Environmental certifications in the printing industry – what they mean and their limitations
by Newprint | July 30, 2026
Sustainability plays an increasingly important role when choosing a print shop. That is why we are frequently asked whether we offer environmental certifications such as FSC® or PEFC.
There is an important distinction here that many people are unaware of.
Certified paper does not equal a certified print product
Nowadays, it is perfectly possible to use paper that is, for example, FSC® or PEFC certified. This means that the wood used comes from responsibly managed forests.
However, simply choosing certified paper is not enough to allow the FSC® or PEFC logo to appear on the finished print product. Instead, the entire production process – from the materials to the finished product – must be certified according to the respective standards. This so-called "Chain of Custody" ensures that the origin of the material and the subsequent processing steps can be fully documented.
Why not every print shop is certified
Such certification involves regular audits, extensive documentation requirements and additional organisational work. On top of this, there are ongoing costs associated with obtaining and maintaining the certification.
For medium-sized printing firms in particular, this is a deliberate business decision in which environmental objectives must be taken into account alongside economic and organisational considerations.
Sustainability is more than just a certificate
A certificate can provide valuable guidance, but it is not the only benchmark for sustainable practice.
Resources can be conserved even without certifying the entire production process – for instance, through the conscious selection of paper, short transport routes, durable print products, and the responsible use of energy and materials.
That is why, for many years, we have supported tree-planting projects in partnership with Plant-for-the-Planet and offset our CO₂ emissions through these initiatives. For us, this represents a tangible contribution to climate protection and is an integral part of our corporate responsibility.
Our conclusion
Environmental certifications are a key component in fostering sustainability within the printing industry. At the same time, it pays to take a closer look at what a certificate actually signifies—and what it does not.
For us, acting sustainably means, above all, producing responsibly and making a long-term contribution to climate protection. After all, sustainability is reflected not merely in a logo on a printed product, but primarily in the daily decisions that lie behind it.
However, upon specific request, we can also offer FSC-certified production for individual orders, covering the entire manufacturing process.