Printing Paper Primer (part 1)
My last posting dealt with some issues regarding the use of recycled papers in publishing. I featured a few opinions (including my own) and covered a few topics in there, but perhaps did not go into enough explanation of details.
So I will step back here in this article and provide a bit more basic educational information gleaned from my several years in the book manufacturing business. As I had tried to make light of in the previous article- issues have changed over time and will continue to do so.
One the first things is an explanation of some of the terminology:
1. Recyled Paper Symbol
The symbol represents items made predominately from recycled papers,
promotional material and organizations engaged in paper recycling.
2. Recylable Paper Symbol
This symbol represents paper items that are made from fibers which are
recommended for recycling after use.
3. Acid Free Paper
Acid is added to paper to make it easier to write on. But it can have detrimental
effects to your books over time. A paper that contains an alkaline (pH higher than 7
or an absence of acid) base and is often lignin-free is what I call “acid free paper”.
(Such as 28 lb Finch Brighwhite)
4. PH balanced Paper
Also sometimes just called “acid free” paper with a ph balance of 7.0 to 10
5. Pre Consumer Waste
Pre-consumer waste is the material that occurs as a by-product to the printing
process, such as printers trim, make-ready and overs..
6. Post Consumer Waste (PCW)
This is paper that has been used by the consumer and returned for recycling,
thus keeping it out of a landfill. The more post-consumer waste that is incorporated
into recycled material the better! It is usually expressed as a percentage of total.
7. Virgin Fiber
Virgin fiber is new fiber that has never been used by a manufacturer before to
make paper or other products.
8. Lignin
Lignin is a substance of wood. Wood makes paper, lignin makes paper stronger, but
over time can become brittle and yellow more quickly. The higher the amount of
groundwood in a paper, the more lignin is present. Archival fanatics all want to go
with a free sheet, which is acid free (or ph balanced). This will be your best bet when
producing a multigenerational edition.
In the previous article, I also mentioned the importance of a “free sheet”. So what does that term mean? It means “free of groundwood”. Coated papers have a grading system as follows:
Coated Paper Grade Classifications
#1 – 85+bright, 70-120#, Free pulp content (also called “premium grade)
#2 – 83-84, 50-120#, Free pulp content
#3 – 80-82, 50-110#, Free pulp content
#4 Premium – 78-79, 40-100#, Free+Groundwood pulp content
#4 – 73-77, 40-100#, Groundwood pulp content
#5 – 70 & below, 32-70#, Groundwood pulp content
When I worked in the Asian Book manufacturing industry for many years, I did find out that most Japanese and several Eurpoean coated papers we used were only of the #1, premium category. They didn’t make other styles. Nowadays, though there are many more countries producing paper and of all various grades.
Well this is enough to absorb in one sitting. Perhaps I will include more on future posts in relation to the topic of printing papers. At the bindery, we often don’t know or concern ourselves with whether or not the paper is acid free or recylced, etc. The most important thing we do concern our selves with is the PAPER GRAIN DIRECTION. Always make sure that your paper grain direction is running parallel to the spine edge for best appearance, openability and overall binding aesthetics. In fact this is such an important topic, that I think one of the next postings here will exclusively deal with Paper Grain Direction.
As always, feel free to call or email me any questions and comments. mpugh@houchenbindery.com. 1-800-869-0420
Copyright 2011 Martin Pugh All Rights Reserved.
The Importance of Recycled Papers in Book Publishing
Since I started this blog- I have been writing most of my own articles, and thought maybe it was time to change it up a bit. So I reached out to some of my network on LinkedIN and asked a question that has been a conversation for years in my business. With their permission, I’ve posted some of the responses below.
Was wondering how important the use of recycled paper is for publishers, self publishers, etc? Any one have some thoughts on this?
Kat Meyer
http://www.toccon.com/toc2011
Hey Martin:
Subject that is near and dear to my heart –
check out
and also check out @PermanentPaper (Melissa Klug)
of the Permanence Matters’ Campaign:
http://www.gutenberggirls.com/permanence-matters-campaign/.
There are so many more factors that go into this discussion.
Both Ooligan and the Permanence Matters campaign
(which argues against use of ground wood, and explains a lot
about the paper industry), are great resources for learning
about the issues.
Editor’s Note- http://www.gutenberggirls.com/permanence-matters-campaign/, I would like to point out their mention of Glatfelter Paper. Houchen Bindery Ltd.’s standard end sheet papers are an 80 lb. Glatfelter. Suffice to say that the endsheets of a book are the critical and vital point of construction for a book, and we at HBL have made a conscious decision to use a quality endsheet paper as our standard.
Sandy Varner
http://www.sas.com/
SAS Publishing (small publisher of technical books) is an environmentally
and socially responsible business. When we print for inventory we print
with a partner that uses recycled or forest-friendly stock. But most of
our books are now printed ‘on demand’ thus we have eliminated most waste.
POD lessens the possibility of returns, reduces supply chain waste, greenhouse
emissions, and conserves valuable natural resources. Both our print and POD
partners have various environmental certifications such as: SFI(R) and FSC(R).
Taking care of our environment is very important! I hope all publishers agree.
Nancy Hays
http://www.educause.edu/
We use POD for our books, which has all the benefits Sandy noted. We also use
recycled paper for our programs when possible, although it’s usually more expensive
and required us to use a lighter weight to avoid cost increases. Also, it’s not
recyclable in the same way as unrecycled paper. The environmentally certified
paper can be a good solution for both problems. Being able to include the recycled
icon or the environmentally friendly certification icon(s) is a feel-good, socially
responsible thing to do and then promote about your print products. As long as you
have to print the product, that is, and can’t use POD or online publication.
I also spoke with one of my favorite printers in the midwest- Lori Perkins at Fidlar Doubleday in Davenport, IA. According to Lori- they do have some paper choices with up to 30% PCW as available options, and let their clients make the final choice. Usually price is the biggest factor. Lori also mentioned that acid free papers are the norm for book printing. As Kat mentioned above, permanence is one of the biggest considerations when publishing.
Another friend from Seattle – a Book Packager, Duncan Sinclair of DigPrintBind said that he produces(packages) titles which go into production worldwide, and sometimes are printed in as many as 13 or more languages. “I often have no control over the paper they end out using in some cases. But when I do have a choice, I have been taking a liking to many of the environmentally friendly papers available from Domtar. I should also mention that I am a Social Ambassador for Sappi Fine Papers!”
At Houchen Bindery Ltd., in the edition binding market, we serve printers and publishers from the midwest and beyond. When an individual comes to us for a project that involves us arranging a printing on their behalf, (usually a family history style genealogy type book), I try to recommend a 28 lb Finch Brightwhite, which is acid free, binds under all of our various leaf attachment methods just great and has always been very acceptable to our clients. I know that generations from now that will be a paper standing the test of time. Check out their website- and you will see this is a fine paper choice.
I have been around the printing business for a few years 
. Houchen Bindery Ltd. also has been in business since 1935 as a certified library binder. From our unique perspective in the industry, we get to see how quickly some mass market trade bindings ( and their respective papers) fall apart. Not only are we talking about projects that may have just been printed a few years ago, but in other cases, we are dealing with books and archives from the mid 1800s, early 1900 and WWII eras. I have noticed as other will tell you, that the papers being made from the around the time of WWII were the worst quality papers in many years. Either before or after WWII, papers were made of a higher quality. For more conversation on this- call me!
Ok, let’s sum it up. We now live in a disposable society. Talk is cheap. If you don’t want to use paper you don’t even have to. Make an e-book first. If you have something worthwhile, and people really want it on their coffee table or book shelf- THEN offer it in print form. If you do that- don’t shoot yourself in the foot trying to save a dime on a
cheap paper! Use a good quality Free sheet which is acid free. Give your customer a book that will last for generations. Houchen Bindery Ltd. will bind it to ensure that as well. That’s what we do- we make books that last several generations.
Isn’t that worth a little more at the checkout counter?
The issue of recycled paper and environmental conciousness is an ever evolving issue. It changes with time as to what is “politically correct” and what is right for you and your customer/membership base. To read more about some of the ways we have looked at this issue at Houchen Bindery Ltd. Click here. I have also added some cool links below supplied from my friend Duncan Sinclair that will further your information on the topic.
As always, there may be more questions, which is why I am always available to discuss your project
needs by email at mpugh@houchenbindery.com or toll free at 1-800-869-0420. I appreciate any and all comments!
Links:
http://www.printgrowstrees.org
http://www.FOPAP.ORG
http://digitalprintandbind.com/articles/rethinking-paper-ink-the-sustainable-publishing-revolution/
http://digitalprintandbind.com/articles/2011/05/page/3/
http://digitalprintandbind.com/articles/going-green-good-business-good-practice/
http://www.paperbecause.com
Copyright 2011 Martin Pugh All Rights Reserved.
