Origin Books uses Rainforest Alliance certified paper, digital printing technology, and in-house production at a single facility in Seattle, Washington. These materials and processes reduce environmental impact at every stage of book production.

Certified Paper

All Origin Books paper stocks carry Rainforest Alliance certification, which requires forests to meet environmental, social, and economic management standards.

Additional certifications available on request:

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): Paper sourced from responsibly managed forests meeting FSC environmental and social standards.
SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative): Paper managed according to SFI standards for reforestation, biodiversity, and water quality.
Recycled content: Paper stocks containing post-consumer recycled fiber.

Paper options include 60lb and 70lb weights, coated and uncoated finishes, white and cream colors. See Paper and Materials for the full selection.

Digital Printing

Origin Books uses Canon digital presses. Digital printing differs from traditional offset printing in ways that reduce material use and emissions:

No printing plates. Offset printing requires metal plates for each page. Digital printing sends files directly to the press, eliminating plate production and disposal.
No chemical processing. Offset printing uses chemical solutions for plate development and press cleaning. Digital printing removes these chemicals from the production process.
Toner-based, not liquid ink. Canon presses use dry CMYK toner fused electrically to the paper. This process generates no liquid ink waste or solvent emissions.
Lower operating temperature. Canon’s toner-fusing technology operates at lower temperatures than many offset and digital alternatives, reducing energy consumption per page.

Waste Reduction

Short-run printing (25 to 5,000 copies) reduces waste compared to traditional offset runs of 5,000 or more copies:

Print only what you need. Order 100 copies instead of 5,000. Reorder when inventory runs low. Fewer books go unsold.
Precise production. Digital printing allows exact page imposition, minimizing paper waste during cutting, trimming, and binding.
Toner cartridge recycling. Canon press toner cartridges enter manufacturer take-back programs for refurbishment or material recovery.
Digital proofing. Digital proofs delivered via email eliminate the paper, ink, and shipping of physical proof copies.

Local Production

Origin Books produces all books in-house at a 7,500-square-foot facility in Seattle, Washington.

Shorter shipping distances for Pacific Northwest customers reduce transportation emissions.
Domestic manufacturing eliminates international freight.
Single-facility production avoids shipping partially finished goods between locations.
In-house oversight at every stage --- prepress, printing, binding, trimming, and quality control --- reduces waste from production errors.

See Pacific Northwest Book Printing for facility details.

Author Choices That Reduce Environmental Impact

Order appropriate quantities. Start with a smaller run and reorder based on actual demand.
Choose certified paper. FSC-certified and recycled-content stocks perform identically in print.
Use digital proofs. Approve your book from a digital proof instead of a printed sample when image quality is not critical.
Select standard trim sizes. Standard sizes (5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 8.5 x 11) use paper more efficiently during production.

For an overview of the full printing process, see How to Print a Book: Getting Started.

Last updated: January 2026