At Lightning Source, we have always maintained that the print on demand (POD) model offers significant environmental advantages over traditional offset manufacturing.
With offset manufacturing books often go unsold and are destroyed, usually after being shipped and handled multiple times. Wasted paper, wasted energy, greenhouse emissions,
pulping, and landfill overflows can result.
The environmental advantages of utilizing POD technology allow books to be printed to fill an existing demand. POD lessens the possibility of returns, reduces supply chain waste,
greenhouse emissions, and conserves valuable natural resources.
To build upon the environmental responsible forestry, our POD model, Lightning Source chose to receive these certifications:
- Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®)
The FSC® Council is a non-profit organization, promoting the environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
FSC® certification is recognized internationally as a rigorous environmental and social standard for responsible forest management.
FSC® Trademark license code: FSC-C084699
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®)
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is an independent, internationally recognized non-profit organization responsible for the SFI certification standard, the world’s largest
single forest certification standard. The SFI program is based on the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist to the benefit
of communities, customers and the environment, today and for future generations.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)
The PEFC™ Council is an independent , non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainability-managed forests through independent third party
certification. The PEFC™ provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products ensuring they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.
Lightning Source has received Chain of Custody (CoC) certification from:
- The Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®)
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)
- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®).
What is Chain of Custody certification?
Chain of Custody (CoC) is an accounting system that tracks wood fiber through the different stages of production: from the forest, to the mill, to the paper,
to the printer and ultimately to the finished book. For publishers, and ultimately consumers, CoC ensures the integrity of the paper supply chain and that the
paper used in Lightning Source® printed books are from responsibly managed forests.
To download copies of the Lightning Source CoC certificates or to see our certified product lists, follow the links to the left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to get answers to frequently asked questions about Chain of Custody certification.