BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Print and marketing communications services provider the Zenger Group has received chain-of-custody certification from the three leading international organizations that promote sustainable forestry practices. Certification enables the Zenger Group to assure its customers that its printed materials use paper produced from responsibly managed forests.  

“Our customers want ‘green’ printing options, our community and world need them, and we’re committed to being ahead of the curve in providing them,”  said Joe Zenger, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the Zenger Group. “These certifications represent the three primarychain-of-custody credentials that worldwide buyers seek.”

The three certifications are from three independent, non-profit organizations that support sustainable forestry through chain-of-production monitoring and rigorous standards that address social and economic, as well as environmental concerns. The three are:

- The Forest Stewardship Council, which has certified more than 100 million hectares of forest worldwide — about 7 percent of the world’s productive forests — and awarded more than 7,500 FSC certificates.

- The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, the world’s largest forest certification umbrella organization, which has certified more than 200 million hectares of forests and awarded more than 3,500 PEFC-certificates.

- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which provides a single, PEFC-endorsed standard for North America covering 135 million acres of forest and involving more than 320 facilities.

The certifications apply to printing at two Zenger locations: its main digital and offset printing plant at 525 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, and its offset printing facility at 1881 Kenmore Avenue, Kenmore, N.Y. Audits for all three certifications were performed by the Bureau Veritas Certification.

Offering chain-of-custody certification is the latest initiative in the Zenger Group’s “Go Green” program, which began in 2007. The program contributes to responsible stewardship of the planet, makes the Zenger Group more attractive to clients interested in sustainability, and, very often saves money, Zenger said.

Other “Go Green” initiatives include comprehensive recycling of paper and plastics, a commitment to digital printing as a way to reduce print volume while improving advertising effectiveness, and ongoing analysis of the company’s lighting and energy consumption. Future plans include deploying advanced shutdown and setback techniques to minimize plant energy during off-production hours, installation of high-efficiency lighting ballasts, and purchasing more of the company’s energy from hydro and wind sources.