TIPS: recycled paper

TREES: Worth the chop for a note?
I had a question about recycled paper from Leigh. He asked:
Our Institution has a contract with Xerox for our paper. We must be clear felling an acre a month around here. Can you recommend me THE most sustainable office paper on the market today? And then, the best that Xerox can do?
I had wondered about this a while ago and ended up starting a green paper co-op through the Wilderness Society Newcastle. We used the joint buying power of the wilderness society and Newcastle University to buy in bulk the paper we researched as the best. Buying in bulk made the paper available at a comparable rate to bleached virgin forest paper.
Our conclusion on the best paper was confirmed by the wonderful people at SCRAP.
I refer you to the scrap website for their catalogue
and also from the copy paper catalogue page, all the further information you need on choosing the best paper.
Our choice was Evolve office, 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper, may contain some pre-consumer content, oxygen bleached. Guaranteed for high volume copying, printing and double siding. Made in England.
Our only issue with this paper is that it is made in England, creating transport issues. However, it does claim to have Australian paper content. I was confused by this and asked Peter Carroll from SCRAP for clarification:
Moi:
A few people have been wondering about Australian v Imported paper.
From looking around it seems that Green Wrap (by Fuji Xerox) is the most forest
friendly from Australia.
but then somehow Evolve is connected to Australia? :
can you explain the SCRAP newsletter Term 1 2003 p6 "Questions for
consideration" which says:
"15200 tonnes of Australian copy paper consumed in the collection area
of the UK mill producing evolve"
This means to me UK imports Aust paper and re-uses as part of general
office paper re-use...how can they know that?
Obviously Evolve is the best paper, but we would like to encourage
australian production.. we would probably involve a little campagn
with this paper co-op and it would be nice to send letters to all the Aussie
companies we reject and a letter of congratulations to the one we choose!


Peter:
Hi Jo,

The Evolve evidence on UK usage of Australian paper is drawn from reputable
industry sources including the mill (Paperlinx) themselves. The assessment
that some of this paper (once used and recycled in the greater London area)
ends up in Evolve is somewhat more speculative and cannot be proven although
it is highly unlikely that none of it reaches the Evolve furnish. The
quantities cannot be proven but the fact that it is there is pretty certain.
It is good to know that we are providing the best info.

On the matter of research into Australian paper -
Dont be fooled by third party efforts like Fuji Xerox's Green Wrap. It has
barely any postconsumer content and is chlorine bleached at Shoalhaven.

As for writing letters to Australian companies - there is only one producer
so it should be a short letter writing campaign - better in my view to
concentrate on building your co-op so you have some strength through
purchasing.

We look forward to your business.

Regards
Peter
SCRAP (School Communities Recycling All Paper) Ltd
C/o Holsworthy High School Huon Cr, Holsworthy 2173
Ph: 02 9825 1062 Fax: 02 9825 6972 ABN 40 079 741 227

So my answer to your question is, Evolve Office is the best.
Xerox' best offer is "Green Wrap" although it is not as GREEN as it would like to seem.