Which is Best ... Recycled or FSC Paper?

Recycled or FSC? FSC or Recycled?

Having been asked this question a few times, I decided to shed some light on the conundrum and write a post which will help you choose.

In this post, you will find out

• What the difference is between recycled and FSC paper
• The pros and cons of each

What’s The Difference?

Recycled Paper is exactly what it says on the on the outer packaging. Or so you would be lead to believe. The paper is made from collecting waste paper, reprocessing it into pulp and making fresh paper from it.

Beware, however, of the lack of specification as to how much of the content is actually made from recycled fibres. There are no definitive accreditation requirements regarding the proportion of recycled material for it to be marketed as such.

Pros of using recycled paper

• Carbon footprint is lower
• Used paper is redirected into mills and away from landfill or incineration, making it part of an open loop circular process.
• Less water is required for processing
• Cost – the cost of recycled paper is more competitive than historically and may be comparable
• Eventually, the paper fibres become too short to recycle, so some virgin pulp will always be required at some point.

Cons of using recycled paper

• Perceived to be of a lower quality, although technology has progressed massively since the early days of grainy fibrous greeny-yellow paper stocks
• Bleaching to remove residual colour from ink is detrimental to water systems. Again technology prevails. De-inking using detergent and bubble technology means bleach is no longer necessary.
• Eventually, the paper fibres become too short to recycle, so some virgin pulp will always be required at some point.
• Lack of clarity in specification

FSC Paper

The Forestry Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organisation which was established to promote responsible management of worldwide forestry.

To be permitted to use the FSC tree logo requires stringent adherence to their system of standards. Certification indicates that the product has a verifiable trail of provenance. The raw material was sourced from forestry plantations where native trees are replanted as part of the process.

Another logo you may see on paper products is PEFC, or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. PEFC is, in fact, the world’s largest forest certification organisation.

Both organisations ensure supply chain traceability so that as the end user, you can be assured that by procuring paper (and other wood based) products with these certifications, you are contributing to the well-being of the planet.

Alongside the logo, you will also find a certification number. This is unique to each company and a simple search on the internet of this number brings up the details of the authorisation.

Social Issues

Ethics regarding the environment should not exclude principles of social aspects. Looking after the natural world and those who interact with it go hand in hand. One aspect of both schemes is the protection of the civil and traditional rights of peoples who work and live in managed forests.

Mixed Source FSC and PEFC Paper

At this point, the situation gets a little more complex. Some paper products carry a ‘mixed source’ logo which means that a proportion of the materials used are not from FSC or PEFC forests, but may come from ‘uncontrolled’ sources. If this comes from recycled paper, it is noted on the labelling.

Pros of FSC or PEFC Paper

• Protection of forestry, resulting in increasing area of wooded ecosystems
• Carbon footprint of using paper is offset by re-planting
• Clarity in the ‘Chain of Custody’ from raw materials throughout the supply chain.
• The social (human) aspect of sustainability are met

Cons of FSC or PEFC Paper

• Raw materials sourced from virgin forests does not encourage recycling and reduction of resultant waste paper
• Mixed source paper may contain recycled materials from ‘uncontrolled’ sources, which may be from non-accredited forests.

Making Environmental Procurement Decisions

As you can see, the answer to the Recycled vs FSC/PEFC paper question is not clear cut. Encourage colleagues to make an informed choice which includes environmental considerations when purchasing paper. This is just one step to becoming green.

Look out for my next post, which will be tips for using less paper.

There is much more to being truly environmentally responsible. It’s a staged process which starts with some ‘easy wins.’ These are designed to motivate individuals to become involved. Growing beyond that point requires strategic input and an implementation strategy, all of which Coral Mountain can help with.

Call or email me today on (0113) 289 2208 and ask about Coral Mountain’s FOUR ‘A’ SERVICE. Let’s start talking about how easy it is to take charge of your environmental impact.