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Green Terminology
Understanding the Various Green Logos
SFI - Sustainable Forest Initiative
SFI certification involves the envelope papers manufactured at the mill. The SFI initiative combines the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the long-term protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality. Under the SFI program, participating companies plant or grow more trees than are harvested each year.
FSC - Forest Stewardship Council
The FSC is an international organization who is the global benchmark for responsible forest management. The intent of the FSC system is to shift the market to eliminate habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples and violence against people and wildlife that may sometimes accompany logging. All FSC certified companies protect products to maintain the chain of custody and promote responsible management of the world's forests.
Rainforest Alliance Certification
The Rainforest Alliance logo is recognized throughout the world as an indicator of product environmental responsibility. It is used only in conjunction with FSC certified products.
Green-e/Wind Power
Wind power products are Green-e certified which indicates that the product is made with electricity generated from certified wind power to the standards set by the Center for Resource Solutions.
Soy Ink
Soy ink contains non-toxic soybean oil. Soy inks are safe, sustainable, made from a renewable resource and are more easily stripped from paper during the de-inking and recycling process than petroleum inks.
Biodegradable/Compostable Windows
Biodegradable plastic is a degradable plastic in which the degradation must result from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria.
Compostable plastic is a plastic which undergoes biological degradation during composting at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials leaving no visually distinguishable or toxic residues.
Recyclable Paper
Envelopes qualifying as recyclable are made with paper and have no attachments that prevent them from being entered into conventional recycling programs.
An envelope can only be marked as recyclable if it can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse in the manufacture of another product through an established recycling program.
Envelopes manufactured utilizing only recyclable papers are more easily entered into a conventional recycling program. This helps reduce landfill use and causes the fiber to be given new life as another product.
Recycled Paper
Envelopes are made with paper which contains post-consumer or pre-consumer recycled fiber or both. Post-consumer waste fiber is generated from consumer end products that have been separated or diverted from the solid waste stream. Pre-consumer waste fiber is generated from materials that have not met their intended end-use by a consumer.
Envelopes manufactured utilizing recycled paper contain post consumer waste, which is considered less harmful to the environment due to the reduction of environmental impacts associated with the manufacture of virgin paper.
PCF - Processed Chlorine Free
Envelopes are made with processed, chlorine free paper, and are certified by the Chlorine Free Products association.
Envelopes manufactured utilizing certified PCF paper are considered less harmful to the environment due to the reduction of the environmental impacts associated with chlorine and chlorine compounds.
Green Seal Certified
Envelopes converted utilizing Green Seal certified papers can be labeled indicating that Green Seal certified paper has been used to make the product with permission of the manufacturer. Minimum requirements for Green Seal certification are a minimum of 30% post-consumer waste and manufacturing without use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives.