Environmental clarity in the stationery industry

The selection of office stationery products is frequently done on the basis of environmental credentials.

But how can we get good quality information and consistency across sources?

Have you noticed how many stationery catalogues put a ‘100% Recycled’ logo next to a product, and yet the symbol refers only to the paper content, and not the whole product? Or worse still, an icon signifying that the product is ‘green’ with no information as to why it is ‘greener’ than any other.

What about claims such as energy saved through use of recycled paper? Is the information correct? Often it isn’t, as data is sourced from the UK paper industry that produces newsprint from mechanical pulp. However fine papers contain chemical (wood free) pulp, and the production of this does not consume energy, it actually generates it. So replacing this element with recycled fibre actually increases the energy demand and carbon emissions.  

From a marketing perspective both suppliers and distributors need to review the communication to ensure that the information supplied is accurate so that people are able to make an informed decision on the products that they purchase.

It is no longer acceptable to have a symbol indicating that items are ‘green products’. The industry needs to work together to deliver more effective and consistent labelling.