The most serious of these environmental toxins is dioxin. A major source of dioxin is from the chorine bleaching of pulp to make paper. Technology exists to produce high-quality paper without chlorine at "regular" paper prices. In an effort to expand the market, drive down prices, and be more environmentally friendly, many United Methodist Women are working within their churches, units, districts, and conferences to switch to processed chlorine-free (PCF) paper.

As part of this effort, United Methodist Women in 34 states plus the District of Columbia visited Kinko’s stores around the nation to request process chlorine-free paper, to show a demand for the paper, and to ensure that Kinko’s stores were adhering to the environmental concerns extolled by its literature.

Out of the 172 stores visited,

• only 66% had chlorine-free paper in stock,
• many of the franchise staff made inaccurate or misleading statements about the product and its availability, and
• there were widely varying surcharges for the chlorine-free option.

Yet United Methodist Women’s data collection made a difference:

• Senior management of Kinko’s will work to ensure that all franchises stock processed chlorine free (PCF) paper by the end of July.
• Kinko’s agreed to totally eliminate the price differential they had been charging between standard white and process chlorine-free paper by the end of June.
• Kinko’s is sending special stickers for the paper swatch book to highlight chlorine-free paper, making it easier for customers to ask for this at the counter.

Stop by a Kinko’s store this month.

Check to make sure The Eureka 100 (PCF) paper is in stock and the copying price is the same price as the standard brand.

If the store is doing the right thing, ask for the manager and thank him or her!

If the store is not in compliance, let the manager know, along with the Women’s Division office of environmental justice at (202) 488-5660.