Choosing paper:

Choose the paper that best fits your application and has the largest number of the following properties:

• Unbleached or non-chlorine bleached paper
• Certified recycled paper with high post-consumer content
• Alkaline or alkaline permanent paper
• Non-deinked recycled paper
• Uncoated (non-glossy paper)
• Tree-free paper

Types of paper – what you need to know

Bleached paper

Wood pulp is “tree coloured” and so needs to be bleached to make it white. Paper mills use chlorine or chlorine derivatives in the bleaching process. This process produces dangerous by-products, which do not readily break down in water and travel up the food chain to animals and humans. These by-products have been described as “the most potent carcinogen ever tested in laboratory animals”, (EPA, 1985). Some mills are now implementing new technologies - such as hydrogen peroxide and oxygen bleaching – which are totally chlorine-free and therefore much safer for the environment. Wherever possible buy “recycled-content oxygen bleached paper” and only select bright, white paper if you really need it.

Recycled paper

Recycled paper manufacture uses less water and energy than the virgin papermaking process. It saves on landfill, produces far less pollution and saves trees. It is also far less toxic since recycled paper needs less bleaching than virgin paper (it has already been bleached in its first production cycle).  Today the quality of recycled paper has improved significantly. Many brands meet the same demanding technical specifications as virgin paper and some recycled paper brands perform better - for example having longer archival life. The amount of post-consumer fibre (fibre which has been recycled from offices and homes) contained in a paper product should always be specified. Avoid paper that claims to be "recycled" but doesn't specify the type or percentage of recycled material it contains.  Recycled paper may or may not be deinked. The deinking process involves the removal of inks, dyes and other contaminants and it uses large amounts of energy and causes some pollution in the form of sludge in landfills and toxic air emissions. Deinked recycled paper is clean and spotless and non-deinked paper may have a speckled appearance. If you do not require spotless paper for a job consider the non-deinked recycled paper.

Coated paper

Coated, ‘glossy' paper is difficult to recycle and is therefore unlikely to find a useful second life. Where possible use uncoated paper which can be easily recycled.

Alkaline Paper

Acidic paper (with a low pH) deteriorates and goes yellow and brittle much faster than alkaline paper, which can last well over 100 years. Choosing alkaline paper reduces paper consumption by eliminating the need to replace yellowed copies frequently.

‘Tree-free' papers

There are a variety of papers available today which are not made from trees. Many of these are produced from high yield crops, do not require bleaching and are well suited to recycling. The best known is perhaps hemp paper which is available from environmental stores. Other tree-free papers include cotton paper, kenaf paper and paper made from sugar beet and corn by-products as well as algae, tropical grasses and sugar cane.

History of paper

Throughout history papermaking has evolved in response to economic growth, the availability of raw materials and the social issues of the day. The invention of “paper” is attributed to the Chinese in 105 AD. The first paper was made from rags, fishing nets, hemp and grass.

Centuries later in Europe the printing press was invented yet animals skins were still being used for printing – the skin of 300 sheep were needed to print one copy of the bible! The technology for making paper from linen rags was at last embraced and by the sixteenth century, paper mills using old cloth rags were abundant.

The eighteenth century saw the dawn of the newspaper age and huge increases in the demand for paper. An acute shortage in rags meant laws were passed to prevent rags being taken out of the country and ‘rag smuggling' became lucrative business. By the mid-nineteenth century the shortage led to an intensive search for alternative sources for papermaking.

Vast forests of trees covered the US and other parts of the world at the time and so wood pulp was chosen as the new source. By the 1860s commercial production of paper using wood pulp had started. This technological breakthrough fueled a huge expansion in business, eventually leading to the development of the modern corporation, which could not function without tremendous supplies of paper.

Today these vast forests have all but disappeared. Although paper companies do replant trees, these “forest plantations” usually consist of only one type of tree and are managed intensively, with heavy use of chemical pesticides. A large percentage of the trees planted do not survive to maturity.

Each year, every Australian office worker uses about 10 000 sheets of A4 paper. Much of this paper comes from native eucalypt forests and is bleached with toxic chlorine.  Trees can no longer be considered an infinite resource. Paper users in the 21st century must make important decisions to reduce the amount of paper they use and to choose the type of paper they use carefully in order to ensure environmental sustainability for future generations.

 

Office Equipment

The production and use of office equipment is extremely hazardous - to producers, office workers and the environment.  Computers, printers, photo-copiers, faxes and phones contain high levels of poisonous components and use huge amounts of energy and materials to make and use.  Furthermore, these high-tech machines produce approximately 100 million tonnes of the green-house gas carbon dioxide a year in Australia alone. However, office workers can make simple choices to reduce this problem and cut energy bills at the same time.

Tips

• Choose equipment that is designed to last.
• Lease or hire expensive equipment.
• Pay only for the features you really need.
• Repair, maintain or upgrade equipment rather than replacing it.
• Recycle' disused office equipment.

Computers

Many businesses today cannot survive without computer technology. However, computers are hazardous to produce, costly to run and difficult to dispose of when they become obsolete.  Today the average life span of a personal computer is just a few years and each year hundreds of millions of obsolete machines end up in landfill. Many computer components are toxic. This could create massive environmental problems if these substances were to leach and contaminate groundwater.

A single computer monitor can contain up to 3.5 kilos of poisonous lead and the manufacture of computer chips uses toxic materials known to increase the risk of cancer, miscarriage, paralysis and even death. Huge amounts of water (which cannot be re-used due to chemical contamination) are also used to rinse off components. The computer industry is not just costing the earth either - the everyday expense of running a computer can also be significant.   A computer left on for eight hours a day can consume 690 kwh annually.

Tips

There are ways you can help reduce environmental damage and cut your office expenses at the same time:

• Switch off your monitor whenever it is not in use. This will not only save energy but also extend the life of your computer. You can set your computer to automatically go to ‘sleep mode' in your control panel under ‘display' and ‘screen saver'.
• Get rid of unwanted data. This will speed up information retrieval and enable your system to run at full capacity.
• Upgrade your computer instead of replacing it.  When you purchase a new computer ensure that it can easily be upgraded. If your system is slow or crashes frequently you may need to increase your RAM to speed it up. If you have run out of ‘storage space' you'll need to increase the memory capacity of the hard drive.
• Recycle unwanted computers.  Some computer manufacturers provide rebate incentives to companies that donate old PC's and monitors to their recycling schemes. You could also donate unwanted computers to your local school or community group or sell them through the local newspaper.

Photocopiers

Photocopiers account for about 25% of an average office's paper consumption. They also contribute to office air pollution, use significant resources to produce and are hard to dispose of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Tips

• Chose the right copier for your needs. If you don't need 20,000 copies a month chose a lower capacity copier.  If you don't require colour copying, feeders and sorters, don't pay extra for them.
• Don't use your copier when it is low on paper. It will wear parts out.
• Print on both sides of paper.
• Use recycled paper.
• Use e-mail in place of paper memos.
• Recycle old toner cartridges.
  
• Use remanufactured cartridges.
  
• Ensure copier is in 'standby' mode between jobs.
• Recycle your old copier. Some manufacturers take back old equipment for recycling and remanufacture.

Printer, Copier and Toner Cartridges

Australian office workers use about 1.5 million toner cartridges each year. This creates approximately 1500 tonnes of hazardous, non-biodegradable waste - an amount that would cover the SCG to a depth of half a metre - every year.

Tips

• Chose a laser printer - they're more expensive than inkjet printers but have a lower ‘price per print' cost.
• Recycle your laser and inkjet cartridges.  Returned cartridges and their components are a valuable resource used in a number of industries. Any un-recyclable materials (ink, foam and composite parts) are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Use premium quality remanufactured cartridges.  These have been fully dissembled and cleaned and then literally ‘rebuilt'.  This process includes the replacement of the toner, blades and drum with brand new parts and ensures remanufactured cartridges are unrivalled in terms of quality of performance and value for money.
• Always check on screen for errors before you print.
• Print on both sides of the paper.
• Print unimportant documents in draft format. This uses less toner.

Office Cleaning and the Environment

The quality of the air we breathe at work is a major occupational health and safety issue of the 21st century. Increasingly chemicals and the vapours they give off are being seen, not just as the serious hazards we know them to be, but also an impediment to staff productivity.

Any business serious about improving its Triple Bottom Line performance needs to consider the quality of its indoor air to provide a greener, healthier working environment for its staff.  The chemicals in cleaning products can be extremely hazardous to both office cleaners and office workers. The most common injuries include burns to the skin and eyes but more serious complications – such as allergic reactions, respiratory problems and even cancer – are not uncommon. These same cleaning products can also have an adverse effect on the environment – toxic chemicals flow into local waste water systems and then on into rivers and lakes.  However, environmentally-friendly cleaning products – which are safer for humans and the environment – are readily available and competitively priced.

Tips

• Use mild cleaning products where possible. If you have to use strong chemical products, do so when the building is empty – at night, on weekends or during holidays.
• Contact product manufacturers and ask for material safety data sheets for each product you use. Follow these recommendations and the product label directions carefully.
• Make sure the room you are cleaning is well ventilated.
• Wear gloves and goggles when using strong chemical products.
• Never mix different products together. The combination of acid and bleach creates chlorine gas which can KILL.

 

Toilets

Avoid cleaners that contain harmful acids. These can blind in seconds. Citric acid, or lemon juice, is a much milder acid and far less hazardous. If you must use acid cleaners, pour them from low down to avoid unnecessary splashes.

 

Floors

• Walk-in mats significantly reduce the amount of dirt entering your office building. These mats should be large enough to capture several footsteps.
• Vacuum doorway mats and office carpets daily with a good, strong suction vacuum cleaner.
• Clean office carpets regularly with mild products rather than infrequently with strong chemical products.
• Reduce the amount of floor finish stripper you use. This is one of the strongest and most dangerous chemical cleaners on the market today.

 

First Aid

Ensure that adequate first aid tools are in place to deal with injuries arising from chemical spillage such as burns to skin and eyes.

 

Your rights

Identify the source of any high concentration chemical vapours and report these to your nominated occupational health and safety representative. If necessary, contact a relevant government agency – such as Worksafe Australia – or your union rep.