This is a first version of a presentation that was given as part of the Design City at the Toronto Print Show in November 2008. Future versions will include proper footnotes.

1. Using Footprint Calculators for Greener Design
Patrick Robinson, R.G.D.
Superpower.ning.com
patrickrobinson@griplimited.com
Design City
November 23, 2008

2. Recycling isn’t enough!

3. Knowledge is an implied responsibility

4. 17,325
gallons of
water
(or approx. a family-sized swimming pool)
whatis usedto make 1tonne of paper?

5. 24 treesthat are 7" in diameter, and 40' tall
whatis usedto make 1tonne of paper?

6. 22 million
BTU’sthe average 4 person house uses
91 million BTU’s per year
whatis usedto make 1tonne of paper?

7. 2,200lb.of
solid wastethe average 4 person house disposes
of 5,368 pounds per year
whatis usedto make 1tonne of paper?

8. 5,700lb.of
greenhouse
gas
whatis usedto make 1tonne of paper?

9. What’s a
Carbon footprint?

10. A representation of the effect human activities
have on the climate in terms of the total amount
of greenhouse gases produced (measured in
units of carbon dioxide).
This is a measure of the impact that someone’s
activities will have on the environment, measured
in units of carbon dioxide produced. To reduce a
carbon footprint is beneficial to the environment,
which is why there are calculators to measure and
reduce these footprints.
A carbon footprint is the measure of the
environmental impact of a particular individual
or organization’s lifestyle or operation, measured
in units of carbon dioxide. (WhatIs blog) (New
Yorker) (CarbonFootprint.com)
Carbon market globesity (noun the
phenomenon of obesity in Western countries,
seen as a worldwide health problem) - this
term coined by the WHO I think dumpster
diving (noun the salvaging of household food
items from the stock which has been thrown
away by a shop, supermarket, etc. ...
The total carbon emissions for a given person,
organization, building, operation etc. The
carbon footprint of an operational office
typically include the carbon emitted by the
commuting of the office staff. Wikipedia -
Carbon footprint
A means (in tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent) Greenhouse Gas emissions
associated with the Sites determined in
accordance with the Project Andromeda™
Carbon Footprint Methodology
The amount of carbon released by subject
(human, building, factory, production and so
on), how much carbon is being produced as
a result of specific actions.
A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide
produced by a person, organization or state
in a given time
An estimate of an individual’s or
organization’s impact on the environment.
Usually measured in terms of greenhouse
gases produced or emitted. To calculate
the environmental impact of using papers
containing post consumer content
Carbon footprint is a “measure of the
impact that human activities have on the
environment in terms of the amount of
greenhouse gases produced, measured in
units of carbon dioxide”.[1] These gases are
produced by the burning of fossil fuels for
our everyday living. For example- heating
and electricity. Its purpose is for individuals,
nations and organizations to conceptualize
their personal (or organizational) carbon
dioxide contribution. A conceptual tool
in response to carbon footprints are
carbon offsets, or the mitigation of carbon
emissions through the development of
alternative projects such as solar or wind
energy or reforestation. The concept and
name of the carbon footprint originates
from the ecological footprint discussion.
[2] The carbon footprint is a subset of the
ecological footprint, which includes all
human demands on the biosphere including
the carbon, food and fibre footprint.
The amount of carbon released by subject
(human, building, factory, production and so
on), how much carbon is being produced as
a result of specific actions.
A measure in units of carbon dioxide of the
amount of greenhouse gases we emit directly
and indirectly through our daily actions.
The term “footprint” is frequently used incorrectly
to describe a GHG Inventory. This term actually
refers to the amount of productive land (forest)
required to sequester (remove) the equivalent
amount of GHGs that a company emits. The term
“footprint” was developed by Mathis Wackernagel
of the Global Footprint Network as an aggregated
measure of human impact on the earth as well
as our level of resource consumption but it has
been inaccurately used in various media and has
become the layperson’s term for GHG inventory.
The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) each person
produces or uses.
a measurement of
environmental impact

11. What’s a carbon
offset?

12. Projects are invested in that reduce or
eliminate greenhouse gases.
The benefits from these projects are
measured and sold as carbon offsets.

16. Other industry’s are
doing it.

17. Visit www.superpower.ning.com for more details on calculators
FOOTPRINT CALCULATORS

18. Where does the money
go for carbon credit?

19. This project utilizes used car and truck tires to manufacture
a variety of products that include rubber carpets, car mats,
new tires and an assortment of other post-consumer goods.
Specifically designed technologies ensure the original
characteristics of the rubber remain intact so as to retain the
high quality of the final product after the recycling process.
This project reduces emissions it two ways: 1) recycling tires
reduces the need to extract, and process synthetic rubber, a
very energy and greenhouse gas intensive process; 2) tires
that are not recycled in this area of Canada are burned, which
is also a pollution intensive activity. Recycling tires avoids the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with burning tires.
Tire Recycling Program

20. This project - located in Niagara Falls, Ontario - captures landfill
gas from the East Quarry landfill and distributes it to a nearby
plant that produces recycled content paper. Previously, all of this
gas leaked into the atmosphere, where it played a significant role
in perpetuating global warming. New amendments to the landfill
have diverted these emissions, while simultaneously providing
power to other facilities.
The captured landfill gas gets dehydrated and compressed, before
it is transported to the nearby Abitibi mill. Here, it is used instead
of natural gas, which offsets some of the energy requirements
of this facility. The benefits are twofold: primary reductions
are achieved by preventing gas release from the landfill, while
secondary benefits come from displacing the use of natural gas.
Landfill Gas Recovery
Project Ontario; ISO 14064

21. The forest restoration project in Maple Ridge, British Columbia aims to create
a forest that will continue to be healthy beyond the lifespan of the current
generation of trees, maximize the amount of CO2 that can be sequestered (or
absorbed), and emulate natural forest growth. Unlike reforestation - which
generally applies to replacing a forest felled for the timber industry and involves
mass plantations of a mono-crop – this kind of forestation ensures the specific
needs of this forest have been factored into its long-term plan. This includes a
diverse range of planted species, careful planning and attention to the future
success of the biomass that the forest will support.
Forestsplayanimportantroleascarbonsinks,essentiallysequesteringgreenhouse
gases from the air, and storing carbon in the biomass of the forest. Since the
project began in 2006, it has sequestered over 220,000 tonnes of carbon credits in
the District of Maple Ridge over an area of approximately 83 hectares.This involved
the planting of over 36,000 indigenous Douglas Firs, Sitka Spruces, Western Red
Cedars, Western Hemlocks and Cottonwoods.
Forest Restoration Project

22. how do we get started?

23. The components.

24. http://www.widgetbox.com/
widget/eco-calculator
http://www.mohawkpaper.com/
resources/resources-calcs
Visit www.superpower.ning.com for more details on calculators
http://www.edf.org/papercalculator
PAPER CALCULATORS

25. Factors that reduce impact.

26. Let’s get calculating.

28. 1 tonne of paper of paper, 2200 lb., is the equivalent
of 220,000 sheets of standard (20# bond) photocopy paper.
That would be 440 packages, 44 cartons or 1 skid.
(based on 4 metric tonnes of carbon credits per 1 tonne of paper at a cost of $15 per metric tonne thought a VEC broker)
or, 1tonne of paper could make any one ofthese paper products
11,000
Movie Posters
(25" x 38" 100# coated)
7,300
24 Page Catalogs
(8.5" x 11", 100# uncoated)
1,250
168 Page Books
(8.5" x 5.5" 80# uncoated)
729,000
Business Cards
(2" x 3.5" 12 pt coated)
218,000
Post Cards
(4" x 6", 12 pt. coated)
to offsetthe greenhouse gases of 1000 units
$
5.45 $
8.21 $
48 0.08¢
0.28¢

29. how do these get communicated?

31. where do we go
from here?

32. .superpower.ning.com/forum
We try to make sense of the increasing number
of options that we will have. It is difficult to
understand them all, they keep increasing and
changing but overall it is not a checklist, it’s not
just an intent, it has to become a practice, an
applied action, an evolving behavious.
Be Part of the conversation.

33. thank you.

34. Patrick Robinson, Intercommunipackistratapromotising Producer
Associate Parnter
Grip Limited
patrickrobinson@griplimited.com
Books:
Cradle to Cradle
Websites:
colour innovations
zerofootprint.net
environmental defense fund
aiga studio calculator
wikipedia.org/wiki/carbon_offsets
http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/reference/sustainablegraphicdesignwidget.html
additional resources and contact information.