gordonated

What I know about being eco-friendly

Was reading the August 2008 edition of Creative Review when I bumped into a very insightful foldersgalore ad. This ad revealed 6 logos, some created by foldersgalore to symbolise eco friendly materials:

Each logo is then classified under various groupings according to materials, which prove useful in helping to provide an overview of the possibilities of being eco-friendly. A press release PDF on their website will give you the insights. Cleverly copyrighted for business as well.

Looking through it, it reminded me that this has been a year where some of Figtree’s clients approached us with the idea of teaming up current projects with some sort of environmental/eco-friendly affection attached with it, especially aiming for papers bearing the authoritative FSC mark. Be it producing an info-booklet or magazine with FSC or 50% recyclable paper or 50% recycled paper, it was a challenge to choose the appropriate sheet of paper; also the hunt for accurate information on the background of the paper.

We approached paper merchants and discovered that, back then, there was no paper merchant in Malaysia which is FSC certified, even-though they carry readily FSC certified paper in the global market. In my understanding, an FSC certified paper has more ‘eco-value’ attached to it compared to merely environmentally friendly paper. Further research revealed that not only the paper merchant/mill has to be FSC certified but also the printers, and interestingly, everyone in the process chain! None of the printers in Malaysia are as of now.

Recently, I found out that only one paper merchant in Malaysia is FSC certified, which is a good thing. Probably, by year end, we hope to see printers in Malaysia being certified FSC. Strictly limited to probably after the change of it’s machinery or production processes, just like in the case of the paper merchants, only paper stocks which come in after the date of certification will be considered FSC paper.

As much as I admire the classification of the symbols that foldersgalore has done, I’m not sure if such awareness will formulate action with such graphic language. I’m still a little bit skeptical on how much I really can do to help. I do try to practice an eco-friendly approach at times:

1. I have no drafts printed out during the approval process (assumed that my typographic skills goes into ultrasonic-mode where I can predict legibility from the screen which will appear on print) only until lastly where I print on used paper for pagination and details.
2. I pretty much have tried to design books within specific dimensions to secure minimal paper wastage.
3. I tried to be a minimalist.
4. I sketch ideas for projects on left over bleeds of the sheets from print.
5. I don’t print out a portfolio of my work.
6. I do try to discourage clients to go into print and instead send out digital formats means of communication.

Even with all that, I’m not fully convinced that by being a designer, I can do much in promoting such awareness or provide encouragement in doing my part for mother nature.

I have designed some pieces using recycled paper. But truth is, if that logo goes to the back cover of a book I designed, does it really make a significant difference—to me the designer, to my client and to my supplier that we did our little part in being eco-friendly? Does it really make a satisfactory pace?