When designers consider sustainability, questions surrounding paper and printing are usually the first to arise. Rightfully so, as printing is a messy, resource-intensive process, and paper procurement, processing and consumption has profound environmental effects. Additionally, for many designers, printed materials are the most tangible physical result of their efforts — who among us hasn’t stood at the business end of a printing press and marveled at the speed at which paper is dispatched? Accordingly, this site will eventually devote considerable energy towards addressing these concerns. In the meantime, a review of AIGA’s Design and Business Ethics series #7: Print Design and Environmental Responsibility should provide an excellent primer on this important issue.
Print Design and Environmental Responsibility PDF

This list is prepared from material supplied by the paper companies and is subject to change without notice. It includes only papers available in the United States. Contact the individual companies for more information. To correct errors or omissions in this list email sustainability [at] aiga [dot] org.

When selecting paper, keep in mind that sustainability is not simply a matter of maximizing recycled content. Energy used in manufacture and transport, chlorine content and other chemical content (such as lignin), sustainable forestry, and other factors should be considered. Proximity of the mill to the printer should also be considered: a recycled paper that is shipped across the ocean is less sustainable than a sustainably harvested virgin-fiber paper that has to travel only a few miles.

Appleton Coated
Utopia One X, Utopia One, and Utopia Two (Sheets) are FSC certified. 10% recycled materials in their stock versions, but can be purchased at 20-30% PCW on a special order basis. Papers can be manufactured using green power on a special order basis.

Burgo
Coated Chorus Art Gloss and Silk are FSC certified, 25% PCW.

Cascades
Rolland New Life DP 100 is FSC certified, 100% PCW.

Crane & Co.
All Crane papers are 100% recovered cotton fiber, which requires fewer chemicals and generates less waste than tree-based fiber.

CTI Paper USA
Glama Natural Clear 29 lb. is FSC-certified translucent printing paper. Recycled Glama 17 lb., 24 lb. and 36 lb. are 30% PCW.

Domtar
Domtar EarthChoice^® is a complete and innovative line of socially and environmentally responsible papers that includes paper for a variety of end uses, including corporate identity materials, business and office applications, digital printing, direct mail, transaction printing, converting, publishing and unique specialty applications.  EarthChoice products are certified to FSC standards, publicly endorsed by Rainforest Alliance and supported by WWF-Canada.

Finch Paper
All Finch Paper products are SFI certified, and Finch Fine is FSC certified. Casablanca Opaque is 10% PCF, with higher post-consumer content available on a special order basis.

Fox River/Gilbert
Fox River EverGreen and Select and Gilbert Cotton and Neutech are available 100% PCW. Confetti is available 50% PCW, and various other grades are 30% PCW. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free. Fox River/Gilbert uses hydroelectric power and renewable power for a percentage of its manufacturing.

French
Manufactured with 100% hydroelectric power. Recycled content unclear from website.

International Paper
Hammermill Great White is 30% recycled office paper.

Living Tree
Déja Vu Coated C2S is 10% hemp/flax, 40% PCW, 20% pre-consumer waste, all chlorine-free. Vanguard Recycled Plus uncoated is 10% hemp/flax and 90% PCW, 100% process chlorine-free.

Mohawk
The Beckett Expression and Concept lines are FSC certified, as are some Options, Via and Strathmore grades. Options, Via and Strathmore include 100% PCW papers. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free. Mohawk uses 60% windpower, and Beckett Expressions and Concept and Strathmore Writing and Script are carbon offset.

Monadnock
Astrolite PC 100 is 100% PCW, FSC certified. Envi packaging paper and board is 80% PCW, FSC certified. Astrolite, Dulcet, Caress and Envi are manufactured carbon neutral using hydroelectric and wind power.

Neenah
Neenah Environment, Classic Crest, Classic Linen, Classic Laid, Classic Columns and Classic Cotton are FSC certified and Green Seal certified. All but Classic Cotton are chlorine-free certified and are available 100% PCW. Environment, Classic Crest, Starwhite and certain grades of Eames are Green-e certified for renewable energy. Some Environment grades use alternative fibers.

New Leaf
Coated: Sakura 100 is 100% PCW, Reincarnation Matte and C1S are 50% PCW, Primavera is 40% PCW. Symphony is 30% PCW and FSC certified. Uncoated: Everest and Imagination 100 offset are 100% PCW, FSC certified. Inventory items are manufactured with Green-e certified wind power. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free. Other recycled and FSC-certified options are available.

New Page
NewPage Corporation has the largest selection of tri-certified papers to the FSC, SFI and PEFC organizations in the coated paper industry with the grades Centura^® Sheets and Web, Futura Laser^®, ArborWeb^® Plus, Sterling Ultra^® Sheets, Sterling Ultra^® Digital, Productolith^® Sheets, Productolith^® Pts. Sheets, Productolith^® Pts. Digital,  ArborWeb^®, Anthem^®, Fortune^®, Dependoweb^® Arbor™, Consoweb^® Arbor™, and Voyager^® Arbor™ products with all three certifications.  All Arbor™ grades also contain 30% post-consumer recycled fiber content. Centura^® Sheets and Web, Productolith^® Sheets, Productolith^® Pts. Sheets, Productolith^® Pts. Digital, Sterling Ultra^® Sheets, Sterling Ultra^® Digital and Fortune^® contain 10% Post Consumer Recycled Fiber Content.  Expedition™ and Voyager™ FC are certified to the FSC organization, and Blazer^® Digital is certified to the SFI and PEFC organizations. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free.

Potlatch
Ancora C2S paperboard is FSC certified.

Sappi
All Sappi U.S. papers are available either FSC or SFI certified, or both. McCoy, Opus and Flo are 10% PCW and Lustro Offset Environmental is 30% PCW.

Scheufelen
PhoeniXmotion, Consort Royal blue white, and Job Parilux are FSC certified. BVS, BRO and PhoenoStar are PEFC certified.

Smart
Coated: Kromekote Recycled and Knightkote are 30% PCW. Uncoated: Genesis is 100% PCW; Magna Carta, Outback, Passport, most Carnival and Synergy products are minimum 30% PCW. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free.

Wausau
The Exact Eco 100 line is 100% PCW, FSC certified and Green Seal certified. Approximately two-thirds of Wausau's paper grades are at least 30% PCW, and many are Green Seal certified.