I had no idea. Really, I didn’t. I didn’t realize how important blog comments were. At least, not until I started this blog. After each post I find myself hitting the refresh button, eagerly awaiting that first comment. It’s silly, I know, but I’ve also come to realize that I’m not a freak (most days). Many bloggers feel the same way. Bloggers love comments! We actually WANT you to be a part of the conversation. And yet, I can give you a list of reasons why I don’t add comments:

• I don’t believe I can add to the conversation.
• My thoughts have already been shared by others.
• I’m not convinced my comments really matter.
• I don’t want to look like a fool.
• I can’t think of anything to say.
• I don’t have time . . . the list goes on.

Guilty as charged! Realizing the error of my ways, I’ve decided to present you with a challenge. It’s one that I will be attempting myself:

Add a comment to at least one blog post per day.

If one per day is too much, try one per week. By all means, please remember to be respectful (yes, you can respectfully disagree with someone). Are you up for the challenge? Why not start now? Add your comment below to finish this sentence:

I do/don’t comment on blog posts because . . .

Photo courtesy PhotoXpress.com

What about your print partners? Are they swimming in the same ocean or are they knee-deep in the cesspool? There was that postcard you received that said “we’re green printers”. That means they’re doing everything they can to provide an eco-friendly product. Right? And, they’re FSC-certified and that’s all that really matters. Right?

Time to throw in the life-preserver? How about a questionnaire, instead? Asking these questions will help you determine how well your print partners REALLY swim in the eco-friendly waters.

Inks & Chemicals

• What is being done to minimize emissions, including VOCs, in your shop?
• How much soy is used in your ink?
• Are your inks nonhazardous or nontoxic?
• Can you provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on your inks?
• Are the cleaning solvents used safe for human health and the environment?
• How are your employees safeguarded from toxicity?

Recycling

• What is the post consumer waste (PCW) content of your primary or house stock?
• Has your shop established a solvent recycling program?
• Describe how and where you dispose of chemicals, solvents and trash?
• Describe how your production methods reduce print overruns, waste allowances, and in-process waste.
• Do you go beyond regulatory requirements?

Internal Programs & Certifications

• Are you FSC- and/or SFI-certified?
• Is your shop ISO 14000-qualified?
• What other certification programs do you take part in?
• Does your organization have a dedicated manager for environmental health and safety?
• Describe any technologies, such as non-process printing plates, remote or soft proofing, etc. that your organization has incorporated into daily practice.
• What is being done to minimize your shops’ energy consumption?
• Does your organization purchase electricity generated from renewable resources?
• If you also manage data files (direct mail processing), what steps have you taken to ensure or assist with list management and data cleansing?

External Programs & Community Involvement

• Describe your organization’s environmental commitment.
• Does your organization’s mission statement include mention of environmental stewardship or corporate responsibility?
• Do you currently have a “green” education program for your customers?
• Describe any additional steps your shop has taken to promote the environment, including community engagement practices?
• Describe any additional eco-friendly practices not already mentioned?

Here’s an idea: Send these questions, along with any others that come to mind, to each of your print partners. Compile the (private) answers together into one spreadsheet to create an at-a-glance reference guide.

Can you think of any other important questions to ask? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

One more thing: My next “Going Green” post will be all about meandering through the Environmental Certifications maze. If you don’t want to miss it or any others for that matter, connect to The Production Side through the RSS feed or email notifications in the right side-bar.

Photo courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Here’s a little secret for you: Try nice. You’ll be amazed at how many “partners” you really have.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ooohoooh/1350774613/

Coatings for print can offer the same options—protection and aesthetics. Not only can a coating protect from fingerprints, over use, scratching and the occasional coffee stain, it can also add texture and depth. Today’s coating options may even allow you to simulate other substrates or add a scent to your printed piece. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of varnish, aqueous, UV and laminate. Perhaps it will help you to determine which “coat” to wear today . . .

Varnish

Think of varnish as a colorless ink. It’s that old coat you grab without thinking. You know the one. The coat that’s never quite warm enough, but happens to be the most comfortable one in your closet.

Varnish is applied on press, either inline or dry trapped, through an inking unit and is available in a variety of finishes. Varnish can be applied to flood the entire page or added to specific areas. Since a separate varnish plate is used, it will hold dot-for-dot registration.

One down side to varnish is its tendency to yellow the sheet over time, which tends to be more noticeable on silk, dull and matte coated sheets. Varnish also requires a more lengthy dry time. Additionally, the use of spray powders to prevent pages from sticking together before they are completely dried can affect the look and feel of the final product.

Aqueous

Pull out the zebra-print trench coat! Yep. Trendy. Warm. Lookin’ good, too!

Just as the name implies, aqueous is a water-based liquid applied inline through a separate coating tower. It can be applied to the entire page or to specific areas, though spot aqueous may require a special plate to achieve desired results.

Unlike varnish, however, aqueous does not yellow with age and dries quickly. It also offers better protection against fingerprinting and smudging. Aqueous coating is available in gloss, satin and dull finishes, as well as custom finishes (e.g., soft touch, metallic, tinted, pearlescent) and is typically the lowest-cost coating option.

UV (Ultraviolet)

Now we’re talking heavy duty. Wool. Stylish. Add a bright scarf and hat. Make a statement and stay warm!

UV is a liquid coating that is cured instantly using an ultraviolet light. It can be applied inline or dry trapped to the entire page or as a spot. UV coatings are available in gloss, satin, dull, plus a wide range of textured and scented finishes.

While UV coatings offer more protection than varnish or aqueous and cure/dry instantly, they are vulnerable to cracking and fingerprinting. UV coating also tends to accentuate imperfections in the stock it’s applied to.

Laminate

Grab the parka! Yes, film laminates offer the most protection to your printed project.

Classified by thickness (measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch), laminates can be made of polypropylene, polyester or nylon. Since they are applied off line to either one side or both sides of the entire page, laminates require longer lead times, at a higher cost.

While I doubt you’d pair that zebra-print trench coat with a parka, you can mix some coatings. Be sure to discuss your desired results and end-use with your printer. Together you can be fashionable AND protected.

Wait! Before you go struttin’ down the runway, consider connecting to this blog through the RSS feed or email notifications. I’d love it if you came back for more!

PS – Thanks for your patience. It’s good to be back. And, yes, I do own a zebra-print trench coat.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbelmont/4273178858/

Going Green: 45 Educational Resources

Mr. Data and the Fined-Tuned Guitar

Fab Five iPhone Apps—Production Management

If Print Were Really Dead. . .

Printer Proof Reviews and The Ticking Clock

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – David Brower

If you borrow a lawn mower from your friend, will you return it full of caked-on grass and mud with no gas left in the tank? What about that $5 you borrowed from your co-worker? Will you return it shredded into tiny pieces of paper? And, if you borrow a cup of sugar from next door, will you return it in a broken cup, with shards of glass inside? I didn’t think so.

I was taught that when you borrow something, you should return it in better condition than when you received it. If you believe the quote above, attributed to environmentalist David Brower, then you likely understand the need for environmentally sustainable practices. That’s where the simplicity ends.

Learning about sustainable practices can be a daunting task. The list below is a compilation of internet resources that I have encountered during my own learning process. It is in no way complete. That said, I hope you’ll enjoy the array of topics that these sources provide . . . and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way.

Note: Descriptions listed under each link were, for the most part, taken directly from the website listed. I have elected to omit descriptions from the Certification Programs/Agencies section because I’d like to explore certifications and labels further in a future post.

Resources Specific to the Design & Print Communities

AIGA Center for Sustainability: AIGA is the oldest and largest membership association for professional designers. The Center for Sustainable Design website provides a discussion forum, green design news, event information, case studies, and information on sustainability.

Design by Nature: Design by Nature is a site based in Australia that seeks to inspire, educate and empower designers in that region to work toward more environmentally sustainable practices. It also acts as a shared resource where designers are invited to share opinions and ideas.

Design Can Change: Design Can Change is an initiative aimed at uniting the world’s graphic designers to use their influence and purchasing power to combat climate change. It was developed by smashLAB, a design firm based in Vancouver, BC.

Green Press Initiative (GPI): The goal of the Green Press Initiative is to help those in the book and newspaper industries better understand their impact on endangered forests, indigenous communities and the Earth’s climate. GPI also works with those in the industry to implement solutions, and to provide the tools and resources necessary to support industry transformation.

Institute for Sustainable Communication: The Institute for Sustainable Communication’s mission is to raise awareness, build capacity and foster the widespread adoption of economically viable, environmentally restorative and socially constructive uses of print and digital media.

Lovely as a Tree: Lovely as a Tree aims to enable and inspire graphic designers to make more environmentally friendly choices in their work. This site from the UK also lists the steps you can take to reduce your design footprint, demonstrates the process of choosing a recycled or more sustainably sourced paper and shows what to look for when choosing a greener printer.

Print Buyers Online—Going Green: Print Buyers Online is a free community for those who buy print. Their “Going Green” section includes sustainable printing tips and educational articles. They also offer a certification program in Best Practices for Sustainability in Print.

PrintLeadership: PrintLeadership is a sustainability and environmental marketing consultancy focused on the graphic communications industry. PrintLeadership’s mission is to help printers, paper companies, packaging firms and designers translate environmental performance into powerful market positions, increased market share and better bottom lines.

Re-nourish: Re-nourish is an independent online toolkit for sustainable graphic design. They provide reliable, accessible sustainability tools to empower graphic designers to implement sustainable decision-making in their day-to-day work.

Sustainable Printing: Sustainable Printing offers news, tips and information on environmentally friendly printing in a digital world.

The Designers Accord: The Designers Accord is a global coalition of designers, educators, and business leaders working together to create positive environmental and social impact.

WhatTheyThink.com—Going Green: The “Going Green” section of WhatTheyThink.com contains stories, reports, commentary, and interviews that highlight how a company can reduce its environmental footprint and become more sustainable.

Resources from the Paper Industry

American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA): The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) is the national trade association of the forest products industry and advances public policies that promote a strong and sustainable US forest products industry in the global marketplace. They are committed to a sustainable, thriving forest and paper products industry that continues to improve tomorrow’s environment today.

Conservatree: Conservatree is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the tools, strategies and collaborations needed to transform paper markets to environmentally sustainable products.

Down To Earth: Down to Earth covers topical issues in a thought-provoking manner that helps to dispel myths and misconceptions.

Environmental Paper Network: The Environmental Paper Network represents organizations working together to accelerate social and environmental transformation in the pulp and paper industry.

Greening Business

Environmental Defense: The Environmental Defense Fund partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions.

Global Environment Management Initiative (GEMI): The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) creates tools and provides strategies to help business foster global environmental, health and safety excellence and economic success. GEMI provides a forum for corporate environmental leaders throughout the world to work together and learn from each other.

GreenBiz.com: GreenBiz.com, the business voice of the green economy, is an excellent source for news, opinion, best practices, and other resources on the greening of mainstream business.

Greentech Media: Greentech Media is an integrated online media company designed to deliver the highest-quality content in the industry, whether it is research, news or critical networking events.

Rainforest Alliance: The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

SustainAbility: SustainAbility is a strategy consultancy and think tank working with senior corporate decision makers to achieve transformative leadership on the sustainability agenda.

Sustainable Life Media: Sustainable Life Media is a producer of sustainable business conferences and educational events, with supporting products and services that include targeted e-newsletters, an online learning resource and community and more.

The Inspired Economist: The Inspired Economist highlights the individuals and companies applying passion and innovation to economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Worldwatch Institute: The Worldwatch Institute is an independent research organization recognized for its accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues. Its mission is to generate and promote insights and ideas that empower decision makers to build an ecologically sustainable society that meets human needs.

Greener Living

Alternative Consumer: Whether it’s eco-fashion and home decor, eco-travel, hybrid cars, organic health and beauty products, organic food and wine, sustainable design or recycling — The Alternative Consumer delivers the hottest news, trends, products and services to today’s style-conscious, earth-friendly consumer.

Earth911: Consider Earth911 your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash. Their recycling database can help you find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country.

green@work: Green@work is the essential guide to the business world’s growing embrace of sustainability. It covers corporate responsibility from a positive point of view, relating best practices and demonstrating the growing business case for green strategies.

Greener Choices: GreenerChoices.org, launched on Earth Day 2005 by Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, is a web-based initiative to inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally friendly products and practices.

Sustainablog: Sustainablog covers the world of green: the people, companies, technology, and ideas that are moving us towards a more sustainable future. Whether you’re searching for information and inspiration, or for eco-products for your home and family, this site will guide you in taking your next steps towards a greener, healthier lifestyle.

The Daily Green: The Daily Green’s mission is to broaden the audience for earth-friendly living by showing how going green is relevant to everyone.

TreeHugger: TreeHugger is a media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. They strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.

Certification Programs /Agencies

Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA)

EcoLogo

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Green Seal

International Organization for Standards (ISO)

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

More Resources

Ecorazzi: Just for fun . . . this site features news and gossip on celebrities and notables in support of the environment and humanitarian causes.

EnviroLink Network: The EnviroLink Network is a non-profit organization that provides access to thousands of online environmental resources.

Green Maven: Green Maven is a search engine that showcases green, conscious and sustainable websites.

World Changing: World Changing is a media organization that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers covering the world’s most intelligent solutions to today’s problems. World Changing “inspires readers around the world with stories of the most important and innovative new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.”

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): UNEP is the designated authority of the United Nations system in environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

United States Postal Service (USPS): The USPS is working with customers to reduce mail that’s undeliverable. This site also features calculators that encourage the use of their online services.

As a bonus, consider following these green gurus on Twitter:

@dcarli

@printleadership

@sustainablog

@greenbiztweets

@printgrowstrees

@Gail_NK

Let me know in the comments section what sites I’ve missed. I’d love to check them out!

Photo Credits: Flower – courtesy PhotoXpress.com, Leaves – http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/3337237809/

This is the third in my “Your Thoughts” series where I ask YOU to be the post author by adding your comments to finish a sentence.

Print In The Mix recently posted highlights from the Third Annual Survey of Top Marketing Trends, conducted by The Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG) and Anderson Analytics. In the second bullet, they note that “…social media, Twitter and social networking ranked as the top buzz words marketers are most tired of hearing.”

A closer look at the actual report (available as a PowerPoint download) revealed that the top three Most Tired of Hearing Buzzwords were, indeed, Social Media (29.1%), Twitter (14.8%) and Social Networking (7.5%).

I found this to be interesting and decided to get your thoughts on the matter. Please take a moment to help write this post by adding to the comments below and finishing the sentence,

I Am/Am Not Tired of Hearing About Social Media Because . . .

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthamm/2945559128/

When Mr. Data heard terms like UAA (Undeliverable As Addressed) or NCOA (National Change of Address), he would proudly chuckled, “Oh that nonsense doesn’t apply to me.”

So, instead of asking for regular updates, getting scrubbed and allowing critical database maintenance, Mr. Data frittered away his days. He spent countless hours watching Mr. Hero, the guitar. Mr. Data was lulled by Mr. Hero’s smooth and pure sound. He was mesmerized by Mr. Hero’s power and beauty.

He watched as Mr. Hero’s owner meticulously tuned him prior to each strumming session—first the sixth string, then the remaining five. Though he never really understood why tuning Mr. Hero was so important, he was intrigued by the owner’s dedication and determination to perfect tone.

Mr. Data began to miss the good ‘ol days when his fields were tickled with entries and he was scrubbed from top to bottom. He wanted to be the talk of data everywhere, just like it used to be. Oh, those were the days! He felt unloved and deprived. He knew he deserved better treatment and he regretted not asking for those updates. What a young fool he had been. Mr. Data knew there was a better place . . .

Meanwhile back at The Company, sales were dropping, ROI was out of control, postage costs were skyrocketing, undeliverable percentages were unbelievably high, and serious consideration was being given to the benefits of direct mail.

Then one day Mr. Data simply was no more. He vanished, never to be seen again. Some believe he’s still out there somewhere, a vagabond in the dark night. Alas, The Company will never know.

The Moral of the Story:

Don’t lose your data to neglect. Data files that are not consistent, clean and accurate can cause delays in preparation, require additional expenditures for clean up, and may result in delivery problems. Quality and aesthetics may also be compromised. Your Mr. Data deserves better.

Photos courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Sustainable design. Sustainable packaging. Sustainable manufacturing processes. The sustainable business. Chances are, you hear the word “sustainable” several times throughout your day. When the work is done, do you leave your sustainable manual on your desk, shut off your lights and go home? Or, do you carry your manual with you through all aspects of your life?

Let’s back up. This post marks the beginning of the “Your Thoughts” series. Every other week (or so) I’ll ask you to be the post author by adding your comments to finish a sentence. The success of my recent “If Print Were Really Dead. . .” post was overwhelming. Thank you to all who contributed. You have encouraged and inspired me to continue the process. . .

Now where was I? Ah, yes, the sustainable life. If you Google “sustainable”, you will find 63,400,000 possible matches. “A sustainable life” received 16,300,000 hits. By comparison, “life” showed 1,700,000,000 possible results. Is living a sustainable life gaining in popularity? Or has it reached its peak as merely another lifestyle trend that will meet its demise along with the Hippie Communes of the 60s and the Material Girls of the 80s? Think about what sustainability means to you. Do you live a sustainable life? Is it rhetoric or reality? Your thoughts are important, so please take a moment to help write this post by adding to the comments below and finishing the sentence,

“To me, a sustainable life means . . .”

Photo courtesy PhotoXpress.com