McClafferty Printing Earns Green Accreditation: Becomes an FSC Printer

It was in 1970 that Earth Day was first celebrated. Now being green has become a global effort. The term “green” is appearing more and more frequently. There are green cars, green laws, green programs, even Green Parties (both political and celebratory). But never before, at least not in Delaware, has the term been used to describe a printer.

Sunday, April 22, 2007 will mark the 28th celebration of Earth Day. Shawn McClafferty, president of McClafferty Printing Company, a longtime supporter of environmental issues, is marking the occasion by announcing that McClafferty Printing has recently earned chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This international organization, sanctioned by such respected names as the World Wildlife Foundation, Sierra Club and Ducks Unlimited, is devoted to encouraging responsible management of the world’s forests. Its certification process ensures that most paper used at McClafferty was manufactured from wood harvested from well-managed forests, and as legally logged. Chain-of-custody is the process of tracking and recording the possession and transfer of this wood from the forest of origin, through the various stages of production, to the end user. It also ensures that the civil rights of the native people are respected. After harvesting, these forests are reforested, becoming a sustainable source for wood production. Among the many leaders of industry committed to using FSC certified paper, are the BBC, British Petroleum, Costco, Dell, Walt Disney Studios, Johnson & Johnson, Coca Cola Company, Time Warner, Wal-Mart and Verizon.

McClafferty Printing Company’s commitment to the environment extends beyond its FSC-certification. Through the use of several new and innovative printing techniques, they have become Delaware’s “greenest” printing company, phasing out petroleum-based inks for environmentally harmless soy-based; replacing harsh varnishes with aqueous coatings; eliminating alcohol as a solvent; using water-miscible fountain solutions and instituting a major recycling program for all refuse. Surprisingly, clients will notice no increase in cost from these changes.

Shawn McClafferty, a third generation printer and president of McClafferty Printing Company, said recently, “All of us value the great beauty and abundance of Nature. So we must all do our best with this stewardship.” The company that bares his family’s name was founded in 1948 by William J. McClafferty Jr. and his son, William J. McClafferty III. It quickly became one of the leading printers in Wilmington, Delaware. Today the lead type is gone, replaced by state-of-the-art presses controlled by computers. Though the volume of work has expanded tremendously, McClafferty Printing is proud that it has managed the seemingly impossible: its environmental footprint has become significantly smaller.