Environmental Paper Sources:
We make paper with the highest percentages possible of recycled and sustainably harvested fibers, processed without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Bleaching without chlorine or chlorine compounds results in a much less polluting paper making process. We have noted various fibers in the following preference order, reflecting our view on environmentally sound fiber sources:

1. Post-Consumer Waste
2. Agricultural By-Product
3. Deinked Pre-Consumer
4. Sustainably harvested virgin fiber including non-wood sources such as hemp and kenaf.

**This list does not include unprinted, deinked pre-consumer waste because the industry has always used it, and it does not represent improvement change.

Click here for a list of environmental paper terms and definitions.

Sustainably Harvested Virgin Fiber
No matter how well we recycle, there will always be the need for virgin fiber in the paper industry. Both trees and non-wood fibers are cultivated for paper making around the world. The United States paper industry is structured almost entirely around wood as the source of fiber. This has resulted in the decimation of our old growth forests. Even today, old growth forests continue to be clear cut to make paper.

Non-wood fiber cultivation, when done sustainably, is an excellent source of virgin pulp for papermaking. Fiber yield from non-wood fiber cultivation appears to be higher than that from tree farms (as infrastructure around pulping non-wood fibers develops, we will get a clearer understanding of exactly how the non-wood fiber yield compares to that of a tree farm).

Recently, some United States forests have undergone a sustainable harvest certification process overseen by the highly regarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a non-profit set up to spread the use of sustainable practices in forestry worldwide. In October, 1998, New Leaf manufactured the first FSC certified recycled paper (50% FSC certified virgin fiber, 30% post-consumer, 50% total recycled).

Non Wood Fiber Products
Paper containing non-wood fiber is coming of age. We have papers on the market which meet the New Leaf Paper criteria of quality, cost competitiveness, and environmental responsibility.

If you are interested in non-wood fiber paper, please contact us. The product offerings are rapidly evolving, with new products frequently coming on the market.

Bleaching and the Environment
New Leaf Paper manufactures its product lines without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Until recently, many paper mills were making paper using chlorine gas, which causes the formation of dioxins and other highly toxic waste materials. Click here to learn more about bleaching processes Following is a description of the various bleaching processes available in the industry.

Unbleached. Unbleached paper is either gray or dyed during papermaking. This process involves the least environmental impact. Unbleached paper with post-consumer waste is often non-deinked as well. The ink is visible in the paper in the form of tiny ink dots.

Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). This refers to recycled paper made without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Common bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide (which, when used, breaks down into water and oxygen), and ozone.

Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). This refers to virgin paper made without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives. We, at New Leaf Paper, think this distinction between TCF and PCF is environmentally misleading. While TCF sounds better, PCF is more environmentally sound, since this term is reserved for recycled rather than virgin papers.

Some environmental organizations have suggested that the term PCF be dropped, and that TCF refer to all paper made with a totally chlorine free bleaching process, thus eliminating any confusion.

Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). This bleaching process uses chlorine compounds to whiten the pulp. While a significantly cleaner process than chlorine gas bleaching, it still causes the formation of harmful organochlorides, which can be released into the environment.

Chlorine Gas. This bleaching process is the most harmful for the environment and is largely responsible for the release of dioxins into the environment. Unfortunately, even today, many mills still use chlorine gas during the bleaching process.

© 1998
New Leaf Paper