Corporate Responsibility
The Standard-Examiner is committed to leveraging its influence in the marketplace to conserve, protect and restore natural resources. As a cornerstone of that commitment, we have adopted the following policies to improve our – and the newspaper industry’s – ecological footprint.
We recognize that business leadership carries a responsibility to the community at large and the environment. The Standard-Examiner is positioned to influence the way in which paper is produced and consumed in the marketplace, and thus contribute to the development of environmental solutions that conserve natural resources and protect and restore forests.
Our Paper Policy
- We do not purchase paper products that originate in Endangered Forest regions in any part of the world.
- We promote the appropriate and efficient use of resources in all of our paper-based products.
- We give purchasing preference for and seek to maximize our use of recycled paper. Where viable and economically feasible, the Standard-Examiner makes its best efforts to ensure that 50% of annual fiber used consists of recycled fiber – with post-consumer fiber representing a significant portion or all of the fiber.
- We give purchasing preference to papers that are processed chlorine free.
- We give purchasing preference to papers with virgin fiber content that is derived from forests that are credibly and independently certified according to most rigorous sustainability principles
- We require that all vendors and suppliers demonstrate compliance with all legal requirements for forest management, harvest and manufacturing.
Our Use of Soy-Based Inks
- We use only soy inks which are safe for the environment and do not contaminate the water system. In comparison to traditional inks, soy-based inks are naturally low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their usage can lower the emissions that cause air pollution. They are cost effective, produce more vibrant colors and are better for the environment.
• Soybean oil’s clarity allows pigments to reach their full potential, resulting in deep, rich bright colors.
• Soy beans are a safe, sustainable and renewable resource. The rate of which soy beans can be replaced is much higher compared to petroleum or any other chemicals found in traditional inks.
• Soy ink maintains its stability throughout the entire print job, so the press operator makes fewer adjustments and rejects fewer copies due to variations. Fewer adjustments leads to consistent color and quality throughout the press run.
• Soy inks show a greater rub resistance. This is especially important for web-based printing projects that utilize newsprint.
• The prices of soy inks are competitive with conventional inks since most of the cost derives from the color pigments used and not the vehicle portion of the ink formulation. Because soy ink provides more intense color, printers may not use as much ink. As a result, more materials can be printed with less ink and thereby reducing their costs.
• Soy ink is a helpful component in paper recycling, as soy ink can be removed much easier than oil-based ink from the paper during the bleaching process.
Our Recycling Policy
The Standard-Examiner is committed to diverting as much waste as possible from landfills. From shipping containers to finished products, most of our materials are recyclable.
- We recycle over 8 tons of newsprint and cardboard every week.
- Our press plates are 100% recyclable aluminum.
- Whenever possible, we bundle all shipments to minimize fuel emissions, waste and expense to the client.