In our increasingly eco-conscious society, waste management and resource conservation are topics of much concern. And one concerned person can make quite a difference. Whether you’re organizing a social event, planning a wedding or just selecting materials for use in your own projects, it can pay to “think green” and consider using recycled paper.
So, why buy recycled? Well, recycled paper production offers many environmental advantages over “virgin” (nonrecycled) production:
- Conserves resources, energy, and landfill space (Approximately 35% of solid waste sent to landfills consists of paper!)
- Protects and preserves forests and ecosystems
- Produces less pollution
- Reduces the use of toxic chemicals
In addition to the environmental benefits, recycled papers have many of the same perks as their virgin counterparts. They have comparable performance in printers and copiers and are often indistinguishable from non-recycled stock in color, weight, and tone. Many lines of recycled paper are acid-free (a measure of their longevity) just like virgin papers, and can also be Process Chlorine Free (PCF), which simply means that the paper was not exposed to any forms of chlorine while being made — thereby preventing the release of harmful toxins that can occur during the paper bleaching process.
Fortunately, LCI Paper offers several lines of partially and fully-recycled paper stock to match any project needs our customers may have. The “greenest” of these is our PC100 card stock and envelope line manufactured by Monadnock Paper Mills, located in Bennington, NH. PC100 paper contains 100% post-consumer recycled fibers — this means that it’s constructed only of fibers that otherwise, would have ended up as solid waste.
PC100 paper is extremely bright and clean and is manufactured using only natural, renewable sources of energy such as wind and water power (for more information, please see Josh’s interview with Geoff Verney, Vice President of Monadnock Paper Mills). Furthermore, all PC100 paper is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an independent accreditation association whose goal is to ensure that responsible land use and resource conservation practices are strictly followed. The FSC seal of approval ensures that the product you’re purchasing adheres to their strict environmental regulations.
In addition to the PC100 line by Monadnock Paper Mills, LCI Paper also offers recycled alternatives such as our Glama Natural Vellum line by CTI Paper, which is also FSC-certified and is constructed of 30% post-consumer fiber; our Carnival cardstock, manufactured in a variety of sizes using 50% recycled fibers (of which 30% is post-consumer waste); and our Gmund Colors line — imported from Germany — which uses 10% post-consumer and 25% pre-consumer (factory discarded paper) waste. Gmund papers are also certified by the FSC.
With all the available options, it’s sure to be a snap finding the right paper to suit your unique project — while also doing your part to “think green” and preserve your peace of mind!
Useful links:
Eco-Friendly Paper Terms Explained
See our PC100 collection
See our Glama Natural Vellum collection
See our Carnival colored card stock collection
See our Gmund Colors card stock, envelopes, and trifold programs collections
Will Collins
willc@lcipaper.com
