In the digital age, printed marketing materials are still very much an essential part of most business plans. One might think that attempting sustainability via printing is a pipe dream, but they’d be wrong. While it’s not possible to be 100% sustainable, it’s certainly attainable to practice eco-friendly methods in printing, not only through recycled paper but also through ink and machine types, as well as company practices.
With the advancement of paper, there have also been advancements in how sustainable paper stocks look. Gone are the days of being able to tell if a paper is recycled. If you take a look at our roster of recycled paper stocks, you’d see that they all differ from one another in both look and feel.
Eco-Friendly Stocks & Materials
80 lb. / 4 pt. Recycled Matte Text
- Crisp white paper stock
- Similar finish to our Premium Matte stock
- 80 lb. / 4 pt. thickness
100 lb. / 10 pt. Recycled Matte Cover
- Crisp white paper stock
- Similar finish to our Premium Matte stock
- 100 lb. / 10 pt. thickness
- Subtle woven texture
- Contains a writable surface
- 13 pt. thickness
- Smooth, shimmery, & radiant
- Natural pearl (off-white) color
- 18 pt. thickness
- 100% recycled brown paper with natural fibers
- Contains a writable surface
- 18 pt. thickness
In marketing, printed materials are not something you can easily switch to digital, and we get that, which is why printing is still a relevant and thriving industry. But on the other side of the spectrum, we also feel a responsibility to make conscious decisions for our customers and the environment at large. Along with carrying a vast selection of FSC-certified paper stocks and materials, we also use eco-solvent soy inks that emit very low traces of VOCs (the fumes that evaporate into the air from inks while they dry). You can read all about our green initiatives on our website.
With all this being said, we have a surprisingly big list of popular products that are actually considered eco-friendly, depending on what paper stock you choose. Pair them with eco-solvent ink and you have a formula that’s perfect for our eco-conscious customers.
Here are 19 print products you may not have known could be eco-friendly:
1. Business Cards
2. Postcards
3. Greeting Cards
4. Special Shape Cards
5. Calendars
6. Booklets/Catalogs
7. Flyers
8. Club Flyers
9. Staggered Cut Flyers
10. Folders
11. Brochures
12. Door Hangers
13. Rip Business Cards
14. Rack Cards
15. Bookmarks
16. Collectors Cards
17. Event Tickets
18. Posters (Bulk)
19. Cardboard Signs (White & Kraft Core)
- Contains a bright white semi-gloss surface
- 100% recycled white or kraft brown corrugated core
- ¼” & ½” thicknesses
Which of these prints do you use often? Once your stock runs out, it might be time to turn green! It’s always a good idea to opt for sustainable methods, both in marketing and in general.