

Tips on Using
Chlorine-Free Paper
What Do We Look for in
Chlorine-Free Paper?
- Read the labels of paper supplies carefully. The
dioxin problem applies to paper we use at home (toilet
paper, napkins, feminine hygiene products, paper towels,
etc.) and commercially (copying paper, etc.). Look for
paper that is unbleached, or not bleached with chlorine.
Some companies use hydrogen peroxide for bleaching; this
is O.K.
- Some products may have a label which says
"processed chlorine free" (PCF) or
"totally chlorine free" (TCF). Either is fine.
- DO NOT buy elementally chlorine-free paper. This
process uses a different form of chlorine (chlorine
dioxide), but the bleaching process still produces
dioxins and organochlorines. Some companies try to
mislead consumers by saying elementally chlorine-free
paper means chlorine-free, which is not true.
Sample Explanation of
Chlorine-Free
When you select a chlorine-free paper for
publishing/printing needs, we recommend that you put a note to
this effect on the paper, to help raise awareness of the issue.
There are two different kinds of chlorine-free papers,
TCF (uses virgin pulp) and PCF (uses recycled pulp). Below are
sample explanations of the terms which you may reproduce, as
needed:
- Totally Chlorine
Free (TCF) paper
designation refers to paper which does not use pulp
produced with chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds
or bleaching agents. This paper has been selected out of
our concern for the health of people and the planet, in
line with Womens Division and United Methodist
Church policies which advocate for the elimination of
dioxin, a highly toxic by-product of the
chlorine-bleaching process.
- Processed Chlorine
Free (PCF) paper designation
refers to recycled paper. All recycled fibers have not
been rebleached with chlorine-containing compounds. Any
virgin fibers are totally chlorine-free, i.e. they have
not been bleached with chlorine. This particular paper is
made with xxx% recycled fibers. It has been selected out
of our concern for the health of people and the planet,
in line with Womens Division and United Methodist
Church policies which advocate for the elimination of
dioxin, a highly toxic by-product of the
chlorine-bleaching process.
Read about What's Wrong with
Chlorine?