC) Labeling Program this year. NVO’s ink has been certified by NAPIM with a BRC Index of 70, which relates to the percentage of bio-based, renewable raw materials contained in the product. Since the percentage includes not only soy oil, but any other vegetable oils used in the ink, it reflects a much more accurate impact rating system. Nittany Valley Offset customers can request the use of product logos from FSC, the Rainforest Alliance or BRC, given their willingness to print on an FSC certified paper. This allows their clients to demonstrate their commitment to the environment in their print procurement practices.

The FSC's Chain of Custody certification is only awarded to organizations that manufacture, process or trade in forest products and can demonstrate they adhere to responsible sourcing practices by complying with forest sustaining procurement policies. FSC sets environmental standards for responsible use of forestry resources and is widely recognized by corporations and governmental entities around the world.

According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 55 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2007. This significant achievement was made possible by the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work, and school every day. In fact, if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling from municipal solid waste streams than all glass, plastic and aluminum combined. Additional good news: every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

Paper Recycling Starts with Us
Paper recycling begins with you and me. The paper recycling process begins at any number of locations, including community curbside programs, drop-off centers, schools or offices. Regardless of where the recycling process starts, it is important to understand what materials can be recovered in your community and how to properly prepare them for recycling.

How Is Paper Recycled Once Collected?
After it is collected, recovered paper is transferred to a recycling center, or Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where it is sorted into its different grades and “contaminants” such as trash, glass, plastics and metals are removed. Once the recovered paper is properly sorted and free of contaminants, it is compacted into large bales and transported to a paper mill where the recycling process begins. To begin the papermaking process using recovered fiber, the fiber is shredded and mixed with water to make a pulp. The pulp is washed, refined and cleaned, then turned to slush in a beater. The process of papermaking from that point forward is essentially the same whether or not recovered fiber is used.

Can Paper Continue To Be Recycled?
Each time paper is recycled, the fiber length decreases, which impacts its strength. It is estimated that paper has approximately seven generations, meaning it can be recycled up to seven times. Because paper is made from a renewable resource, introducing new, or “virgin” fiber into the process is a logical answer. Today approximately 80 percent of the nation’s paper mills use some recovered fiber in the production of new paper and paperboard products.
Further, the U.S. forest products industry plants an average of 1.7 million trees every day—five new trees for every tree harvested. Thanks to the responsible forestry practices of U.S. companies, the amount of standing timber in U.S. forests has increased by nearly 40 percent over the past half-century and by 10 million acres since 1990.

There is a rather disturbing trend occurring: more and more mills in the last 2 years have closed down their operations. Over 80 paper machines and 45 mills have shut down - which reduces capacity and ultimately increases prices. With a huge inflation tidal wave staring us in the face - this is bad news...