“Eco-friendly printing” gets thrown around a lot, but the term covers a wide range of real, measurable practices. Here’s what it actually means, and what to look for if it matters to your business.
FSC Certification
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit established in 1993 to promote responsible forest management. A printer with FSC certification is sourcing paper from forests that meet specific environmental and social standards, not just claiming to be “green.” Bond is FSC certified and offers FSC certified paper stock on request.
Climate Smart Certification
Climate Smart is a training and certification program that helps businesses measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This isn’t a marketing label, it requires actually tracking emissions data and making changes based on it. Bond holds this certification.
Recycled Paper Stock
Not all “recycled paper” is equal, the percentage of post-consumer waste matters. Bond offers paper stock ranging from 10% to 100% post-consumer recycled content, so the actual environmental impact depends on which stock you choose for your job.
Ink Choice
Vegetable oil-based inks are a lower-impact alternative to petroleum-based inks. Bond uses vegetable oil-based inks in production.
Waste Reduction in Production
A few concrete practices worth knowing about: toner recycling, plate recycling, and rag/water recycling in the shop, the water recycling process alone has reduced waste by 99% in our production process.
Who This Actually Matters To
Certifications like FSC and Climate Smart tend to matter most when sustainability isn’t just a preference, it’s something you need to back up. A few examples:
- Vancouver nonprofits printing brochures for donors or grant reporting, where the materials need to reflect the mission, not undercut it
- Realtors ordering custom notepads or listing materials who want their day-to-day print pieces to match a broader sustainability commitment
- Event organizers and conference planners fielding sponsor or attendee questions about environmental practices
- Corporate clients with ESG or CSR reporting requirements, who need vendor certifications that hold up to internal scrutiny
Why This Matters Beyond the Label
Anyone can put “eco-friendly” in a headline. What actually backs it up is certification (FSC, Climate Smart), verifiable material choices (recycled content percentages, ink type), and documented waste reduction, not just intention.
Learn more about Bond’s commitment to sustainable printing. Ready to start your next sustainable print project? Request a free quote today.
