Xerox Corporation is making it simpler for customers to print more responsibly. The comlpany has revealed a comprehensive program of papers, resources and Web tools to help customers identify the right paper, the right supplies and the right way to print with the environment in mind.

To provide its customers with “greener” printing choices, Xerox is introducing additional papers in North America that are independently certified to sustainable forest management standards and new recycled papers designed for digital printing. The new Xerox Color Xpressions Planet 20 Paper is a 20% post-customer, recycled-content offering and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Xerox’s Business Multipurpose 4200 Paper is one of the most widely-used Xerox papers in North America and now carries SFI certification.

Xerox’s High Yield Business Paper is an environmentally innovative offering that is the industry’s first mechanical fiber paper for digital printing. It uses half as many trees in production as traditional paper. Xerox papers carry FSC labels, the SFI, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification help consumers to easily find products that meet strict worldwide standards for sustainable forestry. Xerox is also adding additional recycled and certified papers for its European customers.

Businesses that foster durable internal systems breed long term and sustainable profits. This also applies to green businesses that are past their mainstream “breaking point” and are now in a very competitive market where it is “automate or perish.” Eco-minded companies are benefiting more than just their own bottom line by developing or partnering to develop software that automates green decision making.

In January 2008, the largest printing company in North America, Quebecor, filed for bankruptcy. However, commercial printer Green Printer has seen an increase of 2,000 clients a year after they began. They estimate that their customers have saved 74,645 pounds of greenhouse gases and 38,116 pounds of solid waste. In October 2008, print shops across North America will be offered the Green Printer brand and the full line of recycled papers to its customers.

Workforce Software EmpCenter has achieved more than 200% growth in revenue and profits in the last three years and is tapping into one of the fastest growing, but hardly new, trends in the green workplace: telecomuniting. Sustainable Minds is a green product design software and information service that recently partnered with Autodesk, Inc. This partnership will allow product design teams to be able to estimate the environmental and human health impacts of their design decisions so that they can design greener products from the start.

Presstek, Inc. is the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions. They recently announced that Maryland-based Herron Printing considers its Presstek 34DI digital offset press as a crucial factor in its ability to reduce its carbon footprint.

The president of Herron Printing and Graphics said that over five years ago, his company started to reduce their environmental footprint by implementing Presstek’s chemistry-free plates on a Dimension Platesetter to support their conventional four-color press. Two years ago, they replaced this press with a Presstek 34DI instead of acquiring a five-color press. They found that the Presstek 34DI produces less waste, improves their print quality, and saves time over a conventional offset press.

Herron Printing is dedicated to making their operation as environmentally friendly as possible. To this end, the company car is a hybrid, they recycle all paper waste and cardboard, and use vegetable-based inks on the Presstek 34DI press. They also plan to convert to 100% wind power. The energy cost is 20% higher than energy produced with carbon-based fuel but it is a step forward to reducing dependence on petroleum.

SMART Papers’ premium cast-coated Kromekote is now fully Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. This gives corporations and graphics professionals immediate access to the most luxurious and environmentally responsible printing and packaging in the world. Kromekote is the first triple cast-coated brand to achieve this kind of certification.

This achievement is an important advance for SMART Papers and reinforces their commitment to supplying the widest range of FSC premium coated and uncoated printing and packaging papers in North America. SMART Papers is North America’s largest independent manufacturer and marketer of premium coated and uncoated printing papers. They are currently building a new energy facility at its manufacturing center. It will be fossil fuel free by late 2009, enabling all of the company’s papers to be fully carbon neutral.

This will give customers confidence that they are dealing with the most environmentally responsible printing papers available from any US manufacturer. The ultra-glossy Kromekote is widely regarded by printers and designers as the “gold standard” in printing papers. The brand now sets a new “green standard” for premium environmentally preferable coated papers.

Ann Arbor-based Edward Brothers is embracing the environmentally friendly way by receiving certification from the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) for ensuring that socially responsible practices have been followed in the production of paper for its printing operations. The FSC has 46 locations around the world and provides the chain-of-custody certification for companies that track papers from forest to the printing press.

The nonprofit promotes responsible forest management through the certification of over 2,000 companies in the United States and approximately 8,000 in 80 other countries. Edwards Brothers has been in business since 1893 and operated a 200,000 square foot plant since 1950. They are Michigan’s largest privately-owned book manufacturing company. Edwards Brothers prints books and blank journals for bookstores like Borders.

The company’s CEO said that they have always recycled. They paid $5,000 for the certification. The FSC audited the Ann Arbor company and their second production plant in Lillington, North Carolina to make sure that the proper metrics are in place to track the origins of the papers used. Edwards Brothers uses 80 million pounds of paper each year. People want recycled paper but it costs approximately 10% more. The company also recycles toner cartridges, steel and palettes.