Customer Stories in Green Printing
BILTMORE HOUSE
America’s largest home—Biltmore—has a historic legacy that makes using FSC paper a natural choice.
The grounds of the 125,000-acre estate were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the creator of New York’s Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture. He not only developed acres of gardens and parkland, but in his efforts to protect the environment and reclaim over-farmed land, Olmsted established America’s first managed forest.
What’s more, Biltmore had a role in the birthplace of forest conservation in America. The “Cradle of Forestry” in America is the site of the first forestry school in America–the Biltmore Forest School, founded in 1898 by Dr. Carl Schenck, chief forester for George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate.
“Biltmore Estate and the family are really committed to recycling and green initiatives,” says Christy Cowan, creative services production manager. “Green is the way to go and we’re making a big push for recycled and a low carbon footprint. Since Biltmore if the home of the Cradle of Forestry in this area (nearby Brevard), FSC paper is a very attractive option.”
The company is printing 925,000 24-page house guide booklets for its estimated one million annual visitors from all over the world. “It’s a wonderful thing that Progress Printing is now FSC certified to help us show our commitment to keeping the planet healthy.”
THE MARTIN AGENCY | UPS
UPS has a long history of environmental practices. That’s why UPS tasked the like-minded Martin Agency in Richmond, VA to find both a green printer and a high-quality recycled paper for a recent B2B self-mailer.
The Martin Agency actively pursues green efforts on behalf of clients, notes Debbie Andrews, senior VP of print production. “In addition to being environmentally proactive, they also wanted a high quality product.”
McCoy was the ideal candidate based on previous results, Andrews says. To choose from a large stable of vendors, Progress Printing’s status of a FSC-certified printer was “another added plus to pull you through the bid process.”
“We’ve had good success with printing and imaging with McCoy,” Andrews adds. “High quality, good printability, limited cracking and environmentally friendly—we were trying to balance all that for UPS.”
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE RIVER SPECIALISTS
“I can tell you that Progress Printing made the transition to FSC paper so simple that we made it a requirement across the board for all of our print jobs,” declares Steve Markle, marketing director for the California-based O.A.R.S.
O.A.R.S. has a long history of conservation using recycled content in their array of print collateral. “In an increasingly competitive and sensitive market, it is important for us to have a stamp of approval that is recognized nationally,” Markle says. “Our customers are sensitive to our impact on the environment and we want to make sure they know we are doing this wisely.”
The outdoor company now uses FSC-approved stock for a variety of mailers and catalogs. Progress Printing made it “extremely easy to incorporate it as a standard.”
MUSIC TODAY | DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
The Dave Matthews Band—known for its progressive views and causes—was an ideal candidate for Mohawk Options 100% post consumer waste recycled paper for the famed group’s annual calendar. The 10,000 calendars were distributed across the globe.
“We’re trying to go 100% green for The Dave Matthews Band and take all of their packaging to the next level [of green] to reflect what they’re trying to do for the environment,” says Crystal Bates, director of CD replication for Crozet, VA-based Music Today, an entertainment e-commerce company for some of the world’s largest musical, sports and entertainment brands. When it comes to green printing, “we definitely look for that availability,” she adds, noting she was pleased long-time supplier Progress Printing had become FSC-certified.
THE DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The venerable Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia has high-powered alumni and the desire to take action on sustainability. The 80-age biannual Alumni Magazine was an visible forum to demonstrate conscious concern.
“We’re focused on sustainability and on being environmentally and socially responsible,” says Susan Wormington, Darden’s director of publications. “It’s a subtle, visible way to convey to our alumni that we’re doing what we can to help the environment.”
She found it “very easy” to specify a FSC stock with Progress Printing, especially since there are so many choices. Progress was able to provide a mixed stock under FSC certification the school had comfortably used before.
HAFELE AMERICA
When the leadership of Hafele America decided to go greener, Laurie Hall listened. The 496-page catalog on FSC Opus cover recently produced by Progress Printing for the Archdale, NC furniture hardware company will “help us look good to our customers and do something for the environment,” says Hall.
“Our president suggested we look into all that we can do for the environment,” says Hall, who has worked with Progress Printing for six years. “A lot of our customers have the same environmental concerns.”
Printing with FSC web stock required more lead time for the mill to custom manufacture it, but Hall is pleased to be using it for the massive catalog. Hafele is also using a recycled sheet for its company newsletter.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
Printing responsibly used to more challenging years ago when Lyda Adams Carpen went hunting for the environmentally friendly stock for the tri-annual UNCG Alumni Magazine. There weren’t that many options available back in the day.
About four years ago the school discovered recycled paper broker New Leaf that contracts with paper mills to make paper according to their strict specifications, says Carpen, director of creative services.
Progress Printing won the state bid for the magazine and worked closely with New Leaf to acquire FSC New Leaf EcoMatt cover and New Leaf Reincarnation Matte text.
“We’re really excited that Progress Printing is FSC now. We have been very familiar with you over the years and FSC was the icing,” says Carpen. “Progress has done a really good job working with New Leaf and everybody concerned.”
