January 23, 2012 — Glens Falls, NY — Finch Paper customers are looking to the company’s newest G7 Expert, Mary Schilling, to provide value-add G7 services for color management, process and quality control for electrophotography (EP), lithography, and high-speed inkjet printing equipment. Schilling works with the Finch digital team to analyze color, ink/toner, machinery, paper and other print-related issues to bring systems into compliance with clients’ preferred processes, including the G7 methodology.

Schilling, who joined Finch in early 2011, is in an industry veteran with a broad and deep understanding of the entire production process, from design software to press delivery. In 2012 she will present at the IMI Ink Jet Conference on February 1-3, the Xplor conference on March 27-29, and the CGX Emerge conference on April 17-19.

“Digital printers, especially those using production inkjet presses, have quickly realized that the paper ink/toner relationship is critical,” explains Finch Paper Director of Product Marketing, Phil Hart. “Paper is a significant part of the print equation, and has tremendous impact on every job. We’re helping our clients optimize press performance and print quality with experts like Mary, who combine their knowledge of fluid and substrate interactions with leading process methods, such as G7.”

David Hunter, one of the world’s leading G7 experts, says that understanding the G7 method and its correlation with different paper grades puts projects under Schilling’s supervision at a unique advantage. “You achieve the G7 quality color control,” Hunter says, “But someone who understands the variability of fluid to paper, like Mary, can provide overall improved process and color control for composite print density, mottle and show-through.

“Understanding fluid and substrate interaction,” Hart explains, “can lower the total cost of print for most high-speed inkjet applications where paper is 10% to ink’s 30% contribution of job cost.”

As a manager of responsibly managed forests for more than a century, Finch Paper has long strived to help consumers understand that paper manufacturing and a healthy forest resource go hand-in-hand. We’re thrilled to be getting some new help in spreading the word.

Two Sides U.S., a not-for-profit coalition has launched a new website chock full of insightful facts demonstrating that printing on paper is an environmentally sustainable way to communicate. It’s a great resource for printers and brand owners, and I encourage you to spend some time there.

I also want to remind you that our team of Finch foresters is available to answer your questions about responsible forest management. You can see some of your most frequently asked questions, and connect directly with our foresters by clicking here.

Sure there are advantages today to doing some of our communicating in the digital “cloud.” But paper remains a tremendously useful, impactful and sustainable way to communicate as well, and Finch foresters are proud to help continue that tradition by keeping our feet planted firmly in the forest.

Congratulations to Amanda DeBord and the communications team at the University of Kentucky College of Law, happy owners of a new Macbook Air! The University of Kentucky College of Law viewbook, printed on Finch Opaque, Bright White, Smooth, 80 lb. Text and 80 lb. Cover, was randomly selected as the winner.

It was a memorable year for Finch is in the House promotions. In April, we gave away a creative getaway; and in July, five lucky designers won $500 to Design Within Reach.

We were delighted to reward designers for going with Finch in 2011, and we thank those who participated in our contests.

Happy Holidays!

Question: Which of the following does not contain products that come from a tree?

A. Toothpaste
B. A football helmet
C. Artificial vanilla flavoring
D. A Twinkie
E. Vitamins

Answer: None of the above.

Each of those items contains elements that come from a tree. In fact, at least a portion of more than 5,000 consumer products contain wood fiber.

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Watch for more Tree Trivia in future editions of our “Finch in the Forest” blog, along with continuing information on why Trees Are The Answer to so many of society’s needs and challenges.

When it comes to carbon mitigation, yet another new study is demonstrating that “Trees are the answer.”

In a report published in the journal Carbon Management, Bruce Lippke, professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Forest Resources, and a team of researchers show that the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere could be quadrupled over the next 100 years through sound forest management and the use of wood products in place of steel and concrete, both of which require far greater amounts of fossil fuels to manufacture than wood products.

As reported on sciencedaily.com, the Lippke study provides a life-cycle analysis of wood, steel and concrete products that takes into account the environmental impacts beginning with raw material extraction from the forest or ground and continuing through the manufacturing, use and disposal processes.

As you may be aware, the manufacturing processes for steel and concrete devour vast amounts of fossil fuels, which in turn generates far more carbon emissions than producing wood products. For example, Professor Lippke’s life-cycle analysis found that using engineered wood floor joists in a building instead of steel joists reduces the carbon footprint by nearly 10 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of wood used.

The Lippke study also notes that:

• Any carbon emissions from manufacturing sustainably produced wood products are being offset by the carbon removed from the atmosphere by healthy, managed forests. All forests sequester carbon, but sustainably managed forests sequester more carbon than unmanaged forests. Even trees removed from the forest continue to store their carbon after being turned into tables, cabinets, lumber and paper (yes, even paper is a carbon sink!).

• The burning of wood for fuel produces only 4% of the emissions generated by coal.

“Every time you see a wood building, it’s a storehouse of carbon from the forest,” Professor Lippke told sciencedaily.com. “When you see steel or concrete, you’re seeing the emissions of carbon dioxide that had to go into the atmosphere for those structures to go up.”

You can read Professor Lippke’s full report here, and, as always, feel free to contact me here.

When samples of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law book arrived at Finch Paper, we knew we’d feature it on our showcase. It was instantly compelling with its clean white cover and vibrant interior. The designer, Chris Haas of flourish inc, recently took time away from designing to talk to us about this piece and design in general.

Finch Paper: How long have you been in the design field?

Chris Haas: Roughly seven years. Before becoming a designer, art director, and semi-professional ping-pong player for flourish inc., I was fortunate to work at American Greetings, where I concepted and designed more greeting cards than I care to remember.

Finch Paper: The white cover is striking. Explain the idea behind the treatment you used.

Chris Haas: When the book was first conceived, two covers were presented: a black cover and white cover. It was recommended to print both and intermix the covers. They decided to use black the first year and white the second year. The clear foil on the cover was used to add subtle drama and we wanted something different that would make someone pick up the book just based on the cover.

Finch Paper: What made you select Finch Paper?

Chris Haas: Right now I am a huge fan of the look being achieved on uncoated paper, and Finch has surpassed everything that I look for in an uncoated sheet. For this project in-particular, there was “double appeal”. What I mean by that is there were things that both the client and I were looking for. For me, it was Finch Fine’s smooth finish and the superior printability of the paper. For the client it was a great environmental factor and most importantly, the value.

Finch Paper: Do you have a dream project (e.g. a perfume bottle for a major retailer, a coffee table book, movie campaign … anything)?

Chris Haas: My dream project would be to design a major sports team logo and it wouldn’t matter what sport. I love sports and I think the longevity of the design and seeing your logo in the middle of a court or field and seeing people walk by with it on a shirt or hat would be such a rewarding feeling.

Finch Paper: Where do you go for inspiration?

Chris Haas: A trip down to Starbucks, or at least that is what I tell my boss they are used for.

Finch Paper: What is a design pet peeve of yours?

Chris Haas: My biggest pet peeve is losing a great design in the details. Anytime I see a great concept, brochure or even logo and the details have been forgotten or looked over, it drives me crazy. Those details could be the simplest thing like a designer forgetting to adjust his rags in a brochure, to a logo with bad kerning and a great ad concept that has a poorly executed art direction. To me, it’s that extra 10% effort that takes a good design and makes it great.

Thanks to Chris for talking with us. We’ll keep our eye out for your work at center-court!

In order to maintain a diversity of wildlife, society has to maintain a diversity of wildlife habitat. In this brief video, Roger explains how a mixture of managed and unmanaged forests provide wildlife with everything they need for food and shelter.

Contest entry forms and details are available at our Call for Samples page.

Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your submissions!

Finch Paper and our good friends at the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy are proud to be featured in a full-page ad in Newsweek magazine.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) placed the ad to salute businesses that value FSC’s principles of sustainable forestry, and selected a photograph provided by Finch Paper to show readers what sustainable forestry looks like.

Unlike most other paper mills, Finch Paper is committed to sustainably managing forests ourselves. Our feet are in the forest — practicing and teaching responsible forestry every day.

The forest featured in Newsweek is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by Finch foresters. It is located where the Hudson River and Goodnow River meet in the beautiful town of Newcomb, NY.

It was only a matter of time.

An Emerald Ash Borer was recently found in the Albany, NY, area, just 50 miles from the Finch Paper mill. This marks the 20^th New York county to be invaded, and infestation throughout the northeast is likely, as once the pest is introduced, it is nearly impossible to remove.

This troublesome bright green beetle arrived in Detroit on cargo shipments from China just a decade ago. Now:

• It has spread to 14 states and two Canadian provinces;

• It threatens 900 million New York ash trees, or 7% of the state’s forests;

• Tens of millions of ash trees have been lost in Michigan,
  with millions more destroyed in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

• The damage the pest is doing throughout the forest ecosystem and economy is substantial.

So what can be done?

The Emerald Ash Borer has no native natural enemies in North America, so federal wildlife officials are testing the use of two kinds of wasps from China that feed on the borers.

Government agencies have also tried fighting the invasion by imposing strict requirements on how imported goods can be shipped. But with the volume of international trade today, it is inevitable that pests will continue to hitchhike undetected all the way to our forests. This is one of the prices we pay for wanting less-expensive imported goods in our global economy.

Quarantines on the domestic transportation of wood (for example, moving firewood from region to region) can help slow the spread of the pest and give landowners in uninfected regions time to harvest their ash trees if they wish before the pest arrives  But, again, this is slowing — not stopping — the spread.

I’m afraid the best we can do at this point is catch the insect early through better public awareness, which I’m hoping to help at least in small part with this blog post and an earlier entry on this same topic. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also offers a wealth of information on its website, including photos to help you identify the pest.

We all have a role to play in conserving our forest ecosystems. In this specific case, being alert to Emerald Ash Borer and not transporting ash firewood is an important step. From a broader perspective, I suggest the establishment of a dedicated national fund to study and fight invasive pests. If we truly value our nation’s forests, we should all be willing to support such an effort by paying a few pennies more when we buy goods. It’s all about maintaining healthy forests!