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Recycling of waste paper has a lower environmental impact than the alternatives of land filling or incineration in most scenarios.  Overall, it can be said that recycled paper is better for the environment than virgin paper on two counts.  First, because it helps divert waste paper away from landfill, and second, its manufacture is less damaging to the environment when compared with the manufacture of virgin paper.

Below are some fascinating facts about recycled paper:

• If landfill continues at its current rate, UK sites will be full in 6 years time!  Recycling paper generates a demand for waste paper and helps alleviate this problem.
   
• A piece of paper can be recycled up to 7 times before the fibres become too weak to be used again, other products that are produced using recycled fibres, such as toilet tissue or cardboard packaging, will only be recycled once thus increasing landfill.
   
• The production of a ream of recycled paper saves enough energy to operate a 25w light bulb for just over 2 days and enough water for 1 cycle of a new washing machine.
   
• The reduction in wastewater pollution from the production of 1 pallet of recycled paper equates to that created by 25 average households in 1 day.
   
• The energy saved in the production of 1 tonne of recycled paper equates to the amount of fuel needed to drive an average size car from London to Calcutta.
   
• The production of 2 pallets of recycled paper saves the quantity of CO2 that an average size car discharges over 600 miles i.e. London to Inverness.
   
• If all the office paper used in the UK over a year was produced from recycled paper, the water saving would equate to filling Chelsea football stadium to the roof 1030 times! 

Recommended Product:
Motif Everyday Recycled Paper
Motif Everyday Recycled paper is manufactured according to strict environmental guidelines and procedures.  It is accredited with Blue Angel eco label, which means it has been produced to the highest possible ecological standards.  Blue Angel requires the use of 100% recovered paper, which means low use of water and energy in production and the preservation of forests.

It also carries the Nordic swan accreditation, which also encourages production methods that create minimum environmental impact.  Motif Recycled is one of the few papers produced without the use of OBA’s  - chemicals and additives that are used to bleach the paper and contains 100% post consumer waste, containing a minimum of 50% UK waste.

Source comparison of office papers 2006: WRAP and IFEU Ecological