Great Green Idea: Green Products: Choosing the Right Copy Paper

Choosing the Right Copy Paper

Choosing the right type of copy paper for personal printing needs will save time and money. Knowing the type to use in specific circumstances is essential. Using recycled copy paper will also help save the earth.

Technology

In choosing the appropriate paper, the type of technology used to print is critical in choosing appropriately. Printers used may be inkjet or laser printers. Copy paper is made specifically for inkjet, laser, or both.

Laser Paper

Laser paper is heavier and able to be used in higher temperature technology equipment. Laser printing is usually used when a higher paper output is needed. Therefore, laser paper is created with several benefits. Laser paper is created to resist paper jams, is brighter in color, resists curling, and contains higher ability to handle color printing.

Inkjet Paper

Inkjet paper is made differently for use with inkjet printer systems. The paper is treated to give better reading ability of print and decreasing feathering. Inkjet paper is made of smoother quality as well as created to handle full range of color.

Multi-Purpose Paper

Multi purpose paper is created to handle a wide variety of needs for the consumer. Generally, multi-purpose paper is less expensive; adequately supports needs and is available in a variety of brightness hues as well as paperweights.

Going Green

Going green using copy paper means using recycled copy paper as much as possible. Not all recycled paper is the same. Some paper products may only be thirty percent recycled while some may be made from 100% recycled paper. Recycled copy paper is available in most retail stores as well as specialty stores.

Recycled paper is available in laser paper, inkjet paper as well as multipurpose paper from a variety of manufacturers. The majority of papers come in white while only a few brands of recycled papers are available in colors.

Tree Free

Paper is being developed that does not use our natural resource of trees. Other types of fibers being used to create paper includes (but not limited to): hemp, bamboo, straw, sugar cane and cotton. The only challenge is these fibers may be chemically treated within the process.

TCF Products

"Totally Chlorine Free (TCF)" products also make for a more earth friendly world. Products are made without chlorine for bleaching. When recycled paper contains no traces of any paper that was used with chlorine it is truly chlorine free. TCF products are different from "processed chlorine free (PCF)." Recycled paper that may contain paper previously treated with chlorine processes must be labeled as PCF instead of TCF.

Save the Earth

Choosing the appropriate copy paper for your printing needs can save waste as well as money. Shopping for higher percentage recycled paper content can also make a huge difference in the world, especially when we do it together!