Perhaps the most significant change to the existing guidelines is the FTC’s advice to marketers not to use general terms such as “environmentally friendly” and “eco-friendly.” The FTC is also proposing guidance on marketers’ use of product certifications and seals of approval, claims for renewable energy.

Read more specifics on the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, a section by section breakdown with examples on appropriate use of marketing terms, here and here.

According to Environmental Leader, a quality online resource for green business news, the FTC has already brought to light seven environmental advertising enforcement actions under the Obama administration – including actions against Kmart Corp., Tender Corp. and Dyna-E International – for making false and unsubstantiated claims. In the case of these three national companies, they had made misleading claims that their paper products were biodegradable (all products, in fact, will biodegrade given enough time).

According to the Ecolabel Index, there are currently 349 seals and certifications for marketing green products in 213 countries worldwide. It’s not surprising then that the FTC has chosen to take on the gargantuan duty of tightening up America’s own regulations. These regulations are forcing green businesses to be aware of both current and proposed guidelines, and through them deepen their marketing messages by substantiating and specifying their green efforts, whenever mentioned in their marketing effors.

It is unclear how the FTC will be enforcing the new guidelines against small businesses, but it is always a prudent idea to follow marketing guidelines no matter what stage your business is in. Greenerprinter does this through transparency in our business practice communications, pursuit of multiple green and industry specific certifications, carbon offsetting of product materials via Carbonfund.org and freight rail shipping of our bulk paper orders. Our seven-point Sustainability Policy is even freely available online, which opens our doors to anyone interested in our sustainability practices and efforts.

The FTC is seeking public comments on the proposed guidelines through December 10, 2010. To submit your comments during the public comment period, please use the Federal Trade Commission Comment Form located on their website.

If you watch the local news broadcast, read your mail or listen to talk radio, its hard to escape the fact that the 2010 mid-term election is only days away. Greenerprinter is not in the businesses of political advocacy, but California’s Proposition 23 is one instance in which we knew we had to act.

Proposition 23 proposes to halt the implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) until California’s unemployment rate drops from its current rate of 12.4 percent to 5.5 percent. What is AB32? This Act was passed in 2006 and holds polluters accountable to the air pollution they produce. It requires guilty companies to reduce the air pollution that threatens people nationwide and contributes to global climate change.

The proposed level of unemployment has rarely been achieved in California even in good economic times. And according to Prop. 23, the 5.5 percent level must be maintained for four consecutive quarters before AB32 can be enacted. Hence, the reduction of pollution could be put on hold indefinitely! Prop. 23 is funded largely by two goliath oil companies: Valero and Tesoro Corp. These companies’ oil refineries are among the top ten polluters in California.

Effects on the Environment

If Proposition 23 is not defeated on November 2, polluters will be granted a “Get Out of Jail Free” card on California’s clean energy standards, and keep us addicted to dirty oil. As emphasized by the NO on 23 Coalition, passing the proposition could, “result in greater use of oil in California and increase the risk of accidents like that in the Gulf Coast.” A scary proposition indeed!

But there’s even more at stake for the environment. The California election will be the first domino that could trigger a chain reaction in the national debate in 2011 about clean air and green jobs. How? Right now, the Environmental Protection Agency is deciding how to exercise its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (part of the EPA’s tasks under the Clean Air Act). But before the EPA can act, some members of Congress are working hard to rob the EPA of its authority. The passing of Prop. 23 and subsequent repeal of AB32 will make the job of removing EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions much, much easier in the future.

Effects on the Green Economy

During the previous five years, green jobs in California have grown ten times faster than total US job growth. Approximately 500,000 Californians hold clean-tech or green jobs, and that number is only growing. But if passed, Prop. 23 will put an end to job growth in the green sector by discouraging expansion into alternative energy and remediation of dirty energy. Big corporations including Valero and Tesoro Corp. would be allowed to stymie competition and jobs from California’s clean technology companies. Furthermore, the reduction of clean energy policy could influence investors that have embraced the green economy as an economic growth sector to move their investments to other non-green sectors. This would have a devasting effect on California green job opportunities.

The Green Chamber of Commerce hit the nail on the head in their recent blog post on the issue. They wrote, “Prop. 23 would kill competition from California’s newly emerging clean energy businesses – wind, solar and other renewable energy and clean technologies.”

Effects on Public Health

Every year, air pollution contributes to 19,000 deaths in California and contributes to the alarming rates of cancer, asthma and other diseases. By removing accountability from the companies that cause air pollution until unemployment rates drop, the health of everyone will be put at risk. Prop. 23 is strongly opposed by the American Lung Association, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the California arm of AARP.

Greenerprinter and Prop. 23

As a committed green company Greenerprinter embraces all efforts toward making the world a more sustainable and healthy place for our selves and future generations. A No vote on Prop 23 is vote for supporting a growing green economy and a better world for all.

How can you take action? If you are a registered voter in California, please vote no on Prop 23. If your friends or family members are California residents, please share this blog and urge them to vote no on Prop. 23.

Thank you!

This past Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 22-24), Greenerprinter sponsored a cutting-edge sustainable lifestyle event called The Ki. Now in its second year, this green expo attracted entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals from all walks of life to Treasure Island, a former naval base just east of San Francisco’s financial district.

The Ki - a Japanese word referring to chi or “life force” - is an online and offline platform created to present innovative technology, sustainable design and forward thinking.

Eco-friendly printing is just one the many ways companies, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs can work to balance the chi in the world around us. To this end, Greenerprinter supported The Ki through environmentally friendly brochures, recycled content postcards and high-quality badges.

Just a few of the attractions at the event included clean tech cars, electric motorcycles, a book store and eco fashions, home designs, appliances and furnishings. Attendees sat behind the wheel of a Tesla, took in an inspirational film, tried water “made from air” and just relaxed to the sounds of a live blues band while sipping organic wine or beer.

If you were at The Ki and dropped by the Greenerprinter booth, thank you!

Greenerprinter has put together a list of our favorite resources for green business news and insights. These resources can help you follow the headlines, track the latest trends, research green stocks, or find upcoming networking events and trade shows:

B Corp – B Corp posts news from companies that meet comprehensive standards of social and environmental performance. Certified B corporations have legally expanded their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of all stakeholder interests. The B Corp site features an “In the News” section (also available via RSS), a blog titled “the change we seek” and an extensive list of B Corp company profiles. By the way, Greenerprinter has been a Certified B Corporation since August, 2009.

Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire – CSRwire brings you news from member organizations – including non-profits, agencies and academic institutions – that are interested in communicating their corporate citizenship, sustainability practices and socially responsible initiatives to a global audience through CSRwire’s syndication network and News Alerts. Search for the latest news by category, explore the CSRwire news archive or submit your company news after signing up to be a CSRwire member.

Environmental Leader – If you’re on the lookout for business news that focuses on energy and the environment (solar energy, recycling, carbon finance or environmental policy), look no further. This daily trade publication was founded by Paul Nastu, who has over fifteen years’ experience providing industry-specific news to corporate decision makers. In addition to news, Environmental Leader is also a good source for white papers, charts, videos and even green job listings. Finally, keep your business skills sharp by attending one of Environmental Leader’s free sponsored webinars.

GreenBiz.com – In addition to the latest news headlines, GreenBiz.com’s easy-to-use site is organized into categories ranging from energy and climate to small business, marketing and communications, business operations and more. GreenBiz.com, founded as the flagship website of Greener World Media in 2000, is a leading source for news, best practices, opinion and other resources on greening mainstream business. Don’t have time to browse the website? Get GreenBiz news through an RSS feed or an e-newsletter sent directly to your inbox.

SustainableBusiness.com – The staff at SustainableBusiness.com envisions a world where “human activities live in harmony with the earth’s carrying capacity.” Working from that vision, only news stories from content partners that support this goal are featured. In addition to daily news headlines, this site is a great source for sustainable investor news, including green stocks and sustainable investing how-to’s. If you’re running short on time, catch up with a week’s worth of news by listening to the Green Week in Review podcast. Finally, SustainableBusiness.com is an excellent resource for “green dream jobs.”

Sustainable Industries – This well-designed site serves as a multi-media platform that “connects the dots between the environmental and social components of regional economies.” Focus on news from the West Coast and stay up-to-date with national green business news with Sustainable Industries’ comprehensive RSS feeds, white papers, podcasts, Twitter feed and webinars. The Editor’s Pick is a quick way to get an overview of some of today’s most compelling news stories. And don’t miss the events section, which is listed under Connections (Greenerprinter had the pleasure of participating in this year’s Sustainable Industries Economic Forum event!).

Triple Pundit – Triple Pundit serves up news stories for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs seeking to grow their enterprises’s triple bottom line (people, planet and profit). The site’s blog format is easy to digest, allowing the staff writers and other contributors to delve more deeply into each subject. Recent comments bubble up to the homepage, as do the most popular news stories. Would you rather be part of the sustainable business news beat than just read about it? Become a Triple Pundit contributor, correspondent or sponsor to have your unique views on green business news heard.

Please feel free to add other sources for green business news to this list by sending your suggestions in the comment section below.

This year’s keynote speaker was Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of Architecture for Humanity. Sinclair’s nonprofit seeks to address humanitarian crisis – such as January’s catastrophic 7.0 earthquake in Haiti – with architectural solutions.

Greenerprinter lent a hand in the Economic Forum by providing event programs using Everest Cover paper, table signage using Reincarnation Matte Cover paper, full color posters on Sakura Silk paper, vertical and indoor large format banners, eco-friendly postcards and even recycled business cards. Each earth-friendly piece was produced using either high-content post-consumer recycled stock or virgin paper from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified sustainably harvested forests.

Sustainable Industries is an independent media company serving business and thought leaders primarily on the West Coast. Their multi-media platform (think magazines, RSS feeds, white papers, pod casts and webinars) helps to “connect the dots” between the environmental and social components of a regional economy. The company was started in 2002 by Nik Blosser, president of Celilo Group Media, and business journalist Brian Back.

As one of the deep green environmental and social components of the Bay Area business community, Greenerprinter proudly backs the work of Sustainable Industries and its partner businesses!

What does this mean for you?

As you can imagine, the largest portion of a printer’s environmental footprint is the paper they use. This is why printers – and the entrepreneurs and other businesses that support them – have a responsibility to maximize the market for recycled content and FSC certified virgin fiber papers.

Each time you support Greenerprinter, you can be certain that you are helping to transition the paper market from brown to green – so to speak – one job at a time. The “Ancient Forest Friendly” logo is an easy way to know that you’re choosing to work with businesses that use 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and/or virgin paper fiber that is FSC certified.

About Canopy

Canopy has more than ten years of expertise helping companies develop strong environmental policies. Canopy works hard to increase the demand for green paper products by shifting heavy paper consuming sectors away from unsustainable sources.

We are thrilled to join Canopy in their mission to ensure that the world’s forests “remain strong and standing, our species abundant, our ecosystems healthy and our climate protected.” In fact, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

In the coming months, keep an eye out for the Ancient Forest Friendly logo on the Greenerprinter website or other company collateral.

Drawing on the experience of B Corporation, GCC member businesses will find it easier to build sustainability into their business practices from day one (or day 1,001, as the case may be). And the B Corporation Impact Rating System will help the GCC to promote corporate accountability and transparency as they work to expand nationally.

Just exactly who – or what – are the GCC and B Corporation? The Green Chamber of Commerce is a diverse business network dedicated to providing its members with “promotional opportunities, discounts, hosted events, a voice in national policy and tools to become more environmentally and socially responsible.”

B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. According to bcorporation.net, unlike traditional responsible businesses, certified B Corporations:

• Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards.
• Institutionalize stakeholder interests.
• Build collective voice through the power of a unifying brand.

On September 8, nearly 100 people came together to celebrate the synergy at The Hub’s San Francisco office. This ideal location represented the spirit of the new partnership: The Hub is a community of innovative thinkers, value-driven entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, activists, investors and freelancers who share space to work, meet and accelerate solutions to today’s complex problems.

Greenerprinter is both a certified B Corporation and a long-standing supporter of the GCC. So in addition to our table at the event, Exygy and SF Green Dentist could be spotted at tables, while several Green MBA alumni were mingling in the crowd.

The evening’s presentation included inspirational stories from Sustainable Industries, Dharma Merchant Services, BetterWorld Telecom and New Resource Bank — all GCC members and/or Certified B Corporations. An assortment of memorable organic appetizers and drinks were provided by Mendocino Wine Company, Social Kitchen & Brewery and Organic Chef Catering.

The full press release can be found on the GCC blog archive.

Deemed GAEx (Green America Exchange), this flexible barter system allows businesses to leverage resources they already have to purchase necessities without spending capital. Additionally, Green America staff are available to help market sale items and coordinate trades between member businesses.

What exactly is Green America? Green America is a well-established non-profit membership organization that aims to “harness economic power – the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace – to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.” The Green Business Network was established by Green America to help socially and environmentally responsible businesses grow and thrive to create a green economy.

But then if you’re one of the hundreds of businesses that participate in one of the GreenFestival events nationwide, you of course already knew this!

All GBN members get a free basic account in the GAEx system. GAEx will:

• Offer a cash flow solution to small and newly-established green businesses,
• Enable participation in a peer-to-peer credit system,
• Support the green economy by increasing the resiliency and efficiency of green businesses,
• Provide GBN members with another sphere of socially responsible commerce in which to network and do business with each other.

In addition to the benefits of a basic account, premium GAEx account holders get an interest free credit line, a full-time dedicated broker, technical assistance for their account and more.

Barter systems are nothing new. But in the words of a fellow  reviewer, “I’ve seen many attempts at alternative currencies and barter systems come and go, but this sounds like it has the both the durability and the practicality to both last and grow…” To learn more about GAEx, visit the Green America Exchange How it Works page.

Have you participated in barter systems in the past? What did you like or dislike about the experience? Leave your comments below!

As the most popular green printer ordering site on the web, Greenerprinter.com gets a lot of visitors. Many of them simply have the time design skills needed to produce eye-catching, print-ready files. As an added service to our customers, we are expanding the availability of online design templates.

Now through our new Design Partner program, you can make your professional designs available to hundreds of new people around the globe. Each time an order is placed using your design, you earn a commission!

As a Design Partner, your work (along with your name) will gain great exposure and may continue to generate income for as long as your designs remain on Greenerprinter.com. For instance, a Bay Area business owner might take such a liking to your business card design that they contact you to create an entire identity package.

You don’t have to be a professional designer to become a Partner. Anyone with design skills and a computer is eligible. Plus you can track and monitor your commissions via a special section on your  Greenerprinter account’s Account Details page.

How should you get started? You simply need a PayPal™ account, a Greenerprinter account and designs that Greenerprinter customers will order (you will also be asked to provide at least one online sample of your work). Templates will be provided to ensure that your files are set up correctly.

Sharing your creative work with people who are seeking quality, sustainable printing is a truly unique and rewarding way to make a difference. Visit our site to learn more and submit your application.

If you need more information, please contact us at designadmin@greenerprinter.com or call 1-866-978-8547.

About Greenerprinter: Based in Berkeley, California, we have more than 20 years experience in the printing industry. From business cards and stationery to entire direct-mail campaigns, we offer a range of products and services that provide high-quality green solutions for business marketing and individual customer needs. Greenerprinter is a certified B Corporation, the proud winner of the 2010 Acterra Business Environmental Award and has been certified by the Bay Area Green Business program since 2002.

The IGAEA is a partnership between educators and industry professions who are dedicated to sharing the theories, principles, processes and techniques behind graphic communications and imaging technology.

The theme of this year’s IGAEA conference was “Sustainability: Our Discipline, Our Programs, Our Future.” The weekend’s discussions revolved around understanding the trends shaping the discipline. And according to IGAEA, also on “building and maintaining viable, lasting graphic communications 5479 programs.” On Monday, July 26, Mario addressed the concept of triple bottom line of business sustainability and how graphic arts students can help champion a campus greening effort.

So who is Mario Assadi? Mario holds a degree in Engineering and became involved in the prepress industry during the very early stages of desktop publishing.  In 1988, he founded Tulip Graphics, one of the first digital service bureaus in California. Nearly a decade later, he moved into digital printing and then conventional offset printing. In 2004 Mario launched Greenerprinter, the first online print provider to offer recycled paper and green printing exclusively.

Thanks in part to Mario’s deep commitment to sustainable printing practices,  IGAEA conference attendees went home better equipped to teach sustainable technologies today, and to become a driving force in the green campus movement.