Recycled paper can have several meanings, but the most consistent definition is derived from our federal government’s guidelines. Almost all state and local government and business procurement specifications now reference the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines on recycled paper. The EPA guidelines require a minimum of 30% post-consumer content for uncoated printing and writing paper, and a minimum of 10% post-consumer content for coated papers. Other forms of paper, such as newsprint, corrugated packaging, tissue, and others, also require post-consumer content. The EPA doesn’t consider mill broke, the unprinted trimming and converting scrap from paper mills themselves, recycled content.  The manufacturing of recycled paper offers numerous environmental benefits including the use of materials that otherwise would be shipped to landfill sites where they would produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases.  The recovery rate of recyclable material in the United States is 52%, which means 48% is still being sent to landfills.

Pre-consumer materials are those that have not met their intended end-use by a consumer and include allowable waste left over from manufacturing, converting, and printing processes. Examples: mill-converting scraps, pre-consumer deinking material, pulp substitutes. Magazines and newspapers that were never bought also are termed pre-consumer.

This is paper that has already been used and returned through a recycling program, thereby diverting it from a landfill or incinerator. It is usually deinked and then processed to make new paper. Office paper waste makes up the majority of post-consumer waste content that is used to make recycled copy and printing papers.

Recycled paper, either pre or post-consumer materials needs to be washed and is often deinked prior to being pulped. The pulp goes through a bleaching process to make it whiter. Once the pulp is bleached, it enters a series of phases including the following: the paper forming section; the press section where water is removed by pressing the wet paper between rolls and felts; and the drying section where the moisture content is reduced to the desired level; and the calendering section where the paper is compacted and smoothed progressively as it travels down a stack of steel rolls. Once completed the paper is stored in either rolls or cut into sheets.

Totally chlorine free applies to virgin fiber papers that are unbleached or processed with a sequence that includes no chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

Biogas is another renewable source of energy. It is produced by the decomposition of waste in a landfill site. Once collected, it can generate steam used in the manufacturing of paper, which will also reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

All the environmentally responsible certified products that we carry have labels or logos that mark the evidence of their environmental characteristics and are denoted in our catalog with one or more of the certifying organizations logo. By purchasing products with environmental labels you are supporting the growth of responsible forest management worldwide.