Leave the Virgins Alone!

Making one ton of non-recycled writing paper requires pulp from about 24 trees. When buying notebooks, copy paper and other school and office needs, we can help preserve forests by choosing recycled paper products, which are becoming ever easier to find. In April 2002, for example, Staples introduced Living Tree's 90 percent post-consumer waste/10 percent hemp Vanguard Plus paper into 1,000 of its stores. "It's consumer demand that has created this and keeps it going," says Susan Kinsella, executive director of Conservatree.

What you can do in your home, office or school:

• Buy reams of earth-friendly paper! The Green Guide's Paper Product Report can serve as a guide.
• Look at the label:
1. Choose the highest percentage of "post-consumer waste," meaning the pulp from collected home and office paper. The "recycled" percentage includes new paper-mill scraps.
2. Look for "Processed Chlorine Free" (PCF) paper that is "Totally Chlorine Free" (TCF).
• Use less paper. Write or print on both sides. Communicate electronically.
• Remove your name from junk mail lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association, 212/768-7277, www.dmaconsumers.org. To stop credit-card solicitations, call 888/567-8688.
• Ask magazines you read to use recycled paper. (See the Magazine PAPER Project at www.ecopaperaction.org.)

Recycled Paper Resources:

• www.conservatree.com, 415/721-4230.
• www.greenlinepaper.com, 800/641-1117.
• www.livingtreepaper.com, 800/309-2974.
• www.greenfieldpaper.com, 888/402-9979.
• www.treecycle.com, 406/586-5287.
• See the Paper Product Report and Paper InterActivate! at The Green Guide's website.