| Producing paper can have a significant impact on our natural environment, from sourcing the fibre to the processes and chemicals used to make it soft, white and smooth.
At PrintTogether, we only use high quality recycled papers. For our main offers we use 100% recycled paper. More details on the stocks we use can be seen below.
Why use recycled paper?
With an ever-increasing amount of papers coming onto the market from sustainably managed forest plantations, one might ask why use recycled? The simple answer is, the more we can re-use materials such as paper the less waste we produce.
Paper made from tree plantations is far better than paper from virgin forests. However it still has an effect on our natural environment. Plantations of only one species do not provide suitable habitats for wildlife. It has also been known for virgin forests to be cleared to make room for plantations.
There is now such a wide range of recycled papers on the market, that are of such a high quality, that you really have no excuse not to use them.
What is the difference between post-consumer waste, pre-consumer waste, mill-broke and alternative fibres?
Post-consumer waste - is paper and card, from items such as juice containers, that has been used and then recycled and made useable again.
Pre-consumer waste - is from paper that has left the paper mill but never made it into use, such as off-cuts and test sheets from printers. This is then sold back and reused again.
Mill-broke – is paper that never leaves the mill, such as off-cuts and low quality rejected materials. This is re-pulped and put back into the mix.
Alternative fibres – are derived from materials other than wood such as cotton, bamboo, bagasse or sugar cane waste.
Does recycling paper use more resources?
No. Making paper from recycled fibre rather than virgin fibre (from trees), produces less air and water pollution. It also generally requires less water and energy to produce. Recycling paper requires removing ink with a type of soap, which results in a toxic sludge. Using vegetable based inks, helps to solve this problem.
ABOUT THE PAPERS WE USE:
For our main offers, we have selected two high quality paper stocks with large levels of post-consumer waste fibre.
EcoStar 100% Recycled (Uncoated)
For stationery items we use EcoStar which is 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It is also laser guaranteed and is the whitest uncoated recycled paper on the market. Some recycled papers are not as white as virgin pulp papers, but EcoStar is an exception, offering a great alternative.
Environmental overview:
Recycled content: The recycled fibre is from 100% post-consumer waste and is FSC CoC certified. The post-consumer fibre is sourced close to the mill, requiring little transport and thus minimising greenhouse emissions.
Country of origin: France
Environmental Management Systems: ISO 14001, FSC
Bleaching Process: Process Chlorine Free (PCF)
Re-Art (Coated)
For all other items such as brochures, flyers, booklets etc we use varying weights of Re-Art Matt. This is a 100% recycled coated paper made from 90%+ post-consumer waste and 10% mill-broke. This paper has a very nice finished surface and holds ink well.
Environmental overview:
Recycled content: 100% recycled, made up of 90%+ post-consumer and 10% mill-broke
Country of origin: Japan
Environmental Management Systems: ISO 14001, EcoMark, FSC
Bleaching Process: Process Chlorine Free (PCF)
These are only two of many quality recycled papers on the market. If you would like to use an alternative stock, please contact us or request a quote. |
Vegetable Based Inks