About Our Environmental Papers

GreenerPrinter uses 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.

For a deeper understanding of the terminology used on this page, please visit our "Paper Glossary" page.

"But what do the papers LOOK like?" We get asked this question a lot, as it seems most people expect to see lots of flecks, fibers, dead bugs and other irregularities in recycled papers. In truth, the New Leaf papers are visibly nearly indistinguishable from non-recycled "virgin" papers. They will generally have a lower brightness than most virgin stocks, but if you're looking for the aforementioned bug parts, you may want to send us a digital file so we can print them on there for you!

Important Press Release!: New Leaf Paper announces that its products are now being manufactured with 100% Wind Energy!

We offer 4 different recycled paper options on the GreenerPrinter site:

DOWNLOAD THE PAPER TAGLINES HERE (taglines are EPS files; place the tagline that matches your paper in the margin of your digital file to show off your eco-sensibilities!)

(Preview of Reincarnation Matte Paper tagline)

Sakura Paper Tagline	Reincarnation Matte Paper Tagline
Primavera Gloss Paper Tagline	Everest Uncoated Paper Tagline

NOTE: You can also choose to have us add the appropriate tagline to your job when you place your order. Simply select "yes" next to "Add recycled content tagline to artwork?" on the Job Specifications page.

• 100% Recycled, 50% Post-consumer Waste, Processed Chlorine Free, 82 Brightness

• Ancient Forest Friendly

• Green-e® certified

• Show off your green stripes and place the Sakura paper tagline in the margin or at the edge of your printed piece (download here or from the table above).

• 100% Recycled, 50% Post-consumer Waste Processed Chlorine Free 92 Bright

• Ancient Forest Friendly

• Green-e® certified

• Show off your green stripes and place the Reincarnation Matte paper tagline in the margin or at the edge of your printed piece (download here or from the table above).

• 80% Recycled 60% Post-Consumer Waste, 80% Processed Chlorine Free

• Ancient Forest Friendly

• Green-e® certified

• 91 Bright

• The 20% virgin fiber comes from sustainably managed forests and is FSC certified.

• Show off your green stripes and place the Primavera Gloss paper tagline in the margin or at the edge of your printed piece (download here or from the table above).

If you've placed an order using Primavera Gloss paper and you'd like to use the "FSC Certified" logo on your artwork, please send an email to csr@greenerprinter.com and we will send you an FPO for the logo which we will replace once the order is placed. Please note that all projects which use the logo must first be approved the by FSC certifying oganization, which can take up to two business days. If you reduce the logo more than 75%, the text will be too small to read and your design will be rejected.

• 100% Post-Consumer waste Processed Chlorine Free 91 Bright (White)

• FSC Certified

• Ancient Forest Friendly

• Green-e® certified

• Show off your green stripes and place the Everest Premium Uncoated paper tagline in the margin or at the edge of your printed piece (download here or from the table above).

If you've placed an order using Everest paper and you'd like to use the "FSC Certified" logo on your artwork, please send an email to csr@greenerprinter.com and we will send you an FPO for the logo which we will replace once the order is placed. Please note that all projects which use the logo must first be approved the by FSC certifying oganization, which can take up to two business days. If you reduce the logo more than 75%, the text will be too small to read and your design will be rejected.

Additional recycled papers are available, please contact us for specifics at 1-866-978-8547 or csr@greenerprinter.com.

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

More about recycled papers...

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 (GreenerPrinter's paper supplier) 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 and there are papers on the market which meet the 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.

• 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.

© New Leaf Paper (used with permission)