Author and activist Paul Hawken argues that our natural resources are “the foundation of our economy.” Without our water, timber, air and land our economy would cease to function. Communication designers must realize the importance of designing with people and the environment top of mind. They can do so by considering our natural resources like water and trees and reduce CO2 emissions through choosing recycled materials, and by working with vendors also committed to the same cause. As this movement grows it is important to make sure that the communication design profession collectively selects the most logical sustainable path to maintain our planet and our craft. This means setting guidelines for growth in our industry and accepting responsibility in regards to our people and planet.

Recent acceptance of the green movement into corporate America has also led to “greenwashing”, where misleading or false claims of environmental friendliness have confused consumers and have not helped the sustainable industry or planet. To combat this issue, Terrachoice created the Seven Sins of Greenwashing and disseminated them to the public. However, these guidelines are not specific enough to provide concrete steps for the graphic designer to follow to truly design in a sustainable manner. These Re-nourish Sustainable Standards are an attempt to clarify the issues and provide a comprehensive system of providing sustainable accreditation to graphic design projects.

For packaging: Although no packaging is ideal, in some instances it is necessary to protect and preserve perishable and fragile items. For Tier 1, 100% of the primary packaging must be necessary for the use of the product itself so that it is integral to the product and not designed for disposal (excludes food packaging).

For non-packaging: For Tier 1, printed materials should result from an in-depth systems thinking design strategy and only created when it best fits the communication design problem.

Source Materials

• The major material component of the project must be compostable biodegradable resins or regional agri-fiber or agricultural residue (wheat straw, corn stover, hemp, kenaf, begasse, prairie grasses, etc.)
• Recyclable and safer industrial materials (Steel, aluminum, tin) that can be used for re-manufacture.
• Source materials are regional to the determined vendors.
• Paper or materials manufactured by renewable energy or with renewable energy credits.

Inks

• Vegetable-based inks.

• Less than 30% ink coverage and no bleeds.

• No metallic inks or foils, varnishes, laminates, and UV coatings (aqueous coatings and engravings are acceptable).

Design and Recovery/Reuse

• Easily disassembled (for multiple parts).
• Recyclable.
• No adhesives.
• Designed to minimize amount materials used (efficient use of the press sheet, rightsized, and limited print runs).
• Minimize tertiary packaging (maximize amount of product shipped at once).
• Primary and secondary packaging must work together to reduce space and materials.
• Designed for intentional reuse and end-of-life material recovery.
• Environmental message (eco-audit, or encouragement of reuse/recycle) on piece.

Production

• Files are transmitted via online file sharing.
• Project is PDF proofed until final color output.
• Non vital cross country client meetings are held virtually.
• Design studio/agency has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.
• Design studio/agency has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.
• Design studio/agency has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.
• Design studio/agency pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.
• Printer has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.
• Printer has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.
• Printer has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.
• Printers pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.

This tier is moving towards the ideal in terms of material, use, and manufacture. There are still greener decisions that could have been made.

Source Materials

• The major material component of the project must be 100% PCW materials for non-food packaging.
• Food packaging must use 10% PCW for all of the primary packaging and 100% PCW for secondary packaging if applicable.
• Recyclable and safer industrial materials (Steel, aluminum, tin) that can be used for re-manufacture.
• Source materials are regional to the determined vendors.
• Paper or materials manufactured with renewable energy credits.

Inks

• Vegetable-based inks.
• Less than 60% ink coverage and no bleeds.
• No metallic inks or foils, varnishes, laminates, and UV coatings (aqueous coatings and engravings are acceptable).

Design and Recovery/Reuse

• Easily disassembled (for multiple parts).

• Recyclable.

• Designed to minimize amount materials used (efficient use of the press sheet, rightsized, and limited print runs).

• Minimize tertiary packaging (maximize amount of product shipped at once).

• Primary and secondary packaging must work together to reduce space and materials.

• Designed for intentional reuse and end-of-life material recovery.

• Environmental message (eco-audit, or encouragement of reuse/recycle) on piece.

Production

• Files are transmitted via online file sharing.

• Project is PDF proofed until final color output.

• Non vital cross country client meetings are held virtually.

• Design studio/agency has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.

• Design studio/agency has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.

• Design studio/agency pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.

• Printer has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.

• Printer has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.

• Printer has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.

• Printers pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.

This level is attainable by many projects that have intentions of being greener. Tier 3 is designed to be a foundation to build upon to create more greener future projects.

Source Materials

• The major material component of the project must be 30% PCW (for food packaging this applies to secondary packaging).

• Downcyclable materials used. If plastic is used then it must be BPA and phthalate free.

Inks

• Vegetable-based inks.

• Less than 60% ink coverage.

• No metallic inks or foils, varnishes, laminates, and UV coatings (aqueous coatings and engravings are acceptable).

Design and Recovery/Reuse

• Easily disassembled (for multiple parts).
• Downcyclable.
• Designed to minimize amount materials used (efficient use of the press sheet, rightsized, and limited print runs).
• Primary and secondary packaging must work together to reduce space and materials.
• Designed for end-of-life material recovery.
• Environmental message (eco-audit, or encouragement of recycle) on piece.

Production

• Files are transmitted via online file sharing.

• Project is PDF proofed until final color output.

• Non vital cross country client meetings are held virtually.

• Design studio/agency has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.

• Design studio/agency has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.

• Design studio/agency has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.

• Design studio/agency pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.

• Printer has a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation.

• Printer has a formal energy reduction policy in operation.

• Printer has a formal eco-preferable purchasing policy in operation.

• Printers pays a local living wage and offers employee health insurance.