Note: A company should create an environmental stewardship policy that tangibly demonstrates to their organization and supply chain a commitment to using recycled paper. Better Paper Project is happy to work with a company to create one of these policies. This allows their printer and paper supplier to clearly see and understand the direction they want to move in as they work towards improving their environmental criteria. As their goals and vision change over time, so would the policy. It also signals to the market that the demand for recycled paper is growing, which also works to drive down cost: paper manufacturers can be confident there will be demand to meet the supply, so they'll invest the time and energy to make more high quality recycled paper.

Baseline

• Use of paper with a recycled content of at least 10% PCW with clear plan to move to higher % or tree-free paper
• Use of a U.S. printer for publication
• Use of recycled materials or biodegradable packing peanuts
• Use of ground shipping, rather than air

Preferences

• Use of paper with a PCW content of at least 50% or use of tree-free paper
• Use of soy or plant-based ink
• Use of a local green and/or union printer
• Discretion in selecting advertisers and sponsors
• Participant of Green America’s Better Paper Project
• Themes consistent with social justice and environmental sustainability

Resources

• Better Paper Project