What greener copier papers are available today?
Higher recycled paper content. Current federal government standards specify paper with 30% post consumer fiber content. Papers are available with higher recycled content: for example, 50%, 80% or 100% post consumer fiber content. No chlorine bleaching. Most copier paper requires chlorine or chlorine-based chemicals such as bleach to make the paper white. Papers are available that are Processed Chlorine Free (PCF), which means no chlorine or chlorine based chemicals have been used to process the recycled fibers and all virgin fibers are Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). No old growth forest content. The virgin paper portion of copier paper can be manufactured from old growth timber. Typically, old growth timber is used first for lumber, and the waste — up to 50% of the tree — is used to make paper. Papers are available with no old growth forest content.
