Smart Paper Choices
Paper makes up the largest part of the waste stream, especially in an educational setting. The good news is that it's all one of the easiest things to reduce in use and recycle. Paper has one of the most available recycling markets. An important thing to remember is that in order to support the market for getting paper recycled, there must be a demand for the recycled paper pulp. Government accounts for approximately 25% of all purchasing nationwide, much of which is paper. By encouraging your university and state/local government, to purchase recycled content papers, you are creating a market for the paper you are collecting for recycling.
At the University of Oregon, the Printing Dept. worked hard to create a campus-wide policy on use of recycled paper (UO RECYCLED PAPER POLICY). This was secondary to making recycled chlorine-free and tree-free papers available to the campus community. At the UO, 95% of the available papers are in this category and is supported by the campus recycled paper policy. Additionally, recycled papers and double-sided copying is the default for all campus printing orders. UO Printing makes conservation the rule and not the exception. Additionally, in pricing the papers, Printing has created a level playing field so the prices for recycled papers are cost competitive to virgin papers. This is a proactive step that the Printing Dept. has taken to ensure the success and support of the campus policy.
There are many wonderful recycled content papers available on the market. Additionally, universities have opportunities to engage in cooperative purchasing opportunities to further reduce cost and set standards for performance.
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When you are choosing papers, please choose 100% recycled, chlorine free papers. If you are choosing tree-free papers, choose a paper that has a recycled content in order to continue to support the demand for recycled materials. Choose papers that use soy ink and reduced color. There are some beautiful light colored paper with recycled content. Please use graphics to get your message across as heavily dyed, neon and goldenrod papers are made with heavy metals and can only be recycled as low grade, which is the poorest grade of recycled paper and hard to market. Lighter colored papers get recycled as colored paper/office pack and are much better on the recycling system. And remember: |
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Living Tree Paper Company - http://www.livingtreepaper.com/
leader in developing printing and writing papers made from nonwood fibers
and post-consumer waste. By providing high-quality papers that are environmentally
responsible and economically sound, we are helping to minimize the environmental
impact of paper production and use.
The Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative (RPPC) - http://www.recycledproducts.org/
A non-profit program dedicated to natural resource conservation. The goal
of the Co-op is to increase the use of recycled copy paper on a national basis.
The RPPC is accomplishing this goal by providing 30% postconsumer recycled
paper at prices which meet or beat what many entities pay for non-recycled
or "virgin fiber" paper.
Conservatree - http://www.conservatree.com/paper/Choose/PaperSelection.shtml
Conservatree has a long and dynamic history, first as a paper distribution
company, from 1976-1997, and now as today's nonprofit organization dedicated
to converting paper markets to environmental papers.
Reach for Unbleached (RFU) - http://www.rfu.org/
a national foundation and Canadian registered charity working for a sustainable
pulp and paper industry by making pulp mills clean up and by promoting clean
paper
You can also see their Bulk Office Paper Buying Club at - http://www.rfu.org/cp/paperguide.htm
Recycled Paper Coalition - http://www.papercoalition.org/aboutus.html
The Coalition offers its members the opportunity to take a position of environmental
leadership in the continuing movement toward sustainable economic development.
Under its new structure, the Board intends to bring new ideas and resources
to members as we work together to develop and expand buy-recycled, waste and
usage reduction, and recycling programs for paper.
University of Oregon Printing Services - http://uopress.uoregon.edu/
The department is committed to value added printing and publishing consultation
to all academic, administrative, and affiliated departments by the continued
operational improvement of the production process. Our department has been,
and will continue to be, environmental stewards, as evidenced by the majority
of recycled paper in our inventory, our use of soy-based inks, water soluble
chemical solutions, and tree-free alternatives. We are dedicated to recycling
programs, waste reduction, clean air, hazardous chemical disposal and other
environmental issues within our unit, university, and community.
Weisenbach Specialty Printing - http://www.weisenbach.com/
The industry leader in the field of recycled promotional products, "THE Recycled
Promotions Source Book" features recycled paper, glass, tire rubber, steel,
and aluminum products.
