Whistle Ink ‘Office Supplies’ Blog

We are all doing our bit for the environment, whether it’s recycling with the help our local councils as they provide coloured bins or off our own backs but what if we were forced to do it through the purchases we make?

Nowadays the vast majority of us recycle paper, throwing out the piles of newspapers, magazines and the countless junk mail we receive – but how many of us then go out and buy recycled paper?

If we put paper out to be recycled why don’t we buy paper that has been recycled, completing the cycle fully?

Recycled paper is now alot cheaper than ever and may cost just a few pence more than ’virgin’ or brand new paper so what if manufacturers decided to no longer produce cheap brand new paper and instead only offered us a version that was more environmentally friendly – maybe not totally 100% recycled but nonetheless ‘greener’?

I doubt many would notice the difference – especially as the idea of cheap copier paper is to print non important work at home and at work for internal documents for filing etc.

If you look at the cheap 5 Star range of copier paper – the descriptions are virtually the same:

5 Star Office Value Copier Paper Multifunctional 80gsm 500 Sheets per Ream A4 White [1 Ream]

And

5 Star Office Copier Paper Multifunctional 80gsm 500 Sheets per Ream A4 White [1 Ream]

Yet the second one, which costs around 50p more is manufactured using FSC pulp from mixed sources.

The second idea is to tax virgin paper increasing the price. Maybe slightly more complicated (!) to implement but I’m sure this would have an effect on the price conscious consumer.

If virgin paper was £1.50 - £3.00 more than the recycled paper would that change a consumer’s habit?

If you currently changed from virgin paper to recycled paper for home or office – how are you finding it? How would you feel if you were faced with just one option when it came to budget copier paper which was recycled or at least more ‘greener’ paper?

Whistle Ink is one of the leading and largest office supplies product information sites that give extra value information about office products before customers buy.

Eco Label

EU Eco Label:

At least 10% of virgin wood fibres should come from

certified sustainably managed forests.

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The Blauer Engel (Blue Angel)

German Blue Angel:

For recycled paper to qualify for the mark, it must be made of 100% “waste paper” (tolerance 5%), and contain at least 65% low-grade or medium-grade scrap and waste papers. Waste paper is defined as papers and boards obtained as a result of use or processing. Only the Blue Angel eco-label refers directly to recycled content.

It is one of the world’s first environmental accreditation programmes and is internationally recognised.

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Nordic Swan Label

Nordic Swan

The criterion for this is on the environmental effects of the manufacturing paper of recycled copier paper rather than on how the raw paper materials are selected. E.g. post consumer waste, sustainable forests.

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FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

One symbol you may see often for recycled paper products.

To achieve FSC Recycled certification the paper mill must meet strict guidelines particularly regarding the traceability of the recycled fibre.

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Some office papers that have a range of recycled content:

• The 5 Star Multifunction Copier Paper is manufactured using FSC pulp from mixed sources. This one could say is better than buying 100% virgin paper.

• Canon Multifunctional Paper Recycled 80gsm 500 Sheets per Ream A4 Paper White Ref 81140 [1 Ream] This is probably the best paper at the best price point for everyday use. Made in Europe from 100% post consumer waste, Canon Recycled Copier Paper has the highest environment accreditations: Nordic Swan and Blue Angel.

• Evolve Office Recycled Copier Paper Multifunctional 80gsm 500 Sheets per Ream A4 White Ref 70478 [1 Ream]- High quality multipurpose recycled paper made from 100% reclaimed material

For more information about Recycled Paper and to download a PDF booklet on procuring office paper with recycled content click here

See the range of recycled office copier papers today at Whistle Ink