Waste Reduction
Use Materials with Recycled Content
What Is It?
Eco-conscious offices can reduce the environmental impact of daily operations by using materials that contain post-consumer recycled content—for example, printing on 100% post-consumer content recycled paper, manufactured from recycled paper fibers. Recycled paper has similar qualities to regular paper (made with virgin materials) but may have a different look, depending on the style of bleaching. Using packaging with 75%-100% post-consumer recycled materials is another eco-friendly choice. Many manufacturers and industries package their products with virgin or non-recyclable materials, but there are many affordable options for packaging with 75% recycled materials, which are derived from material that would otherwise be landfilled, and can be recycled again for other uses.
Benefits
Printing on recycled paper prevents trees from being cut down to manufacture new paper. It also supports the recycled paper industry, creating demand for additional paper recycling facilities. Using recycled paper is one of the easiest, most visible ways to show employees and other stakeholders that your office has a commitment to the environment.
Using packaging with recycled material—and purchasing products packaged in recycled materials—reduces the need to create materials from virgin natural resources, which helps the environment by reducing energy and emissions associated with the mining, processing, and transportation of such materials. One third of total solid waste in the United States comes from packaging, and recycling one ton of cardboard prevents 9 cubic yards of waste from entering a landfill.
Resources
- Environmental Paper Network: Paper Calculator
- EPA: WasteWise
- MJS Packaging: The Benefits of Using Recycled Materials In Your Plastic Packaging
