We must recognize that utilizing our waste paper and agricultural waste will provide half or more of our paper needs. It is the first step in finding a true alternative to the highly destructive and polluting virgin paper industry as we know it today. Hemp, kenaf and others are being touted as great environmental alternatives to using trees for making paper, but they are still intentional crops raised specifically for paper. Cultivating alternative plant fiber to make paper may be necessary soon, but right now we can start by simply using our leftovers - waste paper and ag byproducts. Intentional crops as substitute paper fiber may hurt our ability to take waste paper to the recycling center.
Recycling is a loop.
We save and take our waste paper to the recycling center and we must buy paper made with that post-consumer material. Use Real recycled paper addresses not only waste, but water and air pollution and energy use. Keep in mind, however, that not all recycled paper is created equal. Recycled paper defined with terms like pre-consumer, recovered, and wastepaper essentially do nothing for the environment. The post-consumer content and the bleaching process are the keys to environmental soundness.