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Where can I find more information on the environmental impact of the various types of magazine paper in use?
This is a very good question. As far as I've been able to find, there is no definitive procedure for ranking the environmental impact of different types of paper. This may be because there are many factors going into paper production that should be considered.
First, what percentage of recycled content makes up the paper—and
is that recycled content "really" recycled, meaning 100% post-consumer
content? What were the initial materials used to create the paper—rare
trees, common trees, cotton, hemp, etc.—and were they raised
and harvested in a sustainable way, or through an unfriendly process
like clear cutting?
Was the paper bleached using chlorine or other dangerous chemicals? Was the paper plant powered by coal, nuclear, hydroelectric or wind energy? Where did the water used by the plant come from, and how was it cycled back into the environment?
These are just some of the many questions that go into determining the environmental impact of paper. That's not to say, however, that some types of paper aren't easy to identify as more Earth-friendly than others. A couple obvious things to look for are paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled and paper that is totally chlorine free (labeled TCF).
An organization called the Magazine
PAPER Project is working to help publishers find the most environmentally-friendly
alternatives available for the money they are able to spend and the
effects they are trying to achieve. The group works directly with
publishers to purchase "green" paper, and can also help readers voice
their environmental concerns to the publishing industry.
For more technical information, you can also contact the paper industry
directly. Places to start include the Institute
of Paper Science and Technology, the Technical
Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry and the American
Forest and Paper Association.
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