One of the biggest ways that you can help with paper is to reduce your usage. Once you have reduced your usage as much as possible, you should then buy 100% post consumer recycled content that uses no bleaches. 

Businesses that adopt sustainable paper purchasing policies no longer have to spend more money to do so. The price and quality of such paper is on par with virgin paper products. Currently, only 35 percent of U.S. paper consumption is met by recycled fibers, according to the Forest Stewardship Council. Look for recycled paper that includes the highest amount of post-consumer waste.  Buying recycled paper goods not only conserves trees, but it also conserves water and energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. For every 20 cases of recycled paper used, business eliminate the need to cut down 17 trees and save 390 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of energy, according to the U.S. Department of Conservation. Using recycled paper also eliminates 60 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Rules of thumb

> Buy recycled. Choose products with the highest level of postconsumer content possible. Federal guidelines prescribe 30 percent recycled content.

> Buy non-chlorine bleached paper. Dioxins, a byproduct of the chlorine bleaching process, is a cancer-causing agent that can cause significant harm to the ecosystems surrounding paper plants.

> Buy certified papers. Look for products that are third-party-certified to guarantee that the products contribute to conservation, responsible forest management and fair treatment of the people near the forests that provide paper.

> Go beyond copy paper. Consider the above factors for all paper, including file folders, sticky notes, shipping materials, boxes, and envelopes. When outsourcing printing jobs, such as company brochures or business cards, ask printers for information about recycled content of all paper products.

Content Created by Sustainable Industries