University Interest in Using 100% PCW Paper on the Rise

What if a college could make an average of 27% reduction in energy consumption, 48% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 54% reduction in solid waste, and 100% reduction in wood use just by switching to 100% recycled paper on its college campus?

Some colleges have voiced an objection to a campus-wide switch to 100% recycled paper, because of the concern of chemicals that may be consequently transferred into the environment because of recycling processes; a common example given is the mercury used in high-efficiency light bulbs. This is a valid concern, because universities don't want to replace one environmental problem with another. However, many have found that they can make choices that will eliminate the concern regarding hazardous chemicals. According to the Data Sheet on Recycled Paper, the "[chlorine] bleaching process introduces harmful pollutants (dioxins) into the environment. (Data Sheet)" There are many universities (Oregon, Buffalo, Princeton) whose recycled paper policy have a statement requiring the purchase of chlorine-free paper.

As a matter of fact, many universities have found that the switch to 100% recycled paper would actually reduce the environmental impacts of paper consumerism. According to NJHEPS, the switch to recycled paper results in energy conservation, reduction of waste and pollution, conservation of resources and landfill space, and supports a sustainable system of paper production. Also, chlorine-free paper is certainly not uncommon, so it will be easy to reap the environmental benefits of the switch (Princeton, Oregon).

Another common concern voiced by university representatives is the question of cost efficiency and whether the transition will end up costing the university additional funds. However, there is evidence that suggests the transition should be cost effective. The New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability believes that it is 30% pcw (post-consumer waste) paper that is cost competitive with virgin paper, and 100% pcw paper typically costs more. Nonetheless, they admit that ordering large quantities in bulk can decrease the cost greatly, leading to 30% pcw paper often costing less than virgin paper; therefore, it's not unreasonable to assume that a large order of 100% pcw paper could end up costing the same as virgin.

Taking this into account, many other schools have made the switch and faced no major difficulty. The University at Buffalo has a policy that requires the use of "100% post-consumer, recycled content, process chlorine-free paper for all of its paper needs including copy paper, university documents and publications, janitorial paper, and other paper supplies, unless recycled paper is unavailable." While, the University of Oregon also has a functioning plan in place, which "requires the purchase and use of paper products made from recycled materials when such products are of a quality to satisfy applicable specifications, are available in the desired quantity within a reasonable period of time, and are priced competitively. (Oregon)"

Cost is one of the largest concerns facing a university's plans to switch, but when the room for negotiation and price cuts due to order volume is considered, the problem of cost is largely eliminated. Since many universities have a sustainability fund in place, some use this to help to lessen the cost difference between the two types of paper. Many other colleges have implemented these plans and had little to no negative response.

Cost efficiency is important, but it makes no difference how much it costs if a university doesn't know who is going to be in charge of ordering the new paper. The first part of implementation is deciding who is responsible for ordering the paper. According to the Greening Princeton website page, in the case of a centralized paper ordering system, implementation is simple because the paper typically gets ordered by the same purchaser every time (Princeton). Since most universities have a centralized ordering system, it is easy to order bulk shipments from a single paper retailer. Another part of implementation deals with determining how much paper should be ordered. However, a simple solution of choosing a paper company such as Boise, who offer their customers assistance in compiling "comprehensive reports on paper use" solves this problem (Princeton). The numbers detailed in the reports differed in several instances, such as when it was revealed that a department was "ordering a more expensive virgin paper instead of the less expensive 30% pcw paper" (Princeton).

Although there are valid concerns regarding a switch to 100% recycled paper on U.S. university campuses, hard evidence proved these objections to be insignificant and many universities are choosing to switch and lessen their environmental impact. Since there is a chlorine-free option when choosing recycled paper, the plan it is cost effective and implementing a plan is generally centralized. By supporting a policy that is sustainable, easy, and cost-effective, universities who have made the switch have found that they can be a leading sustainable college both in practice and principle.

Works Cited:

"Data Sheet on Recycled Paper" NJHEPS. 21 Apr. 2010.
www.njheps.org/cookpaper.doc .

"Frequent Questions: Paper Recycling" U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. 01 Apr 2010.
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/paper/faqs/htm

"Global and U.S. Paper Production and Consumption Statistics"
Environmental Paper Network. 01 Apr 2010.
http://www.environmentalpaper.org/PAPERstatistics.html

"Princeton's Recycled Paper Campaign" Greening Princeton. Feb. 2006.
21 Apr. 2010.
http://www.princeton.edu/greening/paper.html#options .

"Recycled Paper Policy." The University of Oregon Public Library. 8 Apr.
2003. 21 Apr. 2010.
http://policies.uoregon.edu/policy/by/1/04000-facilities/recycled-paper-policy.

Simpson, John B. "Recycled Paper Policy." University at Buffalo. 3 Dec.
2008. 27 Apr. 2010.
http://policy.business.buffalo.edu/Policy%20Library/Recycled%0Paper%20Policy.pdf .

"What Does It Mean to Be an Aggie?" Department of Education
Psychology, Texas A&M University. 01 Apr 2010.
http://epsy.tamu.edy/articles/what_does_it_mean_to_be_an_aggie.

"Why We Should Use Recycled Paper" New York University. 01 Apr
2010.
http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/pdf/Recycled_Paper_and_toer.pdf