- Buy from a reputable paper merchant or printer that takes environmental care seriously. They are the most likely to assure the source of the fibre and the environmental performance of the paper mill
- Refer to the WWF Guide to Buying Paper at www.wwf.org.uk. This is a useful publica-tion that explains the issues that should be considered when buying paper
- Paper may account for up to 70% of the carbon footprint of a printed product and, therefore, the choice of stock may offer one of the best opportunities for reducing the environmental impact of your printing. Push your supplier for this information; it should be specific to each paper and mill
- Choose the paper you like and then check its environmental credentials. If you have concerns look for an alternative with better credentials – they often exist
- Preference should be given to a product with either FSC or PEFC certification and including a proportion of post-consumer recycled fibre. It is also important to use suppliers that track all fibre sources and exclude fibres from illegal and other unacceptable sources. Opt for mills that implement third-party verification environmental systems, such as EMAS, and who minimise the release of CO2 emissions
- Search out the lowest grammage paper that meets your requirements
- Encourage the recipient of the printed item to recycle it so it can come back as recycled fibre
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