Following the Recycled Paper Trail

Recycled paper is a fairly generic phrase that can cover a range of content and proportion (from 10 to 100 percent post-consumer waste plus other recycled content). To help you navigate your way through the recycled paper trail, we have defined several common terms below:

• Post-Consumer Waste ~ paper that has been used by the consumer, recaptured, and then de-inked for reuse by paper manufacturers; is directly linked to the reduced amount of paper ending up in landfills.

• Post-Industrial Waste / Pre-Consumer Waste ~ material that went through the paper-making process but did not reach the consumer; includes waste from manufacturing, converting, and printing operations (e.g., paper scraps).

• Green Seal Certified ~ paper composed of a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer waste and using mill processes that are environmentally preferable.

• Green-e Certified ~ paper or other products manufactured with certified renewable energy, such as wind power or solar power.

• 100% Recycled (30% PCW) ~ an example of what a paper’s fiber content could be; it means that the paper is 100 percent recycled of which 30 percent is post-consumer waste and 70 percent is other recycled content.

Back to newsletter