Support Paper Recycling by Buying Recycled Products
In order to save more trees and reduce the harmful human impact on the environment, paper recycling is not enough. You are of course urged to continue/start to sort your waste and dispose recyclables at your local recycling bank because each tonne of paper that is collected and recycled saves at least one tonne of wood. But besides recycling, you are also urged to buy recycled products rather than renew.
Recycled paper is not any different from virgin paper. It meets the same specifications and quality standards, and it has the same longevity and aesthetic appeal (brightness). Although recycled paper sometimes does not go through the bleaching process, this does not mean that it is always brownish and rough to touch. It can be but it is also possible to find recycled paper that looks and performs just like virgin paper.
Why is It Important to Buy Recycled?
Every purchase you make sends an important signal to the industry because the companies must follow the customers’ demands in order to stay on the market. By buying recycled paper, you are therefore sending the companies a signal that you are not only willing to recycle but buy recycled products as well. In other words, you tell paper recycling plants that what they are doing is not only environmentally friendly but economically feasible too and that they should continue with their work.
Tips on Buying Recycled Paper
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Order in advance. Recycled paper is offered by most retailers and paper distributors but it is also true that they typically keep in stock only the most sought after types. If you have any specific demands, you are recommended to order paper before you run out of the last sheet.
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Pay attention to the symbols on the labels when buying paper. Remember that the chasing arrows do not mean that the paper is recycled. Instead, they mean that the paper and paper product is recyclable. If you want to buy recycled paper, look for chasing arrows within a circle.
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Do not fall for labels “environmentally-friendly”, “natural”, etc.. These labels can mean a lot of things but they do not indicate that the product is recycled or recyclable.
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Choose unbleached recycled paper whenever possible. That way you will further reduce the harmful impact of paper industry on the environment because a lot less chemicals are used in production of unbleached than in production of white paper.
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Choose paper with high percentage of post-consumer content. The latter reveals the percentage of collected and recycled paper from end users. Be sure not to mistake post- with pre-consumer content which refers to the amount of reused manufacturing waste.
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Buy paper in larger quantities. The common belief that recycled paper is more expensive than virgin paper is a myth. In most cases, there is no difference in price. However, it is a good idea to buy it in larger quantities because it will further reduce your paper expenses.