Recycled paper isn't always the most sustainable choice. Here's how to decide based on your specific project requirements.
Most people assume recycled paper is always the most sustainable option. The reality is more complicated.
Recycled paper
Made from post-consumer waste, recycled paper keeps material out of landfill and reduces demand for virgin wood pulp. Paper fibres shorten with each recycling cycle — after 5-7 cycles they become too short to be useful. Recycled paper also requires chemical treatments to remove inks.
Virgin FSC certified paper
From sustainably managed forests where replanting is required and biodiversity protected. Produces stronger fibres and often brighter whites. Can have lower energy consumption and chemical use than recycled alternatives.
The recommendation
Use FSC certified paper as your baseline. Use recycled paper when the environmental story is central to your brand or the piece itself — packaging, sustainability reports, eco-focused marketing. Avoid recycled for high-quality photographic printing where colour accuracy matters. Both are better than uncertified virgin paper.
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