Walsworth to make environmentally friendly paper purchases
Written by Marketing Staff
Kansas City, Mo. (August 13, 2008) – While yearbook staffs are working to preserve memories for many years, they also can help to preserve the earth’s forests.
Walsworth Publishing Company, an American, family-owned yearbook publisher, has been granted Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). As such, Walsworth now will be purchasing paper that comes from forests that are being responsibly managed. Having this paper available will give customers a choice in their paper selection, enabling them to also make a positive impact on our planet.
Walsworth is the first yearbook company in the U.S. to be FSC-certified, and the company will mainly offer FSC-certified paper to its yearbook customers using its FSC Chain of Custody number SCS-COC-001758.
“This certification shows our dedication to our responsibility for the environment. We want our customers to know we take this responsibility seriously and are proud that we have achieved this certification,” said Don Walsworth, president.
“We know our customers take the environment seriously as well, and we are glad to provide them with environmentally sound products for their books,” Walsworth added.
The Forest Stewardship Council, based in Bonn, Germany, is an international organization that promotes responsible forest management. The organization has rigorous certification processes for forest management companies and the companies that use and sell wood products.
SCS is an independent, third-party certifier of environmental, sustainability, food quality and food purity claims, and has developed internationally recognized standards and certification programs aimed at spurring the highest level of environmental improvements, social accountability and product performance.
In a Walsworth survey in early 2008, 50% of the yearbook customer respondents said it is important to them to produce a more environmentally friendly yearbook, and 40% are interested in exploring the possibility.
For its part, Walsworth has a team to ensure compliance with the program, which includes maintaining records of all FSC products bought and sold. After initial certification, annual audits, done by a third-party, will be conducted to ensure compliance. Walsworth plans internal audits on a monthly basis.
“Several people will work directly with the planning, purchasing, inventory of, and warehousing of certified papers and products. We will review all documentation, conduct training for employees, and be present during our third-party audits. We as a company see the benefits of this course of action for our environment and our customers,” Gary O’Toole, General Manager of Print Facilities in Marceline, said.
Walsworth has been working for more than 15 years to be environmentally friendly, including:
- Using vegetable-based inks, which come from a renewable source, are more environmentally friendly and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
- Using recycled boards to create covers, which reduce costs and waste.
- Recycling our printing solvents by separating the water from the chemicals after use, extending the life of the solvents.
- Recycling our printing plates, reducing metal waste.
- Recycling 100% of the paper waste at our printing facility, helping to save trees.
- Using Green Seal products for our endsheets whenever possible. Green Seal is an organization that promotes the manufacture, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services.
- Obtaining power for our Omaha web-press facility from a power grid that gets wind-generated power, reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Walsworth Publishing Company is a 70-year-old family-owned publisher, with yearbook and commercial divisions. The company is headquartered in Marceline, Mo., with offices and facilities in Brookfield, Mo., Kansas City, Mo., and Omaha, Neb
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