June 2008
Transparent:
Easily seen
through,
nothing
hidden
Featured
Collection
• Catalyst Paper
• Green Party
• How Can a Gallon of
Gasoline Produce 20 Pounds
of Carbon Dioxide?
• Alonzo Printing Weblog!
32 years of print…
…20 years of green
Alonzo’s Carbon Footprint is
Transparent!
It is imperative that Alonzo’s Carbon
Footprint is clear, accurate and easy to
understand, i.e. it must be transparent.
When Alonzo set out to calculate
its carbon footprint it was necessary
to gather a tremendous amount of
information. Reason, Alonzo’s carbon
footprint begins when raw materials
leave the paper mill or distributor and
are delivered to Alonzo Printing where
the printed piece is produced. Our
carbon footprint ends once the finished
printed product is delivered to our
customer’s door. We did not limit our
carbon footprint to the Alonzo facility,
referred to in May “Impressions” as the
“Envelope or Factory.”
Green Tags or RECs are credits you
purchase that will offset the emissions
you generate, i.e. your carbon
footprint. You can purchase Wind,
Wind & Solar or Solar green tags. BEF
Green Tags support new renewable
electricity generation, which offsets
the environmental effects of burning
coal, gas and other fossil fuels in the
region where the renewable generator
is located, and helps shift the overall
energy mix toward more renewable
resources. Also, BEF Green Tags help
build a market for renewable energy,
reduce global climate change, and may
have other environmental benefits such
as reducing regional air pollution.
To verify Alonzo’s carbon footprint
calculations we went to the Bonneville
Environmental Foundation, BEF*.
We discovered that the BEF Carbon
Calculator metrics were very close
to those used by Alonzo to calculate
our carbon footprint, see May 2008
“Impressions.” In fact we found when
using BEF’s formulas Alonzo’s carbon
footprint was smaller. We were also
impressed at how simple it was to use.
Simply insert your annual usage of
electricity in kilowatt hours (KWH),
natural gas in CCF or Therms, miles
driven for 1-3 autos or SUVs and
miles flown into separate templates and
just like that it calculates your carbon
footprint. Then it gives you the option
to purchase “Green Tags” also called
“RECs,” renewable energy certificates.
Calculate your own carbon footprint
and/or cancel your carbon by going to:
*BEF (Bonneville Environmental
Foundation) Carbon Calculator
www.greentagsusa.org/greentags/
calculator. BEF is Green E Certified,
100% Renewable Energy.
Catalyst Paper Provides Alonzo with 100% PCW Recycled Newsprint
In April 2008 Catalyst added one of the most
economical and leading newsprint mills in North
America with the acquisition of the Snowflake mill
from AbitibiBowater. The Snowflake mill, Snowflake,
AZ, is Alonzo’s source for 100% recycled newsprint.
Catalyst is the largest mechanical paper producer
in western North America (and the only producer
of lightweight coated paper in the region); has the
largest paper recycling facility in western Canada;
and is one of the world's few producers of sawdustbased pulps — a low-cost substitute for traditional
pulp products. And Catalyst’s relentless focus on
greenhouse gas emissions reductions meant they
were able to introduce Catalyst Cooled manufactured
carbon neutral paper in 2007.
IN FACT…
5.
3.
1.
4.
2.
6.
While recycling conserves
resources, energy that’s renewed
by nature helps keep the
planet considerably cooler by
directly reducing our reliance
on the burning of fossil fuels.
Renewable “clean” energy
produces few or no hazardous
emissions of pollutants and
has minimal impact on fragile
ecosystems. As you learn more
about the following renewable
energy sources, consider what
using these environmentally
responsible processes says about
your brand.
1. Approximately 87% of the energy
used in manufacturing Catalyst paper
comes from renewable resources. Our
self-generated electric power is EcoLogocertified as green power under a program
offered by the Canadian government.
2. In 1921, Albert Einstein won the Nobel
Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking
experiments with solar power and
photovoltaics.
3. The use of renewable energy is not
new. The Romans were among the first
to use geothermal energy to heat their
houses. In 2006, only about 7% of all
energy used in the United States came
from renewable sources.
4. Enough sunlight falls on the earth’s
surface every minute to meet world
energy demands for an entire year. If
only we could effectively harness it.
5. Methane is generated by sources
such as agricultural waste and landfills.
Catalyst collects, filters and mixes
the methane gas produced in a nearby
municipal landfill waste site with a small
amount of natural gas to power its paper
recycling plant.
6. In the Philippines, one in five homes
draws its power from volcanoes.
Image and text from Spring 2008
UNFOLD MAGAZINE, published by Catalyst
Paper
How Can a Gallon of Gasoline
Produce 20 Pounds of Carbon Dioxide?
It seems impossible that a gallon of gasoline, which weighs
about 6.3 pounds, could produce 20 pounds of carbon
dioxide (CO2) when burned. However, most of the weight
of the CO2 doesn't come from the gasoline itself, but the
oxygen in the air.
When gasoline burns, the carbon and hydrogen separate. The
hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H2O), and
carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide
(CO2).
A carbon atom has a weight of 12, and each
oxygen atom has a weight of 16,
C=12
O=16
Green Party
It’s your party, and you can
cry if you want to. But you’d
serve the environment better
with a less emotional approach
to your soirée. Going green with your next social event will
benefit the earth and make you feel good at the same time.
Follow these planet-friendly party tips for a greener gettogether.
Stick with e-vites.
Skip the pretty paper cards and save a tree or two. You can
find creative e-vites all over the internet. Also, electronic
invitations often give your guests the opportunity to RSVP
quickly and easily, which is a plus for knowing how many
guests to plan for.
Use the stuff you’ve got.
You know those cool serving pieces and place settings you
registered for but still haven’t taken out of the cabinet? Don’t
wait—use them now. You’ll have a little extra cleanup at the
end of the night, but you won’t be sending even more plastic
to the landfills.
Personalize cups.
If you use disposable glassware, buy the kind made from
recycled or sustainable materials (look for packaging labeled
“biodegradable” or “100% recycled content”). And break out
giving each single molecule of CO2 an atomic weight of 44
(12 from carbon and 32 from oxygen).
Therefore, to calculate the amount of CO2 produced from a
gallon of gasoline, the weight of the carbon in the gasoline is
multiplied by 44/12 or 3.7.
Since gasoline is about 87% carbon and 13% hydrogen by
weight, the carbon in a gallon of gasoline weighs 5.5 pounds
(6.3 lbs. x .87).
We can then multiply the weight of the carbon (5.5
pounds) by 3.7, which equals 20 pounds of CO2!
O=16
the Sharpies. Have everyone write their names or initials on
their cups before their first drink, and you’ll cut way down on
the number of plastic cups that end up in your trash can.
Light it up.
Cut down on electricity and create a romantic (and flattering)
glow by placing lit candles everywhere. Use soy or beeswax
candles which, unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles, won’t
emit toxic, sooty fumes.
Recycle.
This is a no-brainer, but if you don’t
do it already, it’s a big (green) step
to take. Check everything you’re
about to throw away to see if you
can use it again. If you can’t use it,
put glass, paper and plastic products
in the recycle bin. This will preserve
natural resources, cut down on junk
heading to landfills and reduce
the amount of energy used in the
manufacturing of new products.
Here’s to making your backyard
barbecues green, in more ways than
one.
3266 Investment Blvd
Hayward, CA 94545
510.293.3940
www.alonzoprinting.com
June Birthdays
Nolberto
George M.
Veronica P.
6/6
6/8
6/9
Jack C.
Mehrdad
6/11
6/12
BA
Mixed Sources
Product group from well-managed
forests, controlled sources and
recycled wood or fiber
www.fsc.org Cert no. SCS-COC-001258
© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council
Y ARE
A
25%
GREEN BUSINESS
PROGRAM
Printed on an HP 5000 using 80# Endeavor Text, 50% recycled, 25% PCW
Your carbon footprint
can look this good!
Go to the Alonzo
Printing Weblog to
find out how!
Alonzo Printing Weblog: http://alonzoprinting.wordpress.com