Getting 'mixed up' with all the different green terms, certifications,
and
logos? The Rochester
Institute of Technology has created a guide that will help
you determine what's what when Going Green!



The following are more COMMON terms:

PCW - Post-consumer waste, a waste type produced by the end
consumer, material that individuals routinely discard

Windpower - The conversion of wind energy into electricity

Carbon Neutral - Zero total carbon release, brought about by
balancing the amount of carbon released with the amount sequestered or
offset

Greenhouse Gases - The gases present in the atmosphere,
which
reduce the loss of heat into space

The following
represent a large chunk of the logos and certification marks that
you'll come across in the paper world:



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The recycling
symbol
is an internationally-recognized symbol used to designate recyclable
materials. The use of the symbol is not regulated (or trademarked),
thus countless variants exist. In the paper world, use of the symbol
means that the paper has been recycled (compared to "is recyclable"). A
percentage inside the symbol indicates the amount of recycled fiber.



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Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC)
is an international, non-profit association that encourages
the responsible management of the world’s forests and sets standards
that
ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible,
socially
beneficial and economically viable way. FSC Certification means that an
independent third party has established a chain of custody to verify
that the paper originates in an FSC-certified sustainable, well-managed
forest. A thorough comparison of FSC, SFI, CSA, and PEFC is available
is
available at marketsinitiative.org.



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Sustainable Forestry
Initiative
(SFI)
is similar in goal to the Forest Stewardship Council, but it is managed
by the paper industry. It is
comprised of management practices designed to ensure the future health
and growth of forests, but does not use an independent certifier nor
does it address problems such as converting old forests into tree
plantations, as FSC does.
A thorough comparison of FSC, SFI, CSA, and PEFC is available
is
available at marketsinitiative.org/.




 
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Canadian Standards Association
is a membership-based association serving business, industry,
government, and consumers. It develops standards that address real
needs, such as enhancing public safety and health, advancing the
quality of life, helping to preserve the environment, and facilitating
trade. A thorough comparison of FSC, SFI, CSA, and PEFC is available
is
available at marketsinitiative.org/.



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Programme for the Endorsement of
Forest Certification
is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, which
promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party
certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers
of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable
management of forests.
A thorough comparison of FSC, SFI, CSA, and PEFC is available
is
available at marketsinitiative.org/.



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Green-e certification
identifies products and services made with renewable energy that
doesn’t pollute, such as wind, solar, biomass and hydrogen fuel.



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Green Seal certification
identifies products that contain at least 30 percent post-consumer
material and are manufactured without chlorine or chlorine derivatives.



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Rainforest
Alliance
works with FSC to help companies work with sustainable sources.
Rainforest Alliance certification is an independent seal of approval
“that goods and services were produced in compliance with strict
guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local
communities.”



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Rainforest
Alliance's SmartWood program
offers a diverse set of certification and verification services. Each
of these services has a different focus, ranging from Forest
Stewardship Council certification, to verification of legality, to the
management of high conservation value forests.



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Processed
Chlorine Free (PCF) refers to papers that contain postconsumer
recycled
fiber that was processed without the use of any additional chlorine or
chlorine compounds. If these papers also contain a percentage of virgin
fiber, the virgin fiber must have been processed without the use of any
chlorine or chlorine compounds. Because PCF paper contains
recycled-content
fibers, PCF paper production can also reduce water, energy and virgin
fiber
usage.



Courtesy
of the Rochester
Institute of Technology