If you think there’s been a slowdown across the whole green scene, think again. Here’s the latest on a pair of initiatives and one emerging technology spawned in the Pacific Northwest that could significantly influence the future of green printing nationwide. FSC Group Certification Portland, Oregon-based Pacific Printing Industries Association (PPI) is spearheading the first FSC group Chain of Custody certification effort to date under new FSC Guidelines. In concert with other PIA affiliates Printing Industries of New England, Printing Industries Alliance, Printing  and Imaging Association of Mid America, Printing Industries of Ohio/Northern Kentucky, Printing Association of Florida, Printing Industries of the Carolinas, Printing Industry of Minnesota, Printing Industries of Illinois, Printing Industries of the South, and Graphic Arts Association and Printing Industries of Michigan, PPI launched the Regional Affiliate Certificate Group(RACG) in the summer of 2010 to help smaller printer members of PIA Affiliates access the benefits of Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification. Participation in RACG is open to members of regional PIA affiliates who meet the FSC's eligibility limits for group certification. By way of background, the FSC ruled in August, 2010, that any company with less than $5 million in annual forest product sales is eligible for group certification. Up until now, obtaining FSC CoC has proven to be a substantial financial hurdle for most smaller companies. The FSC decision makes CoC affordable via participation in a group. RACG is, as are all FSC certificate groups, overseen by a group manager, in this case Erik Shonstrom Consulting. The Group Manager is responsible for training participating members in FSC procedures, for ensuring that companies are in compliance with all FSC requirements, and for helping companies troubleshoot issues that come up with certification. In addition, as Group Manager, Erik Shonstrom Consulting will perform a yearly onsite internal audit, which will include training updates, face-time to answer questions, and guidance and tools to help group members leverage their FSC certification in their marketing. Participation in FSC group CoC certification takes the burden off of smaller companies in two ways. First, obtaining group certification comes as less than half the cost of traditional, individual certification. Second, there is less documentary and administrative burden, as the group manager takes responsibility for record keeping for Certification Body audits, coordination with the Certifying Body for annual audits, and any training and assistance that participating members need. Enrollment in the RACG is open to qualifying printers through November 30, 2010. In addition to having total sales of less than $5 million, group applicants must be members of PIA affiliates. Additional information can be obtained by following this link. An application form is available via this link. Companies in the Pacific Northwest tha have sales in excess of $5 million also may qualify for significant savings on FSC CoC certification audit costs through an arrangement between PPI and certifying body American Green. Contact PPI for more details. Responsible Direct Mail Initiative PPI’s Jules Van Sant also has announced that open enrollment has begun for the Responsible Direct Mail Initiative (RDMI). A voluntary, self-certification program for printers, catalog publishers and other direct-mail providers seeking to earn recognition for their responsible direct mailing practices RDMI affords participants industry leadership by “taking the junk out of direct mail marketing.” To earn the right to use the RDMI logo on mailing pieces, participants pay a modest fee and make a written commitment  adopting six-point code of conduct. RDMI participants agree to:

• Cull mailing lists to remove opt-outs and duplicates, reducing the number of pieces mailed and eliminating waste;
• Provide on every mailed piece an easy, no-cost method for the recipient to opt-out of future mailings;
• Avoid the purchase and use of paper from forest areas that are considered endangered, threatened, or where forest practices are controversial;
• Use 30% or higher post-consumer-waste-content recycled paper;
• Include a message about recycling on every mailing piece; and
• Use only credibly certified virgin paper, if virgin paper is used.

According to PPI’s Jules Van Sant, “Our hope is that widespread participation in the RDMI will help our industry demonstrate its responsible practices, and will make the case to local, state, and federal legislators that there is no need to establish a recipient registry or other mechanisms to constrain direct mail marketing.” Membership in the RDMI is open to printers, catalog publishers and other direct-mail providers nationwide. Participants need not be members of any printing or direct marketing association. Additional information is available on the RDMI website. LEDs to Take UV Curing to Next Level Hillsboro, Oregon-based Phoseon Technology is actively promoting its Semiconductor Light Matrix (SLM)™ UV-LED technology as the next wave in UV curing of inks and coatings. The UV-LED systems, which cure material optimized for the 395 nanometer wavelength, deliver reliable curing with some 50% less energy consumption, less radiant heat, no ozone generation, and fewer end-of-life disposal issues than current mercury-based arc lamp UV-curing technology.  The hurdle for the widespread deployment of Phoseon’s solution will be the reformulation of inks and coatings to cure at the specific wavelength generated by the UV-LEDs (which is different than the range of light generated by mercury-arc lamps). Assuming than material manufacturers see the merit and potential of this emerging technology, printers may find themselves with a much greener solution than that currently in use. More information is available on Phoseon Technology’s website.