September
2002
The
Truth About Recycled Paper—Making the Right Choice
By Eric Black
|
|
|
Do you read labels? Chances are, as a responsible consumer,
you rely on labels to make your purchasing decisions. After all, what
choice
do you have? Without that little “organic” sticker, you have
no way of knowing if the apple in your child’s lunchbox was sprayed
with toxic pesticides. How else would you know that your floor wax
might
be “harmful or fatal if swallowed” without that warning on
the bottle? So you read the labels, and you try to pick high-quality,
safe, environmentally-responsible products. This is a good system,
as long as the labels are accurate and have real meaning, and as long
as
you understand the implications of that meaning.
Now, let’s talk about paper. You use it every day. Letters, magazines,
books, cereal boxes, even money. It’s everywhere. Recycled paper
is nothing new, and you know the recycled logo well—but do you
know what “recycled” really means? And what “post-consumer
waste” and “pre-consumer waste” are? What’s the
difference between “processed chlorine-free,” “totally
chlorine-free,” and “elementally chlorine-free;” and
furthermore, why is any of this important?
Because we use so much paper, and most of it ends up in already over-full
landfills, understanding this terminology is an essential step in reducing
our negative impact on the environment and our health. The EPA currently
defines recycled paper as paper that contains a minimum of 30 percent
post-consumer waste: previously printed and used paper that is regenerated
into new paper. It is important to note that there is no mention in
this definition of pre-consumer waste, which is unprinted paper, usually
from mill scraps. Prior to 1998, pre-consumer waste was permitted under
the umbrella term recycled, thus mills could easily claim their paper
was 100 percent recycled, but the term carried little environmental
weight. Today, 100 percent recycled should mean 100 percent post-consumer
waste; however, the familiar recycling logo is free domain. Its use
does not require third-party verification, leaving consumers vulnerable
to false claims of major paper manufacturers and suppliers. Also misleading
is the notion that recyclable means the same thing as recycled, when
in fact, the claim has no standards mandating that the product contain
any recycled material, nor does it guarantee that the used product
will
be accepted by your local recycling authorities. (In short, it’s
a useless term.)
To determine if a particular paper is truly environmentally-friendly,
knowing the recycled content alone is not enough. You need to know
how
the paper was made. A typical sheet of white paper is bleached with
chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds. Bleaching paper pulp with
chlorine uses more water per ton than any other product in the world,
and releases a heavy burden of dangerous substances into our waterways,
including dioxin, a widely known human carcinogen [see Cernansky in
Satya, April 2002]. Combine this with the problem of our disappearing
forests and it’s easy to see why choosing environmentally-friendly
paper products is no longer just an option; it’s survival.
When selecting paper products, keep these major points in mind. You
can begin by steering clear of elementally chlorine-free (ECF) paper.
ECF is a misleading term that bans the use of the pure form of chlorine
gas, but allows the use of the compound chlorine dioxide, which still
produces dioxin. Instead, look for the seven-leaf processed chlorine-free
(PCF) emblem, which guarantees that the paper meets the 30 percent minimum
requirement for recycled/post-consumer waste content, and was re-bleached
using non-chlorine alternatives, such as oxygen or hydrogen peroxide.
Whenever possible, purchase paper that is 100 percent post-consumer
waste and PCF. In virgin (non-recycled) paper, totally chlorine-free
(TCF) indicates that no chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds were
used in manufacturing.
Second, demand third-party certification. It is the best way to ensure
your paper meets the highest environmental standards. Both the PCF
and
TCF emblems are the property of the not-for-profit Chlorine Free Products
Association (CFPA), and indicate their approval of a product—a
comprehensive certification. According to Archie Beaton, Executive Director
of the CFPA, “These [certified] products are not made using harmful,
chlorine-containing compounds; [they] use tree fiber that comes from
responsibly managed forestry, not old growth forests; the mill has no
current or pending environmental permit violations and complies with
stringent formula and definitions for post-consumer content.” Why
don’t more paper manufacturers seek out this certification? There
are two reasons: 1) Cost—the verification process costs over $20,000
and may require the mill to spend additional dollars to make necessary
changes; and 2) Standards are rigorous—if a mill’s environmental
claims are not truthful, a third party’s exposé will serve
as negative publicity.
Finally, remember the importance of reduction of waste: print and copy
double-sided whenever possible, and inquire with your printer about
ways to co-op your printing run with others, which reduces waste and
lowers cost. Also, ask to incorporate the appropriate chlorine-free
emblem when printing on CFPA-certified paper, to make a strong statement
for the environment while encouraging others to do the same.
Informed consumers are the link that can force mills to change unethical
labeling and manufacturing processes and seek out third-party certification.
Without consumer awareness and demand, many mills see no incentive to
undergo certification, and the efforts of those who go the extra mile
for the environment are undermined.
The Bad Wrap
Today, environmental papers have an undeserved image of inferior quality.
While this used to be a valid concern, quality has improved dramatically
in recent years. Dingy, grainy papers are a thing of the past; now,
you can expect bright colors, smooth finishes and excellent printability
from a highly environmental product. There is no compromise—for
consumers or the environment.
Eric Black is Director of Marketing and Education for Greg Barber
Company, an environmental paper and printing company based in New York
City. He may be contacted through the company’s Web site, www.gregbarberco.com.
To learn more about the Chlorine Free Products Association, visit www.chlorinefreeproducts.org.
