Re-Guide

a) Set all copiers to a double sided printing default

b) Count Paper: a monthly email sent to all parties on campus detailing their paper usage—also includes tips reductions

c) Audit publications: Middlebury College was able to switch all major publications to premium recycled papers by eliminating the printing of publications we deemed unnecessary

d) Use lighter basis weights when appropriate

Fact: Since 1989 Time Inc has decreased its overall paper weight 18% for magazines Time, People, Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly

Use the highest post consumer recycled content available in all campus copiers and printers, for stationery and envelopes, and all other major communications—admissions recruitment, engagement and arts calendars. Get your bookstore to supply notebooks and paper supplies that contains recycled and alternative fiber. Encourage your bookstore to work with professors to buy back books at the end of the year.

Whenever you use virgin fiber make sure its FSC certified. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network that promotes responsible management of the world?s forests. FSC establishes a chain of custody so certified paper can be tracked from log to printed piece.

Fact: Middlebury College has gotten several of its printers to get FSC certification. Two of those printer’s first FSC jobs were Middlebury publications.

Fact: Time Inc has increased its use of FSC pulp from 25% in 2002 to 80% in 2006.

Get to know these terms and ask the paper manufacturer for the very best option:

ECF - Elemental Chlorine Free means virgin or recycled fiber that is bleached without the use of elemental chlorine. However, chlorine dioxide or other chlorine compounds can be used. This process significantly reduces hazardous dioxins (by more than 90%), but does not completely eliminate them.

PCF - Process Chlorine Free contains up to 100% recycled content which is unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds.

TCF - Totally Chlorine Free means that 100% virgin fiber (including tree-free virgin fiber) is unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. The term TCF cannot be used on recycled papers because the content of the original paper is unknown.

Make sure your print is manufactured so that the final product can then be recycled and encourage your readers to do so.

Fact: Time Inc found out that 83% of their magazines were going right back into the waste stream. In 2004 they launched an area focused program called ReMix. In Boston they have seen a 22.8% increase since the start of the campaign.

Wow!: The advocacy group Co-op America estimates that if all North American magazines used just 30 percent recycled paper, 1.7 billion pounds of greenhouse gases would not be emitted.

Start-up: Last year, Magazine Publishers of America launched an initiative to get readers to recycle their magazines. One magazine, The Economist, is working with two sustainability organizations to study its carbon footprint.

Many people will look for a symbol or small bit of text showing that you are using recycled paper. It speaks highly of your institution to make these efforts—don’t hide them, be proud.