Please Cease and Desist With The Greenwashing

So in response to my blogpost yesterday I received a cease and desist e-mail from the company I mentioned in it. I guess I must have made a point or two. So the good news is that people are reading my blog. But after thinking about it, I decided to drop all reference to that company's name from my blogpost. What I say about the misuse of the facts about paper, trees and the environment can be said about many companies who are confused about the information relating to the paper industry, why should I single out just one.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here is the edited blogpost without the names of any company referenced.

I saw a tweet come across my Tweetdeck and felt compelled to respond to it. Here is what it said:

"Going #paperless or at least reducing #paper is our goal. We aim to help in doing what we can as retailers. Going #green always feels good."

I checked out the company. They sell a software program for retailers.The premise is that retailers who purchase and install this program of emailing receipts to customers, (instead of handing one to you with your purchase), will instantly save time, money and, it implies, the environment.

This company believes that the software program will save money for business owners instantly by reducing their paper costs by a 3:1 ratio. Apparently paper costs have increased so much it is causing retailers to raise prices and shrink their profit margins. When did providing a receipt to customers who make a purchase from you become an extra, not a given?

If I follow along with the idea that a receipt is not a necessity, then I also have to accept that the costs involved in printing out that receipt for my records, are now my responsibility. But my printer takes 8.5 x 11 sized paper---a cash register receipt is usually a small strip of 3 x (however many items you purchase) sized lightweight piece of paper. Which of these options ultimately then creates less waste?

The company video is well produced and hits all the heartstrings. It encourages businesses to do their part for the environment. It implies that by not using paper you are impacting the world in a good way for yourself, your children and your children's children. That's great stuff. If only it were true.

If we stop using paper, there may not be any environment left for our children's children. No paper use equals no new tree plantings; which in turn means no oxygen, no carbon sequestration, no wildlife habitats from those trees. If we stop using paper, our children's children may not even have forests, instead they will see endless strip malls and developments. http://www.internationalpaper.com/apps/gopaper/index.html

I do understand that this company wants to sell product. Just like we want to sell paper. But let's make sure we don't mistake greenwashing, for facts. The paper industry is sustainable and renewable. Using paper is not a bad thing, nor is being smart about times not to use it. The truth is that banks save money when they don't have to mail us our statements, phone companies save money when they don't have to print and mail our bills, and bottom line...stores save money when they don't have to print our receipts.

So let's just quit with the greenwashing. From my point of view, a more valid point for this company to make to a consumer like me, is that it is more convenient to not have to store and hang onto that receipt after a purchase, especially if it is an item you think you will not need to return. I can relate to that.

I believe in being sustainable. I believe in recycling. I believe in using recycled paper. But I also believe in the facts. No one is going to convince me that e-mailing a receipt to someone (who will more likely still print that receipt) is "greener" than having the store hand you one. And what about the negative environmental impact or the costs involved in maintaining all those servers which store the receipt data? Not to mention they get your e-mail address.

Seems backwards to me. I would stop frequenting a store that put the burden on me, the customer to print my own receipt at home. But then, I am also offended when any company asks me to go paperless to "save trees".

I sell paper. My husband works for the United States Postal Service.
You are barking up the wrong tree.

Who Knew We Had Such Talent at CMP?

Rachel Dunneback, Steve Holman & Dennis Gracey surprised us all when they performed a beautiful version of the Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat song Lucky (at the request of Mark Bultema himself) for Mark's retirement party. Who knew we had such employee musical talent within CMP?

P.S. Notice partway through the video Mark and Kay hold hands. So sweet!

Wausau Astrobrights Line Gets A Face Lift

Just in time for Spring.... Wausau Astrobrights announces a new and improved Color Line Up!

4 New Colors. 5 Improved Colors. Several New Product Codes.

No other bright color paper outshines, outsells and outsatisfies like Wausau Astrobrights.

Check out the link below to see the new and improved colors.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/51326684/astrobright-refresh-info

And this link takes you to the Cross Reference Chart for the new product codes.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/51327923

All items should be available for purchase the second week of April. Swatches arriving soon.

Gone Golfing...Well We Sure Hope So!

 We wish you happy days on the golf course, Mark!

CMP partied last week in honor of Mark Bultema's retirement. Surrounded by his family, his CMP family, friends and long time customers, Mark said goodbye to 23 years as a paper sales rep. Mark came to CMP in 1988 after spending many years as a sales rep for Dickinson Press. His desire was to stay in sales but also to stay closer to home for more time with his wife and young family. Seems like that move worked out well for him and for CMP. He not only raised a wonderful family, but managed to contribute greatly to CMP's growth over the years.

With good food, good stories and some awesome CMP musical talent, we sent him off in style. We wish Mark and Kay a wonderfully happy retirement, filled with health, grandkids and of course, lots of golf. It was obvious by the tears and the emotion shown at his farewell lunch, that Mark will be missed. His customers all echoed one very clear thought as they said their goodbye's:  "Mark always felt like he was part of our team, like he had our best interest at heart. It seemed like he was working for us!"

Way to go Mark. He obviously believed in putting his customers first. While the goal is to sell paper, how nice that it can be done with the friendship and respect of your customers and peers. Thanks for your loyal years of service and for your wonderful example. You will be missed.

Now, enjoy.



Mark enjoys the company of family, friends
and longtime customers.

 


Mark's daughter Holly, grandson  Heath, and wife Kay




Yummy spread.




The CMP Trio of Rachel Dunneback, Steve Holman
& Dennis Gracey




The McNaughton & Gunn folks receive an award
from Dave Beebe/Cascades Paper! Great job using
so much environmentally friendly paper.




The happy couple: Kay & Mark (they still hold hands!)

 P.S. To see all the pics from this event, visit www.facebook.com/cmpaper and look under photos!

Going, Going, Gone

This morning our resident baker extraordinaire, Gail Watts, brought in some Irish Soda Bread in honor of St. Patrick's Day. While we often have food in our CMP Gathering Place, aka "the break room", you have to be quick to nab a portion. Thanks for the yummy treat and for sharing your recipe.

Oh and, Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!



Gail's Irish Soda Bread!



Perfectly round and browned to perfection.

Apparently everyone is too polite to snag the last piece.

GAIL'S IRISH SODA BREAD RECIPE

Ingredients:
4 cups all purpose flour, plus 1 Tbl extra (for covering the raisins)
4 Tbl sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 Tbl (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 cup dried raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the raisins with 1 Tbl of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound. If bread gets too brown before it is done, lay a piece of foil on top. Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy.

P.S. Watch for more CMP recipe favorites. We seem to eat a lot around here.

Cascades Rolland ST50 Has A New Name

Cascades Rolland ST50 just got a makeover and a brand new name.  Introducing....Rolland ENVIRO 100 SATIN .

Enviro100 Satin now is 100% post consumer recycled, FSC certified, EcoLogo and processed chlorine free accredited, manufactured using renewable biogas energy, and has a unique silky smooth feel.

Wow, that is a lot to say in one breath.

And, to answer your question, yes there are some visible bits and pieces in it. You want your 100% recycled sheet to look recycled, right?

Think of  Enviro100 Satin as being a hybrid between a coated and uncoated paper. It has a bit of extra special "something" to make ink sit more on the surface. When you print 4-color there's going to be a little more pop happening on the Enviro100 Satin surface than there would be on a completely uncoated paper.

Don't tell anyone, but in the old days we'd have described this as a "wash coat".

Think of the possibilities. Newsletters. Brochures. Magazines. Sell sheets. Direct mail. Manuals.

Cascades is one of CMP's "go to" mills when someone is looking for good white paper at a great price. Oh, and if you want to be environmental and sustainable, then geesh... Cascades is a no brainer. Check out cascades.com/papers/ for more information. Or ask us for one of the Cascades promotions called It's Time to be Transparent.

Other papers you might want to check out in the Cascades family:  Rolland Opaque 50, Enviro 100 Print and Rolland Hi-Tech 50.

Can we bring you some swatches?

This One Is For The Visual People...

Check out this well done video using simple graphics to explain how using more paper leads to more trees! Way to go International Paper, we could not have said this better ourselves.





For more information on their Go Paper. Grow Trees campaign click here http://www.internationalpaper.com/apps/gopaper/.

Help us spread the facts and stop the greenwashing.

Paper Basics Road Show

My job is so much fun!

Last week I took my Paper Basics Presentation on the road to Ferris State University/Big Rapids Campus.

Me & the FSU Graphic Design Juniors

I've been doing a version of this Paper Basics presentation for almost 23 years and I am constantly trying to improve it. I learned long ago that bringing some type of food, either candy or granola bars, always earns extra attention from starving college students.

It is also much more fun to learn about paper if you can touch and feel it. So the presentation includes a packet of blank papers in various colors, weights and finishes that students can touch, feel, bend, scratch and interact with. As a parent of a "visual" learner I know the importance of including several "hands on" activities that engage both the auditory and visual portions of the brain, as well. Anything to help people retain more of the paper basic information that is delivered.

William Culpepper, Assistant Professor at FSU, sent me some of the FSU student's comments following the presentation. Here are a few:

"...As she walked us through the different samples she offered advice as to how we could approach a client and justify the use of these papers. For example, the paper with the highest recycled content looks much more like 'recycled' paper than the paper with only 30%. This fact may seem obvious, but if someone really wanted to push the idea that their materials are earth-friendly, the paper might as well show that it is recycled..."

"I think this was an excellent paper presentation. I was obvious that she knew her stuff and cared. Her delivery of the material, with a hands on approach, was a great way for a bunch of visual people to learn!"

"The printed packets that she handed out were extremely useful and I plan on keeping it in my production binder. My favorite part was being able to touch, scratch, feel, and hold the different paper samples. I have a far better understanding of the differences among papers and coatings."

"In my opinion, Terri was...very informative and confident in her company and what they have to offer. She will be a very good contact for paper needs in the future."

Thanks FSU juniors for being an interested and excited audience, and for all the fabulous feedback.

And a special thanks for testing out my new paper term to definition matching game.

It's a keeper!

Need some Paper Basics in your life? Give me a shout! terris@cmpaper.com

Stitchless & Glueless & Die Cut, Oh My!

What a yummy fold!

Check out Trish's 60-Second Super-Cool Fold of the Week #89!
I love this. I love the inspiration. I love the die cut.

Even if it's on a paper I cannot sell. Use Cascades Rolland Opaque50 instead.



Have you signed up for her FREE fold of the week yet?

You should. Visit foldfactory.com.

How about looking through your files and sending her something cool to feature?

It's Time...Announcing the Mohawk Show 12 Call For Entries

Mohawk Fine Papers celebrates the designers who make concrete the complex communications of our culture, who go beyond the expected and make visuals extraordinary.

West Michigan... it is time gather up your great work on Mohawk paper and enter!

I saw the local talent celebrated at the West Michigan Addy's last week, it was very award-worthy. How about submitting again, this time to the Mohawk Show 12?

Winners of this show not only receive awe & kudos from your industry peers nationally, but you can also win BIG money. The only catch, it has to be printed mostly on Mohawk Papers. The good news...Mohawk bought just about everyone in the industry, so that means a lot of papers qualify.

Details:
Four best of show winners will receive $5,000 each. $2,500 will be paid to the winning design team in each of these three special categories: Sustainable Design, Strathmore Showcase and Digital Print. And fifteen honorable mentions will be awarded $500 each.

Entries are being accepted from now until May 31, 2011. Enter as many projects as you like. There are no entry fees. And only 5 samples of each entry are required.

Click here for the order form and more details. http://bit.ly/eXwCaE

And hey... if the Mohawk Paper was purchased thru CMP, I'll even send in the entry for you. Just get me get me the 5 samples (and the details) and I will take care of it.

Someone has to win. Why not you?