Whenever you can, buy recycled paper products It takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide. The best kind is designated as made from ‘post consumer’ paper, meaning that it really and truly is recycled paper. You can also make it from the waste from cutting new paper products (the trimmings) and other sources which are kind of a ‘dodge’ of the issue, and limited in availability.

And look for the highest post-consumer content you can when there is a choice. So 100% post-consumer recycled paper content is the best.  Buying recycled paper is as or more important than recycling the paper you use.  This is because the demand for a product will create and shape the market, and thus the availability and price of the underlying commodity.  If few people look for and buy recycled paper products, many stores may not stock it, the volumes sold will be smaller, the manufacturers will consider it a ‘minor’ product in their lines, and it will ‘get lost in the shuffle.’ Worse, prices for recycled paper may be higher than for ‘virgin’ paper products simply by dint of the smaller demand for the commodity.  

If on the other hand many people ask for and go out of their way to buy recycled paper and paper products, more outlets will stock them, manufacturers will take notice, availability will increase and price will go down.

The trees that are saved by using recycled paper are predominantly the large ones, which absorb more CO2 because of that size, and are currently one of our best lines of defense against global warming since they absorb lots of excess carbon dioxide from the air. Fewer trees, or substituting small trees for large ones, reduces the ability of the forests to absorb CO2.

Here’s a link to a cute website which gives lots of the recycling symbols for paper and a host of other recyclable products from EarthOdessey.com for more information.

See also Paper Recycling.