by Sung-ok Lee

FACTSHEET :  

v     Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) & Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) Paper

v     How Our WATER is Related To the Paper-making Industry

The organization of United Methodist Women, in the current STAPLES campaign is asking the office supply giant to permanently stock “processed chlorine free” paper.  United Methodist women have been practicing paper recycling on an ongoing basis.  We support using recycled content paper products to produce “processed chlorine free” (PCF) paper, taking the quality of paper to a higher level on behalf of consumers, the industry and the environment.  There are two major types of chlorine free paper that meet the highest environmental standards:  The PCF and the TCF.

Processed Chlorine Free

Processed Chlorine Free is reserved for RECYCLED content paper.  This includes all recycled fibers used as a feedstock that meet EPA guidelines for recycled content. PCF papers have NOT been rebleached with chlorine containing compounds.   A minimum of 30% recycled content is required.  The PCF emblem indicates the following points:

ü      No chlorine or chlorine compounds were used in the papermaking process.

ü      The mill has no current or pending violations.

ü       The manufacturer, such as the Cascades Fine Paper Group, provides recommendations on product quality and increased productivity.

ü       The product contains at least 30% recycled content.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR STAPLES CAMPAIGN, WE ARE PROMOTING THE NEW LIFE DP 100, A PCF GRADE, WHICH THE COMPANY ITSELF DECIDED TO TRY ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS.  WE ARE PROMOTING PCF ALSO BECAUSE OF THE RECYCLING PROCESS THAT IS INVOLVED.

Totally Chlorine Free

Totally Chlorine Free is reserved for virgin fiber papers. TCF papers do not use pulp produced with chlorine or chlorine containing compounds as bleaching agents.

The TCF emblem is the only certification mark in the world that clearly identifies the following points:

ü      No chlorine or chlorine compounds were used in the papermaking process.

ü      The mill has no current or pending violations.

ü       The manufacturer provides recommendations on product quality and increased productivity.

Only after comprehensive mill audits by industry experts is a product certified. In addition, a product bearing the TCF or PCF emblem is subject to ongoing testing, inspection and enforcement.

What’s WATER Got to Do With the Papermaking Process?

Did you know that the pulp and paper industry leads the world as:

When a company uses chlorine dioxide as its bleaching agent during the manufacturing process it creates tons of chlorate, a known carcinogenic and ozone depleter.

Ø      A modern TCF or PCF pulp-bleaching plant uses an average of 2,500 gallons of water per ton of pulp

Ø      A pulp mill operating a conventional chlorine chemistry bleaching plant uses an average of 45,000 gallons of water/ton of pulp

Ø      To produce 5,000 tons of chlorine bleached paper, it takes 250,000,000 gallons of freshwater or around 10.15 gallons for every 6.5 oz booklet produced.

Ø      To produce 5,000 tons of New Life DP 100, a certified PCF grade, it takes 12,500,000 gallons of fresh water, or around .5 gallon per 6.5 oz booklet. This is approximately 20 times less WATER used in the process.

Ø      An average size pulp mill will release over 50,000,000 gallons of fresh water contaminated with toxic organochlorine compounds like dioxin each and everyday in the chlorine bleaching process . As an industry in 1995 they released over 1,551,000,000,000         (1.55 trillion) gallons.

What Can I Do?

ü      Visit a Staples office supply store with the STAPLES Report Card (attached below)

ü       Ask if they stock New Life DP 100 Processed Chlorine Free paper

ü      Tell us what the staff person's response was, location and if they stocked the paper. Please return the report card to:  Women's Division Office of Community Action, 475 Riverside Dr. Room 1502, New York, NY  10115 as soon as possible but no later than April 30, 2004.

ü      E-mail us at SLee@gbgm-umc.org  with your answer to the report card.   OR  Fax the page to:  Office of Community Action, CSR at 212-870-3766.

In May 2004, we will send a letter to the CEO of STAPLES urging the permanent use of PCF.  For more information on chlorine free products, go to www.chlorinefreeproducts.org.

Date posted: Feb 25, 2004