If you’re a student, an organization or simply an individual who owns a printer, copier or fax machine, you may be interested to know that there are a variety of recycled papers out there that look, feel and function just as well as most non-recycled papers, plus the environmental benefits are priceless.
When it comes to choosing an environmentally-friendly paper there are a few things to keep in mind while you’re on the hunt. First you’ll need to examine the actual recycled content of the paper and that generally ranges from 20-100% Post Consumer Waste (PCW). Post Consumer Waste means that the paper is made from paper that has already been used and recycled so zero trees are lost in the process. For example, if the paper is 20 PCW it means that 20% is Post Consumer Waste and the other 80% comes from a non-recycled or virgin paper. If you decide to go with a “mix” of fibers you want to make sure that the virgin paper being used is FSC-certified.
You also want to make sure that the paper you select is Processed Chlorine Free (PCF), which means the paper contains no bleach, chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
Consider the type of energy that is being used to make the paper. Some paper mills are powered by wind, others purchase carbon offsets so their product then becomes carbon-neutral. The least amount of fossil fuels burned to produce a ream of paper-the better for our environment.
The good news is there are several recycled papers out there to choose from and they are not as expensive as you would think. I searched around specifically for 100% Post Consumer Waste (PCW) paper that is compatible with most copiers, inkjet and laser printers and here is what I came up with:
Boise Aspen 100 100% PCW, 92 Brightness, PCF, acid-free, FSC-certified
Wausau-Exact Eco 100% PCW, 92 Brightness, PCF, acid-free, lignin-free, FSC-certified
Mohawk Color Copy Recycled 100% PCW, 96 Brightness, PCF, acid free, lignin-free, FSC-certified, made with wind energy
New Leaf-Encore 100 100% PCW, 92 Brightness, PCF, acid free, manufactured with electricity that is offset with Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates, FSC-certified
Office Depot 100% EnviroCopy 100% Recycled, 104 Brightness, PCF, FSC-certified and carbon-neutral
Grays Harbor 100 100% PCW, 90 Brightness, PCF, carbon neutral, FSC & Green-e® certified
Ecopaper A combination of 100% PCW and tree-free agricultural byproducts, PCF, a percentage of each sale is donated to an orphanage in San Jose, Costa Rica
A final note: Make a promise to yourself to cut back on the amount of paper that you use. Think about how necessary it is to print your document. Would it be just as effective if you emailed the file? or if you saved the document on your computer or an external drive instead of printing and filing it away in a folder? If you need to print your document try extending the life of the paper by printing on both sides. When the paper is no longer of use recycle it. And if it is something that you’re passing on to someone, such as a client, you may want to put a “♻ please recycle” note on the bottom.