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Plantable Wildflower Stationary Trees, the source of most paper products, are a renewable resource, yet they take many years to replace. While buying recycled paper gives forests a chance to replenish, not all recycled paper is alike. Look for paper with the highest possible post-consumer content. Post-consumer materials are goods that have completed their life as a consumer item and have been discarded for disposal or recovery. Using post-consumer goods diverts materials from your local landfill into useful products. Non-recycled paper products made from trees certified as sustainably harvested are also a good choice. This means that the forest has been well-managed according to the criteria of an established wood certifier such as the Forest Stewardship Council. Another option is Kenaf paper. An excellent example of sustainable agriculture, the Kenaf plant grows up to 14 feet in less than six months and has low pesticide and water requirements. Thus, it requires much less resources and energy than tree-based paper. Blending 50% Kenaf with 50% post-consumer blend yields a paper that is more durable and better suited to printers and fax machines. Finally, Green Home recommends recycled paper that is processed without chlorine compounds, which avoids the creation of toxic byproducts associated with chlorine bleaching.
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