Greenwashing

Greenwashing Leads To Misleading Anti-Paper Statements

Greenwashing is “disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present and environmentally responsible public image (Oxford)”. You and your family and friends have, more than likely, been exposed to Greenwashing without even knowing it. When you receive invoices and other corporate information in the mail you are, more likely than not, encouraged to “Go Green – Go Paperless” or “Choose e-billing and help save a tree”. What those messages are really saying is allow us to serve you digitally so we can cut costs and improve profits.

Did you know “a healthy market for forest products such as paper encourages the long-term growth of forests through sustainable forest management” (Twosides). “Over the last 30 years, U.S. Forests have grown by some 18 million acres while net forest area in Canada has remained about the same (Twosides)”.

Of course we have “an axe to grind” when it comes to transitioning from paper to digital. Not only does it effect the printing industry it also has a “damaging effect on consumer perceptions of paper and threaten a sector which employs 7.6 million people across the United States and Canada (Twosides)”.

If you choose to “Go Digital” please do so for convenience or personal choice but do not get “greenwashed” into thinking that paperless is good for the environment (think of all the electricity, rare earth mining, and manufacturing that goes into desktops, laptops, tablets, and handheld devices). Trees are renewable resources that will continue to grow and flourish with clean air and water.

Print really is the original green communication.