Certifications
Our Certifications
We have a mission of sustainability that extends into every facet of our operations. We minimize the environmental impact of our operations by using only recycled papers and soy (and vegetable) inks, investing in clean technologies, offsetting our carbon emissions via Renewable Energy Credits, and maintaining our certification with several environmental impact monitoring agencies.
Certified "B Corporation"
About B Corporation Certification
B Corps are a new type of corporation that use the power of business to address social and environmental problems. Certified B Corporations meet transparent and comprehensive standards of social and environmental performance and legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests. In addition, by uniting together as B Corporations, they amplify the voice of sustainable business and for-profit social enterprise. There are currently over 200 certified B Corporations from over 30 industries, representing $1 billion in collective revenues and $6.5 billion in capital under management.
Unfortunately, California is one of 19 states that do not yet allow corporations to consider stakeholder interests. As a B Corp in California, we have committed to amending our corporate governing documents to include stakeholder interests once the law permits us to do so. According to Deborah Hirsh from B Labs (the non-profit that coordinates the certification), changes in state legislation in 2010 may facilitate this process, and additional efforts are underway to create a new corporate form for companies in California that have met high and transparent social and environmental standards.
Why did Greenerprinter become a B Corporation?
We went through the certification process to become a B Corp because the B Corp certification represents one of the highest standards for responsible businesses. An important part of the B Corp certification is that the social and environmental performance standards are comprehensive and transparent. Our B Corp report will soon be available on the B Corp website, and we will be subject to random audits. This will be in addition to the other audits that we're subject to as a Certified Green Business in Bay Area (such as water and energy use audits) and our Forest Stewardship Council® audit. We believe that it is important that our social and environmental initiatives can be verified by third parties that you can trust.
We are the first commercial printer in the country to receive this certification, and as other printers follow our lead, new standards will be set within the printing industry.
What makes B Corporation different from other green certifications?
B Corporation does evaluate environmental efforts, but it also includes considerations for governance, employees, community, and suppliers. In this regard, it's a much more comprehensive certification that looks at not just environmental impact, but at how the company does business as a whole.
You can learn more about B Corporations on their website. The Katovich Law Group, another B Corp, also provides a good explanation about stakeholder interests and B Corps on their blog.
The mark of responsible forestry.
FSC® C103525
GreenerPrinter has obtained certification in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain of Custody Standards. The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is a nongovernmental, non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world's forests. By adhering to practices listed in our FSC® certification, we are a vital link in a "chain of custody" which ensures that forest products (in our case, paper) can be traced from their final manufactured product all the way back to the well-managed forests from which the raw materials were harvested.
About the Chain of Custody (COC) Certificate
Chain of custody certification provides a guarantee about the production of FSC®-certified products. Chain-of-custody is the path taken by raw materials from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution.
From a customer perspective, the FSC® label represents a promise that is being made to them. Chain of custody standards are the mechanism FSC® has to ensure that 'promise' is delivered.
Operations that have been independently certified for FSC® chain of custody certification are eligible to label their products with the FSC® logo.
About the Forest Stewardship Council®
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international organization that brings people together to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world's forests.
- FSC® is a stakeholder owned system for promoting responsible management of the world's forests.
- Through consultative processes, it sets international standards for responsible forest management.
- It accredits independent third party organizations who can certify forest managers and forest product producers to FSC® standards.
- Its trademark provides international recognition to organizations who support the growth of responsible forest management.
- Its product label allows consumers worldwide to recognize products that support the growth of responsible forest management worldwide.
- FSC® undertakes marketing programs and information services that contribute to the mission of promoting responsible forestry worldwide.
- Over the past 13 years, over 90 million hectares in more than 70 countries have been certified according to FSC® standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC®-certified wood and carrying the FSC® trademark. FSC® operates through its network of National Initiatives in 45 countries.
Renewable Energy Sources Provide the Power for our Operations
The carbon emissions from Greenerprinter's operations are reduced by at least half using MCE's Light Green 50% Renewable program. MCE is a public, not-for-profit electricity provider that gives all PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electricity) electric customers (residential, commercial, and municipal) the choice of having 50% to 100% of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources—such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectric—at competitive rates.
The energy sources using this program are:
- 34% wind
- 9% solar
- 12% biomass/biowaste, and small hydro
- 25% Large Hydro & Natural Gas
- 19% General System Energy
Carbon Emissions of Shipping are offset via Carbonfund
Greenerprinter offsets all of its shipping through investments in Carbonfund.org. This commitment establishes Greenerprinter as an environmental leader in the print industry and demonstrates the proactive steps it is taking in the fight against global climate change.
This partnership with Carbonfund.org allows Greenerprinter to reduce its carbon footprint by offsetting the emissions generated as a result of the shipment and delivery of printed materials. While Greenerprinter has done everything possible to reduce the environmental impact of its internal operations, Carbonfund.org helps it to minimize the additional impact of what happens after a project leaves its facility.