Unfortunately many people are dissuaded from making positive environmental choices by myths and misinformation which range from out of date to completely untrue. However, slowly but surely, progress is being made and the message is getting through.

• “Recycled paper is more damaging for the environment than non-chlorine bleached paper produced from sustainable forests”
  
  False:
  This vague generalisation with no basis in fact has been perpetuated widely. It is an all-encompassing myth that does not stand up to questioning. With more widespread experience of the use of recycled paper, better general environmental awareness and the scientific rigour introduced by the requirements of forestry-certification, surely its days are numbered.
  
  For further information on definitions of recycled and about bleaching and forestry issues, see the section on Paper.

• “Inks contain heavy metals which pollute the environment when removed from the paper during the recycling process”
  “The chemicals used to extract ink are bad for the environment”
  
  Not true:
  
  • Ink is removed using sodium hydroxide, which is the main ingredient in soap. This is so harmless that it is even used commercially for washing fruit and vegetables!
  • When recycled fibre is de-inked, the residual ‘sludge’ is considered harmless enough to be used as fertiliser. Alternatively, it can be incorporated into building blocks or incinerated, when it can be used to generate energy.
  • The pigments in many petroleum-based printing inks do contain heavy metals. However, paper mills are reporting lower levels of heavy metals in the waste they re-pulp due to increased usage of vegetable-based inks.
  • Water used during the de-inking process – and papermaking processes in general – is cleaned before being returned to the source.


See the section on Recycled Paper, for more information about the de-inking process.

• “Recycled paper is more expensive than virgin paper”
  
  False:
  This is another over perpetuated myth. The first recycled materials were more expensive, mainly because they were produced in relatively small quantities and systems needed for producing higher volumes, such as waste collection and sorting, were not in place.
  
  Customer demand has led to an explosion of interest in papers containing recycled fibre. Paper companies have responded to this market demand and there is an unprecedented range available. Many recycled papers are now produced in high volumes and compare favourably in cost to virgin fibre options. Stubbornly the myth persists, but it is usually perpetuated by printing companies that have little experience of recycled papers and do not have appropriate suppliers. They are, therefore, in no position to give customers informed advice.

• “The use of recycled fibre is more energy-intensive than using virgin fibre”
  
  Not true:
  It is simply not possible to generalise but of all the known studies that tackle this issue not one has reached this conclusion. Within the broad range of papers containing recycled fibre reprocessing levels, and, therefore, energy usage, varies immensely. Within the virgin-fibre range, the extremes of energy usage will be much greater, due to the different pulping methods.
  
  See the section on Virgin Fibre for more information.
  
  In addition, individual paper mills derive energy from different sources: some are even energy self-sufficient. Inevitably, some paper mills are more energy efficient than others.
  
  The actual papermaking process is the same whether using virgin or recycled fibre. According to a study conducted by Kymmene (one of the world’s largest paper manufacturers), the mechanical processing of recovered paper uses 20-25% less energy than that of virgin paper.

• “Recycled papers are usually poor quality”
  
  Not true:
  There is little difference between papers that contain ‘high quality’ recycled fibre and those using only virgin fibre. The quality of recycled paper has improved steadily over the past twenty years, and more rapidly over the last few, due to advances in papermaking technology, improved sorting and increased recycling rates. Fully recycled papers, made from lower grade waste and not intensively reprocessed, will, of course, look more natural.

Misinformation about recyclability

There are few hard and fast rules, as different reprocessing mills have different capabilities. Laminated products, for example, are usually removed from the waste stream during sorting. If they are not, some or all of these products will be removed during repulping. Not only will more energy be required to reprocess such materials, but the yield will be reduced. The same scenario applies to heavily inked products, the film from window envelopes, UV varnished products and perfect bound books.

Misinformation about biodegradable products

• “It’s biodegradable”
  
  Sounds great, but is it really biodegradable? And, if so, is it the best environmental option to send something to landfill rather than choose a recyclable product ? Marketing materials often make grand claims, but rarely refer to the EC biodegradability standards. If there is no mention of these standards, one can only assume that they have not been met. Issues around biodegradability are complex and dynamic and research will be needed; do not rely on the marketing claims.