Fact and Fiction About Recycled Paper Stocks

Perhaps you have considered using recycled paper stock for your brochures, postcards, business cards or other advertising material, but have wondered if it would really make much difference. If it costs a little more, you might wonder if it is really worth it. After all, you think, what would it matter if just one company used recycled paper? Would your clients even care? Here are some facts about recycled paper and the benefits of using recycled paper stock for your brochures, postcards and other needs.

Fiction

It doesn't really make a difference to recycle paper or use recycled paper stock, and it isn't worth the extra cost.

Fact

Using recycled paper stock for your brochures, postcards and business cards will have significantly positive effects on the environment. According to ]]>KeepBanderaBeautiful.org]]>, by using recycled paper, 60 percent of the water normally needed in paper manufacturing is saved. Manufacturing products from recycled paper reduces water pollution by 35 percent and air pollutants by 73 percent. Paper recycling also saves up to 70 percent of the energy needed to create paper from new timber. Less energy consumption equals less air pollution and less mercury. Recycling also reduces the use of landfills, which keeps chemicals and gases from being produced and reduces disposal costs. Recycling any type of material conserves our natural resources, but paper in particular saves trees. Trees give us oxygen, prevent soil erosion and are home to a variety of wildlife. In fact, recycling the print run of a single Sunday issue of the New York Times would spare 75,000 trees. ]]>PaperRecycles.org]]> reports that every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. More than 36 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the United States comes from recycled sources. In 2007, an all-time high 56 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. The 5.3 million tons of paper recovered equals approximately 360 pounds for every man, woman and child in America. The paper industry has set a new goal of 60 percent recovery by 2012; by using recycled paper, you will be doing your part to help reach that goal and save precious resources.

Fiction details

Clients won't notice that you used recycled paper for your brochure or postcard.

Fact details

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware and concerned with the effect companies are having on the environment and some even base their buying decisions on how green your company is. One of the easiest and most noticeable ways you can show your clients how green you are is by switching to recycled paper for as many of your printing needs as possible. Promote your services using brochures, postcards, business cards and other materials on recycled matte cover stock. Print a line on your sales materials saying that it is printed on recycled paper; otherwise, clients might not know you are taking this extra step to be green. You can also use recycled paper for everyday use in the office such as for printing, faxing, newsletters, memos and more.

More facts about recycled paper stock

According to ]]>Tappi.org]]>, as much as 68 percent of all newsprint in the U.S. is recovered for recycling. A little more than a third of this is recycled back into newsprint. Other products made from recovered newsprint include cereal boxes, corrugated boxes, books, insulating materials, printing and writing paper, tissue, egg cartons and animal bedding. More paper is now recovered in the U.S. than is sent to landfills. Pre-consumer recovered paper consists of trimmings and scraps from printing, carton manufacturing and other converting processes that are re-processed in the mill without reaching the final consumer. Post-consumer recovered paper (such as old corrugated boxes, newspapers, magazines and office paper) has already been used by the ultimate consumer and is then returned to the mill for recycling. Although some papers contain 100 percent recycled fiber, papermakers will often combine various amounts of recycled fiber with new fiber to produce paper of the desired grade and quality. Some online printing companies such as PsPrint offer high-quality  recycled matte paper stock that is ideal for simultaneously maintaining a green and professional image.