Eco-Printing Terminology
Virgin Paper:
Paper made exclusively from new wood fiber harvested directly from forests. Does not contain any recycled material.
Recycled:
Paper which is designated as "recycled" can be a mixture of virgin wood fiber, pre-consumer waste or post-consumer waste.
Biodegradable:
Process by which organtic substances are broken down by other living organisms such as bacteria, mushrooms and algae.
Pre-consumer content:
Pre-consumer content is paper made out of paper scraps and trimmings left over from the paper manufacturing process. These paper scraps and trimmings are easiest to recycle, as they do not have to be collected, separated, de-inked
Post-consumer content:
Post-consumer waste (PCW) is paper made out of paper which has been used by the end consumer and then is collected for recycling from various recycling programs. This is the best paper to use, as it creates demand for paper which would normally end up in the landfill and no trees are cut down for making the paper.
Renewable Resources:
Natural resources that are replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable to that of their consumption by humans or other species.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC):
The Forest Stewardship Council was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. This impressive goal has in many ways been achieved, yet there is more work to be done. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world's strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.
Well Managed Forest:
The exact definition of a well-managed forest will be debated as long as there are interest groups that value different sets of attributes available from a forest. Fundamental to all is the premise that forests are recognized as a community of interacting plants, animals, soil, water, air, and people within a major landscape - no longer just a concentration of trees.
