TODAY'S TOPIC:  Recycling Options

A recent government report indicates that widespread use of paper with 30% recycled content would save 25 million trees annually. Facts such as these, as well as the growing concern for the conversation of natural resources in general, have led many companies (as well as the Federal Government) to specify the use of recycled papers for their printed materials.

At Sentinel Printing, we regularly help customers incorporate recycled papers into their printed products. If you would like to do so, here are some important tips to keep in mind:

Recyclable Logo

When the arrows appear in outline form, the product can be recycled.

Recycled Logo

According to the symbol's original design, when the arrows are enclosed within a solid circle, the product is made from recycled material.

Post-Consumer Content Defined
To be considered a "recycled" stock, paper must contain a certain percentage of post-consumer content. According to the most recent U.S. Government guidelines, uncoated offset paper used for book publishing and commercial printing must have at least 30% post-consumer content. Uncoated text and cover paper (including premium stationary and envelope stock) also requires 30% post consumer content to be considered recycled. Another recycled paper category includes supercalendared and machine-finished groundwood papers, which are typically used for magazine publishing. These papers require only 10% post-consumer product to be considered recycled, as do the coated stocks used in annual reports, posters and brochures.

Contact Sentinel Printing early in the design stage to determine what paper style is right for your project. Paper types vary by appearance and printability, and sizing your project accurately will help to determine many factors involved in the printing process.

The Sentinel Printing Advantage
At Sentinel Printing, we're well-versed in producing a wide range of printed materials using recycled stocks. Whether your project is an annual report or a perfect-bound book, let us help you make the most efficient and attractive use of environmentally-friendly recycled papers. Of course, we also use a complete range of regular coated, uncoated and synthetic stocks for almost any application.