Which Eco Friendly Paper Is Best? (Environment, Quality, Budget, etc.)

Environmentally conscious office managers need to choose the right eco-friendly paper carefully. Paper has significant environmental impacts, particularly on forest ecosystems.

Between 1980 and 1995, deforestation caused the loss of 200 million hectares of forest. This crisis led to the creation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a non-profit promoting responsible forest management.

Today, increased recycling options and FSC certification help mitigate forest threats. Office managers now face three key choices for sustainable paper use:

• Standard Paper
• Recycled Paper
• FSC-Certified Paper

For the office manager who wants to make the environmentally sustainable choice, this can present a dilemma. “Recycled paper” doesn’t always contain a high level of post-consumer waste. At the same time, deforestation remains high and privately owned paper manufacturers still displace indigenous peoples to make room for paper production.

Purchasing Eco Friendly Paper

Choosing the right environmentally friendly copy paper requires defining the subtle differences between terms commonly used to describe these paper types. It also requires breaking down what the FSC does and doesn’t certify, as well as choosing the right printing solution for your specific needs.

Standard Paper

Standard paper may seem like the worst choice for eco-friendly office managers, but appearances can be deceiving. A standard paper manufacturer does not necessarily need to be FSC-certified to demonstrate care for the environment.

In fact, paper manufacturers may simply choose other certifications that represent their environmental concerns more accurately. One example is ISO 14001 certification, which provides a sustainable model for establishing a management system using natural resources.

A standard paper manufacturer may choose chlorine-free manufacturing methods. For consumers, it pays to learn as much as possible about the papers’ source and refining before purchase. Even if some standard manufacturers can be environmentally responsible, the majority don’t have strict environmental regulations in place.

Recycled Paper

There are many types of recycled paper. When most people think of recycled paper, they imagine paper made completely from discarded post-consumer waste paper, but this is rarely the case. Most recycled paper is made from a mix of post-consumer and pre-consumer paper – which is unsold paper discarded at the mill.

Other recycled paper manufacturers mix post-consumer waste paper with FSC-certified or standard copier paper. While recycling reduces the number of trees cut down, it increases the number of chemicals used to create high quality paper, since post-consumer waste needs to be pulped and de-inked before reuse.

On the other hand, reducing the amount of trees cut down also reduces pollution. Specifically, it cuts the amount of emissions generated by large tractors and logging machinery, which typically operate in delicate forest ecosystems.

FSC-Certified Paper

FSC-Certified paper is not recycled, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t one of the most eco friendly paper options out there. In fact, it can be more environmentally friendly than some recycled papers.

The Forestry Stewardship Council certifies paper products based on three major considerations:

• Legal and Social Compliance
  The FSC verifies that paper manufacturers comply with international agreements on deforestation and on the rights of indigenous peoples, such as those who live in the rainforests of one of the world’s largest paper producers, Brazil. FSC certification ensures the long-term well-being of workers and their surrounding communities.
• Ecological Conservation
  The FSC monitors and ensures paper manufacturers’ efforts to conserve biological diversity in the ecosystems they work in. It measures performance metrics concerning water and soil quality while compelling manufacturers to generate reports on their effect on the local ecosystem.
• Forest Management and Renewal
  FSC-certified manufacturers have a comprehensive forest management plan that includes renewing forests in carefully monitored conditions. This ensures that loggers replant the trees they cut down, establishing a sustainable cycle.

Environmental Friendly Paper for Business

The differences between standard, recycled, and FSC-certified paper reveal that no perfect eco-friendly paper solution exists. Environmental conservation extends beyond production, and recycling alone can’t mitigate the growing industry’s impact.

FSC-certified manufacturers take a strong approach by promoting tree growth to absorb carbon and reduce industrial emissions. Growing more forests supports sustainable building materials over plastics and steel, reducing environmental harm.

Expanding forests offsets greenhouse gases, creates wildlife habitats, and benefits impoverished communities. Truly sustainable paper requires integration into a larger, sustainable resource system.

Choose Eco-Friendly Paper for a Greener Tomorrow

Adopting eco-friendly paper supports sustainable practices while reducing your office’s environmental footprint. Whether you opt for recycled, FSC-certified, or standard paper, making informed choices matters.

Ready to improve your office’s environmental impact? Learn more about eco-friendly paper options and start making a difference today. Contact us for advice or to explore sustainable paper solutions tailored to your needs!