fine art paper printing

GP: How green is your business - what green business practices do you embrace?

RC: The paper we make prints on is made from 100% post industrial reclaimed cotton fibers from cottonseed oil manufacturers. (These are called "linters" and they are too short to be woven and so typically wind up in land fill.) Our papers contain no acid, no chlorine, no optical brighteners. Our inks are water-based and 100% VOC-free. They do not outgas (or off-gas) any toxic fumes. We use 100% biodegradable adhesives to mount prints on 100% vegetable based, biodegradable "foamcore" that biodegrades into harmless constituents when exposed to anaerobic bacteria. We also mount to a unique 100% post consumer recycled "corrugate" made in a honeycomb structure up to 1-inch thick. This material is 100% recyclable in the normal paper recycling stream.

Our facility is super insulated with a combination of fiberglass, and isocyanate foams and is air sealed. We use a state-of-the-art wall mounted on-demand hot water heater for all heating in a specially designed, ultra high efficiency in-floor radiant heat system. Our average monthly heating bill comprises about $60 worth of natural gas for a nearly 2000 s.f. facility.

• We use NO water in any of our processes. In fact, there is no running water in our facility.
• We use the smallest, most fuel efficient pick up as a delivery vehicle.
• We recycle paper and other waste and accept returns for recycling.
• We ship in recycled mailing tubes via the least energy intensive methods available.
• Our papers are all locally sourced right here in Massachusetts to eliminate the greenhouse gases associated with shipping paper.

GP: How green are your products - what green products/components do you offer?

RC: We offer virtually 100% green large-format, photo quality, museum quality, archival prints up to 44-inches wide, plus green mounting, framing and green displays.

We are the world's first dedicated, virtually 100% green custom photo lab and "giclee" printer.

GP: Why did you choose to offer green products and implement green business practices?

RC: My wife was diagnosed over a year ago with stage-four cancer that's environmentally related. I decided that life is simply too short not to do what you're passionate about and for me, that's imaging. I also decided that I had to do this in the world's greenest manner with as little environmental footprint as possible. Last, I had to do so in a much healthier manner than the typical solvent printers whose products emit neuro- and respiratory toxins.

GP: How has offering green products and implementing green business practices affected your company?

RC: Pure and simple, that's all we do. Without being green, our company would not exist.

GP: What are your hopes for a greener photographic industry?

To eliminate darkroom worker hazards, elemental silver, chlorine and other toxic and carcinogenic substances from the photographic workflow. (I myself have mild asthma which is likely the result to exposure to the acetic acid in print fixer -a traditional darkroom chemical.) To eliminate all VOCs from all indoor images. To eliminate optical brighteners, the use of wood-pulp and petroleum-based papers, the use of chlorine as a paper bleach, and the removal of all toxic substances in imaging products.

GP: What is your favorite eco website or eco-product that we may not have heard of?

The Green Imaging Network on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1004747&trk=hb_side_g

Thanks so much to Rick Colson of greenphotoprint.com for taking the time to answer our questions!  Rick has been kind enough to extend an exclusive offer to GP members: A discount of 10% off total orders through year end for new customers.  Just mention GP when placing your order.

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