OFFICE PAPER

In the 2000/01 financial year Australians used approximately 1.26 million tonnes of printing and writing paper. This consumption is equivalent to over 30 million trees, based on the figure that 1 tonne of virgin office paper requires the equivalent of 24 trees.

Further, office paper makes up a significant percentage of the commercial paper waste stream and is the largest component of solid waste generated by offices. It is estimated that 240,000 tonnes of high value printing and writing paper is still disposed to landfill each year in New South Wales alone.

In addition, coatings used on office paper can be harmful. Avoid office paper products that are made with any ingrediants that fall under the following categories (particularly paper coatings):

• R45 (may cause cancer)

• R46 (may cause heritable genetic damage)

• R49 (may cause cancer by inhalation)

• R50/53 (very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic  environment)

• R51/53 (toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment)

• R52/53 (harmful to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment)

• R60 (may impair fertility)

• R61 (may cause harm to unborn child)

For more specific information on these products use the Good Environmental Choice Standard for Office Paper in Australia. This standard is used to assess the environmental performance of office paper products retailed in Australia and determine if they deserve the Australian 'Good Environmental Choice' Label.

GECA 9-2004 - OFFICE PAPER

GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES

• Buy recycled office paper

• Print double-sided, or re-use once-printed paper for notes etc.

• Avoid office paper products that contain toxic substances