Green Glossary

Glossary

Biodegradable: These products will completely convert to organic matter when added to a well-managed landfill and are made of organic-crop-based substrates. They do not contain any petroleum. These items are not recyclable and should be thrown out in the trash. Biodegradable items have a Resin ID Code of #7.

Degradable: These are non-organic items and never become dirt. Chemicals are added to the plastic to break it down to a litter-like consistency and then they dissolve when added to a well-managed landfill. These items are recyclable.

Post-consumer: These are materials that have reached the end-users and are then collected for recycling. This ranges from paper and corrugated to scrap metal and wood.

Pre-consumer: These materials are recycled before they reach the end-user. The scrap, over runs, drop offs and other items that are recycled early in the manufacturing process. KDM offers substrates for litho printing that contain 25% pre-consumer recycled materials and substrates for screen printing with 50% pre-consumer recycled content.

FSC certified paper: Any product made of pulp or paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from a certified forest, one that meets high standards of corporate responsibility, including shifting the marketplace away from habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples and violence against people and wildlife. KDM buys all of our paper from FSC vendors.

SFI approved: Any wood or paper product certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a charitable organization based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.

SGP certified printer: Printers who participate in the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership, an effort to reduce environmental impact and increase the social responsibility of the print and graphic communications industry through sustainable green printing practices. KDM has applied for SGP certification.
 

Plastic Recycling Codes (Resin ID Codes)

• 1 PET Polyethelene Terephthalate (Polyester)
• 2 HDPE High-density Polyethelene
• 3 PVC Polyvinyl Chloride (Vinyl)
• 4 LDPE Low-density Polyethelene
• 5 PP Polypropylene
• 6 Polystyrene (PS)
• 7 Other - non recyclable 

The American Chemistry Council has a more complete description table of these codes. These items are available to be recycled in different regions and cities.