PAPER FACTS

Nearly 5 million tonnes of paper are dumped in landfill sites every year.

With demand for 'greener paper' rising, there has been an influx of new products, certification marks and terms to hit the market. No surprise then, that our clients often find the sheer array of choice
quite bewildering!

There are many questions we get asked, so here, we have tried to answer some of the most common ones, whilst hopefully also dispelling a few paper 'myths' at the same time.

DOES RECYCLED PAPER COST MORE?

Not necessarily.

Recycled printing costs may sometimes be higher because the volumes of scale for recycled tend to be smaller, but standard recycled stocks are now on par with current virgin prices.

IS THE QUALITY AND FINISH OF RECYCLED PAPER POORER?

No! It is very difficult to tell the difference between virgin and recycled papers. Many people continue to associate recycled with a worn or used look but now it's perfectly possible to achieve a high-quality 'glossy' finish using only post-consumer recycled paper.

PAPER FROM SUSTAINABLE FOREST versus RECYCLED PAPER

This is a hot issue. Some papers carry the label 'made from sustainable forests' but we would argue that re-planting trees is not enough in itself.

Advantages of recycled paper include less impact on forest sources, minimising air and water pollution, less solid waste and lower water and energy consumption. Recycling paper maximises the use of fibres, optimising the amount of paper produced per square foot of forest.

It is important to remember that virgin stocks will always be needed - as no paper is infinitely recyclable, but if virgin paper is required, check that its source is sustainably managed - contact the Forestry Stewardship Council; www.fsc.org

IS THE PAPER RECYCLING PROCESS ITSELF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND?

Many people think that the de-inking process in recycling paper is damaging to the environment. This is not necessarily the case. In fact, harmful glues, finishes and inks that were previously apparent can be safely removed using non-toxic detergent which separates ink in water where it is then scraped from surface as a solid residue. It can then be re-used in products such as soil treatments and cat litter.

Paper can also be bleached using oxygen and chlorine dioxide - which as a combination is dramatically less harmful than pure chlorine. Of course truly 'chlorine-free' paper is a better choice still!

DOES 'WOOD-FREE' PAPER MEAN THAT NO TREES ARE USED?

Unfortunately no! This term is understandably confusing to many customers. When you see 'wood-free' on a product it simply means that the paper contains no visible chips of wood or particles that might cause the paper to tarnish.

CAN PAPER BE MADE WITHOUT USING TREES?

Yes!

There are now various fibres available to paper production such as cotton, cereals, hemp and recycled fabric. Tree-free (not to be confused with wood-free * see above) paper production is recommended because it requires far fewer pesticides and artificial cleaners.