Stock Considerations (environment and production)

When thinking about the mass scale in which the cards could be potentially developed commercially it is fair to suggest that if non-recyclable the impact of the cards would greatly effect the environment, a factor in which some thoughtless consumerized designers ignore.

In reference to Sonja Meyer, a prolifant environmental designer, it is evident that stock and production methods are highly important factors in which may inform an ethical, environmentally friendly product. She suggests that accredited printers are strong environmental printers in which aim to reduce emissions, and thus are the best printing method available. She also states that it is important to avoid adding metallic inks and coatings such as varnishes and laminates to printed items as these are difficult to de-ink and recycle, and many of these special finishes are made up of toxins that are harmful to the environment. She then goes onto state that only FSC certified 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper should be used alongside vegetable based, low-VOC inks.

When comparing this to my own practice it is fair to suggest that some of the above resources are not available within University and thus these ideologies would be applied to the manufacture of the cards if developed commercially. One element of the design in which I can control is that of the stock used.

FSC

''The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not-for-profit organization established to 
promote responsible management of the world’s forests and forest resources. It was established in 1993 in response to the inability of the world’s nations to enact any binding laws addressing the rampant deforestation around the planet. The organization has developed a world-wide system for addressing sustainability through the management, certification of forest resources and labeling their subsequent products. The FSC organization has attained a respectable level of activity for forest conservation including a proclaimed sensitivity for native human and threatened species populations, of which many are at serious risk.

Conservation aims are achieved through accredited certifications by meeting the standards of FSC organizational audits. If participant compliance is not achieved the organization can then issue Corrective Action Requests for prescribed changes. There is also a Chain of Custody system which allows the tracking of FSC certified material from the forest to the consumer. Paper, printing and forest product companies can then join and comply with FSC program standards with subsequent FSC labeling of their products for consumer assurance.''

Stock

As sustainability is a highly important factor I personally believe that the usage of a FSC paper would allow for my product to appear sustainable itself. It must also be considered that certain fsc papers are not recycled and thus this must be considered. 

When searching for environmentally friendly paper the website (http://www.recycled-papers.co.uk/our-papers) was explored.From this a greater understanding of recycled papers was gained in relation to the brief, with a selected stock being chosen for if the designs were developed commercially. It is important to note that you are unable to buy this stock on a small scale and thus the mock up will not be developed from this stock. 

An environmental calculator was used in order to gain a greater stance upon how much more environmental the cocoon range of papers are. You are able to view individual stocks and their environmental impact. The above results are based on 5,000 copies using a 135 gsm. 

From analysing the stocks present it was decided that the cocoon Gloss 50 would be used, as not only is it durable, fsc verified, and recycled but the stock itself is also of a strong quality. 

As I do not have access to this stock, others will be explored for the mock up. GSM will also be explored in order to develop a durable card.