Not All Recycled Paper is Created Equal

Recycled Paper

• Recycled paper can contain anywhere from 10% to 100% recycled content.
• Be aware of differences, sub points Pre-Consumer Waste or Recycled Paper – This fibre is made from manufacturing waste that comes from paper mills, converting facilities and printed paper that never reached the consumer.
• Post-consumer Waste (PCW) or Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) – This is the fibre that is made from paper that has been collected mainly from blue boxes in offices and homes, thereby diverting it from the landfill or incinerator.  It is usually de-inked and then processed to make new paper.  This is considered better than Pre-Consumer because it is more likely to end up in landfills if we do not reuse it.

What do all these Logos Mean?

Confused by all the logos on printed materials we help our customer find the logos that are best suited to their jobs and what your customers value the most.

Chlorine Logos

When wood is pulped, it becomes discoloured naturally.  To get white paper, bleach is added to the pulp.  Chlorine is the easiest way, but some papers achieve the same result using processes that are more environmentally friendly.

ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) – A process that uses a chlorine derivative, which is much less harmful to the environment

PCF (Process Chlorine Free) – Paper in which the recycled content is unbleached, or bleached without chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

The Best FSC Paper: FSC Recycled Label Paper – 100% post consumer FSC certified paper because it guarantees that 100% PCR fibre was used to make the paper.

Room to Improve: FSC Mixed Label Paper – made with a combination of FSC virgin, controlled and recycled sources.  They can vary in the amount of recycled content.  When buying the mixed paper – ensure that the paper fibre is a mix of recycled and FSC certified virgin wood fibre, with no controlled sources. Increase the recycled content to its maximum content.

FSC Paper to Minimize Use of: FSC Pure – Made with 100% virgin tree fibre and no recycled content.  This does not help to reduce the total number of forests logged but shows that paper came from sustainable logging practices.

Biogas – paper manufacturing process of the gas generated from decomposition of landfill.  This process helps to considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wind Power – paper manufacturing process by using windmill generated electricity.

Doing our Part – Gibson Green Initiatives 

• Design Smart
• Optimize press sheets
• Use environmentally responsible papers
• Helping our customers to choose environmentally responsible papers and refusing to use Asian Pulp and Paper and paper manufacturers that clear cut forests
• Energy star copier
• Bamboo company shirts
• Recycle paper, corrugate, film and plates
• Use mugs instead of paper cups
• Dishwasher full loads only
• Turning off lights when rooms are not used
• Smart Commuting
• Skylights in warehouse on sunny days lights don’t have to be turned on.