What is greenwashing in printing and how do I spot it?

Greenwashing is when a printer or a product makes an environmental claim that sounds better than the facts behind it. In printing it usually shows up as vague wording, such as "eco paper" or "green printing," with no detail about what the paper is made of or how it was processed.

A few signs to watch for:

• "Recycled" with no post-consumer percentage given.
• "Chlorine free" on a paper that is actually ECF, which still uses chlorine dioxide.
• Certification logos with no documentation available on request.
• One green feature, such as soy ink, used to suggest the whole job is low impact.

The simplest test is to ask for specifics in writing: the mill, the post-consumer content and the certifications for the exact stock being quoted. A printer making honest claims can answer those questions. Our own approach is explained on the why eco printing page.