Recommendations applicable to office paper include:
- Purchase print/copy paper with the following attributes:
- Minimum 30% recycled content
- Maximum amount of post-consumer waste as feasible
- Chlorine-free or uses the elemental chlorine free bleaching process
- Use of recycled paper for special printing jobs should be voluntarily implemented based on cost and availability
- Use of recycled paper for official campus stationary is already standard at 30% recycled content paper... Look for paper with at least 50% recycled content
- EnvironmentalPaper.org has a great resource on paper steps also use there Paper Calculator to project the impact of switching to a different kind of paper.
Impact on University Operations:
Since 1994, CU has been purchasing more recycled paper than virgin paper. Today, CU-Boulder has strategic pricing agreements with vendors so using recycled-content paper is as cost-effective than virgin paper. CU departments are required to purchase minimum 30% recycled content office and copy paper from CU’s strategic supplier (Staples) via CU Marketplace. 100% recycled content paper is also available for about $10 more per case.
Environmental Benefits:
- Over 40% of wood pulp goes toward the production of paper
- The United States alone, which has less than 5% of the world's population, consumes 30% of the world's paper
- Every 100 case of 100% recycled & 100% post-consumer waste copy paper saves: 60 trees, 10,250 kilowatt hours of electricity, 17,500 gallons of water, and prevents 150 pounds of air pollution.
Recommendations applicable to custodial paper include:
- 100% recycled content
- Minimum 40% post-consumer waste
- Elemental chlorine-bleach free
- Where feasible, use material conserving dispensers, such as the motion sensor dispensers for hand towels currently used in the UMC
- EnvironmentalPaper.org has a great resource on Paper Steps
Impact on University Operations:
CU’s restrooms are stocked with 100% recycled paper (i.e. paper towels, toilet paper, and other custodial paper products). The products all contain at least 30% post-consumer material. In most cases, the recycled options are less expensive. All distributors on contract stock the recommended products.
Environmental Benefit:
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Using paper products contributed to deforestation, the second leading cause of carbon pollution, causing 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions
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Reducing paper use reduces greenhouse gases: reducing 400 reams of paper is like 1.25 acres of pine forest absorbing carbon for a year