Laid end to end, the sheets of paper used in personal computers each year would circle the Earth over 800 times.

Worldwide copy paper production is estimated to grow to 396 million tons by 2010, an average annual consumption rate of 128 pounds per person (US consumption of 738 pounds per person in 1997 was the highest for any country). According to one estimate, only about 9 percent of the copy paper on the US market is made with recycled fibers.

• Fortunately, opportunities exist to lessen the ecological footprint of copy paper by carefully selecting the product, reducing the number of sheets used, and reusing or recycling the used copy paper.
  
• Green Seal’s issue on printing and writing papers ([link ES #45 ]) focused on issues related to fiber selection and pulp processing, while this issue will explore specific pollution sources. In addition, we will present opportunities for lessening the environmental footprint of copy paper—that which is used in photocopiers, printers and fax machines—as well as the steps that consumers can take to reduce the impacts of pulp and paper production and use.
  
• Green Seal recommends that when purchasing paper, choose products that are made with at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber content, with preference given to the highest post-consumer content percent possible. Also, use papers made from pulp that has not been processed with elemental chlorine and, where possible, without chlorine derivatives either.
  

The Choose Green Report on copy paper rates and recommends 30 name brand copy paper products that have passed Green Seals stringent environmental and health criteria.

To read Green Seal’s environmental rating of industrial and institutional cleaners—38 product recommendations—download Green Seal’s Choose Green Report!