Putting the green into your business holiday cards

08/28/09

Your company is committed to conserving the earth’s precious natural resources and conducting business in an environmentally sensitive manner. You’ve made positive changes top to bottom, from recycling and reducing waste, to partnering with green vendors. Why not take the next step with the holiday cards you send customers, clients and employees? Support your company’s eco-friendly stance and make a statement that the environment matters with green holiday cards.

Why green cards?

Choosing a green greeting card shows your recipients that:

• You are a company with integrity, where your actions match what you say
• You recognize that our natural resources are limited and are doing your part to conserve
• You care about the environment as much as you do your valued customers, clients and employees

What makes a card green?

What should you look for when selecting a holiday card that minimizes the impact on the environment? Here are the key components:

1. Paper stock
   
   Printing on recycled stock achieves the same look as traditional paper stock, but the recycled version uses less raw wood pulp (thus, saving more trees). The percentage of recycled stock in a card or envelope varies from as little as 5%, up to 100%. And can come from two different sources:
   
   Recycled Post-Consumer Waste – This is waste paper that has served its intended purpose and has been separated from solid waste to be recycled into new paper. Post-consumer waste consists of common garbage that individuals discard in waste receptacles or dumps, by littering, by burning, or by other means of disposal.
   
   Recycled Pre-Consumer Waste - Waste paper that has been disposed of during the paper manufacturing process to be recycled into new paper is considered pre-consumer waste. This may consist of paper trim, clippings from the die cutting of envelopes and corrugated boxes, or waste that occurs during the printing press.
   
   
2. Ink
   
   Soy Ink - One of the more popular inks in green cards, soy ink uses a soy oil base instead of traditional, petroleum-based ink. This saves the environment from harmful pollutants released by other inks during the drying process. Soy inks also produce more vibrant colors, improve the life span of the printers and make it easier to recycle paper.
   
   
3. Certifications and sources
   
   Green Seal Certification - Products with this seal have gone through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they were produced with minimum impact on the environment at every level of the product’s life cycle, from raw materials to disposal.
   
   Rainforest Alliance Certification – To bear this independent seal of approval, products must undergo a certification process to ensure compliance with strict production guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities.
   
   Forest Stewardship Council Certification (FSC) - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nonprofit, independent and internationally recognized organization that accredits and monitors independent forest product certifiers. Products bearing this label have been verified to originate from FSC-certified forests, adhere to an international set of principles and follow locally developed forest management standards.
   
   FSC Mixed Sources – This label indicates a product was made from wood sourced from well-managed forests, other controlled resources and/or FSC-certified, recycled material.
   
   Go Green This Holiday Season
   
   Years ago, your choices for eco-conscious greeting cards were limited. But not anymore! Greeting card companies like Holiday Manor and Holiday Greetings offer a wide selection of styles (many of them one-of-a-kind) and price points to fit any taste level and budget, so you’re sure to find the right card for everyone on your list. Plus, all of the green cards can be personalized with a company logo, personal closing and a variety of sentiments.