Frequently Asked Questions
PrintReleaf is a sustainability software platform that measures paper and fiber-based material consumption from the printing and packaging industries and converts it into certified reforestation or carbon offsets, helping organizations meet their sustainability goals and commitments.
Many reforestation project sites are located in remote or ecologically sensitive areas, often managed in partnership with local communities or they are on private land. As a result, they’re not open for visitors. Limiting access helps protect these environments from disruption and ensures that restoration efforts can progress without unintended impact. High volumes of visitors could damage young forests, disturb habitats, or interfere with ongoing project work.
Instead, PrintReleaf focuses on transparency through verification and reporting, providing certified documentation and project insights to demonstrate that reforestation is taking place as intended.
PrintReleaf plants trees on an ongoing basis across our global network of reforestation projects, creating an inventory of verified trees. We then transfer trees from inventory and assign them to customers by issuing certificates of reforestation through our system for measuring a customer’s monthly paper footprint (for MPS customers) or a customer’s print job (for commercial print and packaging customers). In parallel, we work with third party certifying organizations to independently verify the performance of our reforestation projects to ensure that trees are planted and survived per the terms of the PrintReleaf Standard.
The timing of tree planting varies by project location and is often a narrow window during the rainy season of each year. Each project requires significant coordination between PrintReleaf’s reforestation partners, the nurseries, and ground level operations to both scout and plan the tree planting efforts. Due to some of the complexity, trees are required to be planted either a year after a certificate is issued or a year prior. This allows for practical operating flexibility and optimization for the prime planting season each year.
Consumption data, shared via an integration or manual data entry, informs the calculations of the number of trees used to produce the paper or fiber-based materials, as well as the carbon emissions resulting from manufacturing, based on LCAs by the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).
Per the PrintReleaf Standard, we use species-specific growth data and biomass metrics published by the Environmental Paper Network (EPN), i-Tree Database, Global Tree Search, Useful Tropical Plants Database, and other resources in combination with localized ground level intelligence provided by our certified reforestation partner organizations. PrintReleaf then converts these values into Standard Tree equivalents as described in EPN’s calculations to maintain consistency.
Planting trees is exactly what it sounds like: putting trees in the ground. It can happen anywhere, for many reasons (landscaping, urban greening, small projects), and doesn’t necessarily consider long-term ecosystem outcomes. Reforestation, on the other hand, is a scientific, ecosystem-driven process. It focuses on restoring forests in areas where they previously existed, with attention to: native species selection, biodiversity and habitat restoration and conservation, long-term survival and forest health, appropriate geography and climate conditions.
Planting trees is an activity. Reforestation is an outcome. This distinction is important because not all tree planting leads to healthy forests, but reforestation, when done correctly, is designed to.
A "standard tree" is PrintReleaf’s unit of measurement for forest biomass. It represents a tree equivalent that is 40 feet in height and 7 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) at maturity.
Because forests naturally include a variety of tree species and sizes, some trees represent more than one standard tree, while others represent less. By using standard trees, PrintReleaf ensures that the full environmental impact is delivered consistently and accurately.
Important note: When making claims about the trees planted for your offsets, use "standard trees."
PrintReleaf selects reforestation partners based on their expertise, track record, and ability to deliver measurable, long-term ecological impact. We work with established organizations that specialize in forest restoration and have deep, local knowledge of the regions in which they operate.
All reforestation partners must meet the requirements of the PrintReleaf Standard, which includes criteria for project design, species selection, planting practices, and ongoing forest management. Projects are independently verified by third party certifying organizations to ensure compliance with these standards.
We prioritize partners who focus on restoring native ecosystems, planting the right species in the right locations, and supporting biodiversity and community outcomes. In addition, partners must demonstrate transparency in reporting and the ability to monitor tree survival over time.
This approach ensures that customer contributions support credible, science-based reforestation projects.
Responsible sourcing of paper is essential for the preservation of our planet’s forest resources and we fully support efforts to increase the use of recycled and certified paper and fiber-based materials. PrintReleaf is fully compatible with all leading certifications such as Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Chain of Custody (CoC).
PrintReleaf complements responsible sourcing by addressing environmental impact beyond procurement, or when operations are unable to support chain-of-custody requirements. Additionally, PrintReleaf supports customers who want to go beyond certified and recycled paper by contributing to reforestation projects that are designated for restoration and conservation.
Our calculations are based on data from the Environmental Paper Network. Because we use precise, weighted measurements of paper and fiber-based materials consumption, this can result in a fractional number of Standard Trees. On the ground, PrintReleaf plants whole trees. The fractional values are aggregated across all customers, resulting in whole trees being planted within each reforestation project.
PrintReleaf provides two types of environmental offsets: biomass offsets for the fiber used in paper and packaging, and carbon offsets for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with production. In many print environments, 50–80% of emissions are tied to paper production, making this a meaningful step toward reducing overall impact. At the same time, PrintReleaf is most effective as part of a broader sustainability strategy. We encourage partners to take a holistic approach, including responsible sourcing, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling. Together, these efforts create a more complete and credible path toward sustainability.
PrintReleaf partners directly with managed print service (MPS) providers, commercial printers, and packaging companies, delivering sustainability solutions through the organizations that produce printed and use fiber-based materials. As a result, the benefits extend across a wide range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, retail, education, and manufacturing - essentially any organization that relies on paper and packaging as part of its operations. By integrating PrintReleaf through their print or packaging providers, companies can embed measurable environmental impact into existing workflows, making sustainability more accessible, scalable, and aligned with broader business goals.
If you are a Managed Print Services (MPS) provider, commercial printer, direct mailer, or packaging company, you can get started by contacting us.
If you are a business that uses printed materials or packaging, we recommend reaching out to your current provider to see if they are already a PrintReleaf partner, or exploring our partner directory to find one. If your provider is not yet a partner, let us know. We can work with them to get set up so you can begin participating.
Offsetting relates to compensating for an environmental impact, whether carbon or resource (forest) use. Reforestation is a specific method that addresses resource use, and restores forest biomass over time.
Partners can choose to use secure integrations or manual reporting, depending on your organization’s preferences.
For Managed Print Services (MPS) environments, PrintReleaf can connect via API to print management systems to automatically capture paper usage. For commercial print and packaging workflows, data can be submitted through integrations or uploaded directly to the PrintReleaf platform.
All data is used solely to calculate environmental impact and generate certified reporting, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and transparency. PrintReleaf is a SOC2 Type 2 certified platform. Visit the PrintReleaf Trust Center to learn more.