CCD-077: Printing and Writing Papers

Printing and writing paper is high-quality paper produced from chemical pulp and usually containing under 10% mechanical pulp. This type of paper is normally used to print stationery, office materials, correspondence, books, publications, and other products. The production of printing and writing paper consumes substantial amounts of energy and wood fibre, and may result in the discharge of carcinogens and toxic substances in aquatic media, and the generation of waste. These, in turn, may lead to human health impacts, resource depletion, and increased mortality in fish and other aquatic organisms.

The EcoLogo^TM Program addresses these challenges by establishing strict requirements for material resource and energy consumption, chemical oxygen demand (COD), aquatic toxicity and generation of solid waste. The net environmental benefit will be reduced human health impacts, improved use of resources, diminished aquatic toxicity and reduced generation of wastes.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, printing and writing paper must:

• Comply with all industry and performance standards.
• Release no measurable levels of dioxins or furans.
• If manufactured using virgin fiber, use only fiber harvested under sustainable forest practices.
• Comply with the total load point requisites for this product category. Under this system, points are assigned for seven different parameters on a linear scale, starting at 0 for best manufacturing practices to 4 for minimum acceptable performance. A product with one parameter that exceeds the threshold value would have to perform well in all other parameters to qualify for certification. These seven parameters are:
  • Resource consumption (fiber use),
  • Energy use,
  • Global warming potential,
  • Acidification potential,
  • COD discharge,
  • Sub-lethal toxicity (TEF_sub), and
  • Solid waste generation.