Being Green is more than a trend; it is a lifestyle and ongoing series of thoughtful choices. Printing is this day and age is more green than constantly upgrading and discarding electronic equipment, but you’d never know it by the way some are talking. Doing all things paperless is simply not good business; the print and paper industry has been one of the first to innovate and respond to environmental concerns.

Smart business people know that they increase their impact by utilizing a number of channels to communicate. Emails are great for some things, websites are wonderful for others; but when it comes to having your message in front of someone’s eyes, to have their attention focused on what you want them to see, nothing succeeds as well as a well-designed and produced invitation, annual report or brochure. Choose the pieces you wish to print and mail wisely, and the payoff will be more than worthwhile.

It is important to let your clients know how carefully you choose to employ the resources for printing. At Design Printing, environmentally conscious choices are made daily, and have been for some time. We can print your project on recycled paper, and we use soy-based inks. We hope you will share this with your members and clients: the Forest Stewardship Council Seal and our number can be added discreetly to any piece.

Additionally, you can tally up the piece's impact for your readers: Neenah Paper's eye-opening Environmental Savings Calculator can help you calculate the environmental savings — in trees, water, energy, solid waste, water-borne wastes, and atmospheric emissions — in selecting papers with higher levels of post-consumer fiber content.

Promoting green practices not only makes your organization look good — it can motivate others to do the same. When your customers, partners and clients see what beautiful work can be done with thoughtful choices; and the impact your piece will have, you may encourage and inspire others to be as thoughtful as well.