Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd

Earth Day was founded in 1970 by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as a day of education and awareness about environmental issues. That first official Earth Day achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city dwellers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. And later that year, the first Earth Day had led to creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

If you’re using recycled paper, that’s great. But how “recycled” is the content? And what’s the difference between pre- and post-consumer waste? Pre-consumer waste is the material that was discarded during the paper manufacturing process, such as trimmings and scraps. Post-consumer waste is material discarded after someone has used it. It has served its purpose, and it’s what we commonly throw in our recycling bins at home and office. And in case you’re wondering why this is important, recycling 1 ton of paper saves around 682.5 gallons of oil, 26,500 liters of water and 17 trees*.

FSC or SFI Certified Printers

Many printers are FSC or SFI certified, but whether or not a printer has the certification, they can still help customers make eco-friendly choices.

To find out more about environmentally friendly papers available at Athens Paper, talk to your Athens representative.

* Information from ‘The World Counts”