Sustainability

Committed to our clients. Committed to our natural resources.

Modern Postcard is located in Carlsbad, California – about 35 miles up the coast from San Diego. We’re surrounded by miles of beaches, countless hiking and biking trails, as well as pristine mountains. On our team, we have surfers, snowboarders, bicyclists, runners, backpackers and other nature enthusiasts. It’s no wonder that we’re committed to being an enviro-friendly company.

You can click on the “Our Paper” tab to learn about our incredible paper stocks, Bloom, which is SFI certified and resilient in the mail as well as Harmony, a recycled, FSC certified paper made with 30% post-consumer waste fibers. Of course, this effort to be green extends far beyond our presses. We strive each day to find ways to preserve natural resources:

For every order, we offer:
  • Paperless online ordering
  • Paperless email postcard proofs
  • Color Calibration help to reduce errors/reprints
  • FREE mailing list clean-up to reduce wasted printing
  • Advanced list services to increase deliverability
During the printing process:
  • Efficient sheet sizing reduces waste
  • All trimmed pieces are recycled
  • Boxes used to ship orders are recyclable
  • We use a water-based aqueous coating
Plus, around MP Headquarters we:
  • Recycle all office, email and copy paper
  • Recycle outdated electronics and equipment
  • Employ a grid lighting system to manage use
  • Utilize reclaimed water for our landscape
  • Buy recycled notepads, office paper and other supplies
  • Provide recycling bins for beverage bottles and cans
  • Provide fair-trade, organic coffee for our team and visitors

Modern Postcard is always looking for new ways to “green” our business, both internally and for the mutual benefit of our clients. Stop in occasionally to see what’s new and green at Modern!

Modern's family of paper has expanded to include both Bloom and Harmony. Our primary stock is the SFI certified Bloom, a premium, heavy-duty paper designed to withstand the rigors of mailing. Available by request (and at no additional cost versus Bloom) is Harmony, a 30% recycled, FSC certified paper.

BLOOM
  • SFI Certified, premium heavy-duty stock
  • Highly resilient in the mail stream
  • 100% Made in the USA
HARMONY
  • FSC Certified, premium fine-grade paper
  • Recycled, minimum 30% post-consumer waste (PCW) fiber content
  • Manufactured using renewable energy (wind, hydro and biogas)
  • 100% Made in the USA

NOTE: Harmony paper is only available by request and has a limited production schedule. If you’d like to use Harmony, you must order through a Direct Marketing Specialist. Please call 800.406.1705 for details and turnaround times.

WHAT IS SFI CERTIFICATION?

Requirements for participants of the SFI certification include a written policy that a company must implement in order to achieve the sustainability principles listed below. Independent parties then perform audits, which ensures our enviro-friendly stock Bloom comes from a reliable company.

Sustainable Forestry
To practice sustainable forestry to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation and the managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water quality, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitat, recreation, and aesthetics.

Further Principles:
Responsible Practices
Reforestation and Productive Capacity
Forest Health and Productivity
Long-Term Forest and Soil Productivity
Protection of Water Resources
Protection of Special Sites and Biological Diversity
Legal Compliance
Continual Improvement

WHAT IS FSC CERTIFICATION?

Certification ensures that Harmony’s pulp only comes from a responsibly managed, sustainable forest. It means that no rainforest or old-growth timber is ever used. And it means that indigenous people and wildlife habitats were protected among other things. Annual third-party audits ensure the following:

  • Timber comes from a forest that meets proper forestry practices.
  • The producer that turns timber into pulp is accredited to properly source and harvest it.
  • The manufacturer who turns the pulp into paper is monitored for properly purchasing the pulp and for following the proper manufacturing and marketing criteria.
  • The merchant who purchases and resells the paper is certified for properly managing and tracking the paper.
  • The printer who turns the paper into printed communications is authorized by auditing bodies to provide the final certification.
100% MADE IN THE USA

It's essential to identify the origins of your paper. Buying paper containing fibers from overseas may actually harm the environment more than help it. That's why using Bloom and Harmony, both "100% Made in the USA" takes a vital step to ensure that your project is truly enviro-friendly.

YES, RECYCLED PAPER

It took some time, but we finally found Harmony, a recycled card stock that balances our quality needs with the stringent requirements enforced by our chain-of-custody certifications. Plus, Harmony contains 30% post-consumer waste fibers that are Process Chlorine Free (PCF).

GREEN POWER

Harmony is manufactured with Green Power in the form of “green credits”, which are purchased in amounts equal to the hours of electricity needed to produce the paper. Energy from wind, water and biogas sources (which produce no waste or pollution) are fed into the power grid used by the paper mill.

When printing on Harmony, please talk with your Direct Marketing Specialist about displaying this logo and/or the “30% Recycled” logo on your printed pieces.


We're proud to announce that we have received Chain of Custody certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and 100% of our paper products are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI). Both certification programs are designed to ensure that paper used in printing is obtained from forests that are managed in an environmentally responsible manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does my company benefit from Modern Postcard’s certifications?

Making Modern Postcard your direct marketing partner of choice demonstrates your commitment to protecting our forests and meeting the market’s increasing propensity to purchase paper products from enviro-friendly sources. It satisfies customer demands while giving them a positive perception of your company. It allows you to keep pace or even edge out your competition. And it strengthens your brand.

What is FSC?
FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization that brings people together to find solutions and establish standards for the wood fiber industry. Their goal is to ensure environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.

It accredits independent third party organizations who can certify forest managers and forest product producers to FSC standards. Its trademark provides international recognition to organizations that support the growth of responsible forest management. Supporters of FSC include The National Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club and the World Wildlife Fund.

For more information about the FSC program, visit http://www.fsc.org.

SFI
What is SFI?

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) program is based on the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist. Participants practice sustainable forestry on all the lands they manage. They also influence millions of additional acres through the training of loggers and foresters in best management practices and landowner outreach programs.

This unique commitment to sustainable forestry recognizes that all forest landowners, not just SFI program participants, play a critical role in ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of our forests. For more information about the SFI program, visit http://www.sfiprogram.org

What is Chain of Custody and why is it important?

Chain of Custody (CoC) is the process of tracking and recording the possession and transfer of wood and fiber from the forests of origin through the different stages of production—primary manufacturing, secondary manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing—to the end user. Companies interested in demonstrating that their products are made from responsibly managed forests, and not from areas that were illegally harvested, major tropical wilderness areas, or bio diversity hotspots need SFI® CoC certification.

Are your papers both FSC and SFI certified?

No, a single paper cannot be certified by both organizations. Bloom is SFI certified and Harmony is FSC certified. Our actual company, Modern Postcard, has been through the process to become both FSC and SFI chain-of-custody certified.

Does Modern Postcard recycle?

Yes, 100% of our printed products are recyclable, and all paper trimmings resulting from our production process are recycled. In addition, all day-to-day paper, plastics, aluminum and glass are recycled through a company-wide recycling program.

Does Modern Postcard offer recycled paper products to clients?

Yes, we do. It took some time, but we have finally found a recycled card stock offering adequate quality while at the same time meeting the stringent requirements set out by our SFI and FSC certifications. Our Harmony paper contains 30% post-consumer waste recycled fibers and is Process Chlorine Free (PCF). It’s even manufactured using renewable energy.

NOTE: Harmony paper is only available by request and has a limited production schedule. If you’d like to use Harmony, you must order through a Direct Marketing Specialist. Please call 800.406.1705 for details and turnaround times.

Can we use the certification logos on our postcards?

As of right now, we cannot place these logos on our client postcards. We are working with the certifying organizations to develop a program that extends this benefit to our clients. However, you can use the "Green Power" and "30% Recycled" logos. Please contact a Direct Marketing Specialist if you wish to display these logos on your printed pieces.

Why did the paper stock change and didn’t you just change it a couple of years ago?

Modern never rests on its laurels. And in our efforts to continually improve our products and services, we’ve made several paper changes in the past. This latest paper introduction has many advantages over the previous ones including: improved color integrity, increased print quality and a more balanced, neutral color. Additionally, it shows our ongoing commitment to enviro-friendly business practices.

Are there any noticeable differences?

The visual differences when comparing blank paper are limited to slightly less blue tone. This results in improved pastel tones and more realistic flesh tones.

Does the new paper feel the same?

Yes, the new paper has similar rigidity, durability and weight as our previous stock. It remains a 12.5pt stock, far exceeding the USPS postcard minimum of 7.5 pt.

Will I need to download new color profiles for my digital files?

Yes. If you utilize color management in your digital imaging process, our latest ICC color profiles are available for download. Our Digital Imaging Department can also help you with any of your image and color needs.