thinking about Earth Day….

Amy Barnes article on Stampin'Up! the green side...

Did you know that Stampin' Up! does a lot to be green? Without a lot of hype and look-a-me fanfare they have been doing good behind the scenes for years.  

 Want to know more?  I thought you would!

1. Rubber - Rather than dump excess rubber from making stamps into a landfill Stampin' Up! donates it local parks in Kanab to use in playgrounds. They also donate it to charities like Courage Reins, a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding therapy for physically or mentally challenged children. These organizations take the ground rubber and sell it for use in playgrounds and horse stables.
2. Wood Blocks - The wood blocks for our stamps are created from renewable resources with sustainable practices. They work with a tree farm in which maple trees are grown specifically for the purpose of harvesting wood.
3. Card Stock & Paper - The paper used as packing material in shipping boxes is 100% recycled. Our card stock also includes recycled paper that's left over from other paper runs, which would otherwise end up in landfills. The darker the card stock color the more recycled material it contains. So does that make Basic Black the new "Green"?
4. Designer Series Paper - Stampin' Up! works with a paper broker (did you even know there was such a thing?). The paper broker ensures that the mills used for our Designer Series Paper and card stock engage in environmentally friendly practices. The broker certified our mills through he Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Program for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC). Wow, lots of acronyms! Basically it means our mills are taking steps to lessen their carbon footprints and the paper comes from sustainably managed forests. One mill even generates its own power!
5. Stampin' Up! Buildings - Systems in both the Riverton and Kanab building filter any pollutants that my result from stamp production. The buildings were designed with energy conservation in mind. Both buildings have geothermal wells, which help maintain building temperatures, cutting down on use of heating oil or natural gas. All lights are on sensors and timers, so electricity isn't wasted when employees are away from the office. In the Utah desert climate water is an important concern. Native, water-wise plants are used in landscaping, including wildflowers growing in front of the Riverton office instead of grass. Wouldn't you love to go through a field of wildflowers on the way to work?  Ahh!  Sprinklars are times to minimize evaporation reducing the amount of water used. Indoors, artificial plants are mixed it with live plants in the beautiful atrium water feature. This creates a lush garden while minimizing the amount of water used.
6. Carbon Footprint - Stampin' Up! strives to reduce their carbon footprint. They engage in shipping practices that will require fewer greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, to be released into the atmosphere. UPS picks up shipments from the Distribution Center each day during non-peak traffic hours. This cuts down on the amount of gas UPS needs to use to get our orders out. (More info about UPS eco policies at http://sustainability.ups.com)  For stamp shipments from Kanab to Riverton, we "carpool" with companies who are sending shipments from Salt Lake City area to Kanab. For example: Sysco delivers food to Kanab and surrounding towns and normally their trucks would return empty. Instead of driving back without cargo, Sysco trucks bring stamps from Kanab to Riverton!  Smart for the budget and the environment!

I hope you've enjoyed these tidbits about stamping "Green"!