Find better Eco Papers with the REAP Guide

2nd March, 2011 by Greg Campbell

Working towards best greener practice can be a tricky process, so here’s your shortcut to Eco Paper in Australia and beyond with the REAP guide... http://www.srd.org.au/reap.htm independent research that’s referenced by many leading NGO’s, annually updated, plus written and researched by an AGDA founding year member /past NSW councillor.

These days you would expect every paper stock should have some green credo but now you can lift the game and your knowledge by selecting those papers with the greenest heritage available for Australia. This site shows you how plus links to paper calculators, global green paper sites, printing tips and more. Four major sections for Uncoated, Coated, Specialty and Office paper. No need to be daunted by the amount of data as you can simply see the stocks listed higher have the greener credentials.

Substantive, reliable information needs to be available to enable designers wishing to know more. We all want to make a positive difference and this site helps. If you find a stock you think should be given consideration, then drop me an email and supply all the details. The entire process is open to constructive input. (And Yes, the whole site may be redesigned one day too). Presented by the Society for Responsible Design, membership and supporters welcome.

View comments

Thank you for the article.
One thing that I am curious to know is: will Govt provide designers or their client "carbon" credits if we use "green" paper?
Using green and environmentally friendly stock is a great idea and printers and clients alike like the idea of being "green" but it affects the bottom line.
In our studio, we feel that paper companies are hiking up the prices just because things appear to be green when at the end of the day, it's common practice for them to produce paper in an environmentally friend way anyhow.
Merchants should not be promoting green paper when the cost of the alternatives are so much more competitive.
We will, however, continue to seek better ways to promote the green issue but prices need to be more competitive and Govt should be promoting the benefits of green printing.
If the alternative stocks are that much cheaper - how do we justify the cost to the client who is finding it hard to meet the bottom line?
Any suggestions?
Xandro.

Posted by Xandro Lombardi on 8th March 2011

Thanks for the good points raised in your feedback. Do not expect the Government to make concessions in the short term for using greener paper. As with coal and uranium they already have their involvement so deep with deals and tax revenues that coupled with an electorate still wishing for all the big issues to go away it won't happen for a good while yet. However, we can still take positive action by making our own informed decisions, learning of the double-speak so many with vested interests in govt. or industry employ and going that bit further to find out more.
Yes, prices are influenced by supply and demand but environmentally friendly paper is all but non-existent. Simply put, at nearly every step of it's felling, manufacture, transport and disposal it is degrading our environment. So why not select the better options to reduce the tax on our 'own backyard' and enjoy lower prices from better economy of scale capable when demand reaches sustained higher levels. Much of this also depends on which bottom lines you are watching and our environment deserves a few more friends, it does look after us pretty well.
Justification to clients may be at several levels. They are now expecting greener products and are becoming more informed about the options and pitfalls. Many will allow for a small increase but with good shopping around this may be reduced too. Better green options can be a selling point from several perspectives especially when the green credentials are well founded and add personal satisfaction of knowing your choices are the best available has value too. Quality greener results can be found and printers are improving the handling of these stocks all the time.
The question of value is a big one, so I hope this all helps. I expect to get value from our government we need to lobby them to provide incentives that will work for us all as the past has shown they are unlikely to lead the way alone.
Regards, Greg
Posted by Greg Campbell on 16th March 2011