WhatTheyThink’s Going Green has joined forces with Two Sides to help address the “perceptions” that paper destroys forests, that electronic media are “greener” than print and paper, and that recycling is the solution to all environmental ills. Last week, we posted an interview with EarthColor, one of this year’s WhatTheyThink Environmental Innovation Award winners, and, coincidentally, shortly beforehand I had received in the mail EarthColor’s beautifully printed 2011–12 Sustainability Report (also available as PDF here). EarthColor is also a Two Sides member, so it seemed apt to take this week’s Fast Fact from their report. So: “In 2011, EarthColor purchased approximately 51,592 tons of paper, an increase of 7.24% from 2010. Of our total paper purchases, nearly half consisted of FSC-certified paper, totaling 22,921 tons. Our commitment to responsible forestry helped us preserve 517 acres.” Why should you care? Arboreally speaking, EarthColor is tri-certified—FSC, SFI and PEFC. But this is just one page of an impressive 32-page report. One other point I noticed was “In 2011 our total volume of activity, tracked by total print impressions, was up by 18% for the year.” So, they are growing their business at the same time that they are annually expanding their environmental initiatives. It is companies like EarthColor that are shining examples of the fact that print is not an environmentally rapacious medium, and that there are companies in our industry who are far better sustainability stewards than anyone in just about any industry. For more Two Sides facts see http://www.twosides.us/mythsandfacts.