Paper can be made from virgin wood, pre-consumer waste meaning waste from paper mills and manufacturing plants, or post-consumer waste meaning paper that has been collected during recycling programs or paper waste from printing processes, etc. The more post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled content there is in a sheet of paper, the less fresh pulp from trees, energy, and water was used to manufacture paper saving natural resources. Additionally, using post-consumer waste as feedstock for paper production results in fewer greenhouse gases and solid waste generated during the paper manufacturing process. Making paper pulp from recycled fibers also requires less bleaching, a process with detrimental environmental effects, than producing virgin paper. Still interested? Check out the information on the EPA Site!
