Green Scene

Tracking our co-op’s ecological footprint: environmental paper

written by: Stacey Peacock, Accounts Payable Manager

Mississippi Market purchased 2,150 lbs of 100% Post Consumer Waste paper for office/copy use during calendar 2006. We purchased an additional 5,664 lbs of the same grade paper to be used for the printing of this bi-monthly newsletter. The co-op also purchased 150 lbs of 100% Post Consumer Waste card stock to use for labeling/signage. These three uses for environmentally certified paper combined for a total usage of 7,9641bs during 2006.

What is 100% Post Consumer Waste paper?
• It’s made entirely of paper taken from recycling bins.
• It is acid free.
• No chlorine is used in making the paper.
• The gas produced from the decomposition of waste to
manufacture the paper was recuperated. Bio-Gas Energy.

What does this mean from an ecological perspective? Using
7,964 lb. of our paper instead of virgin fiber paper reduces our
ecological footprint as follows:
• Mature Trees saved: 68
• Reduced solid waste by: 4,302 lbs
• Reduced water used in processing by: 40,601 gals
• Reduced suspended particles in the water by: 27.2 lbs
• Reduced air emissions by: 9,446 lbs
• Reduced natural gas consumption by: 9,844 cubic feet

What’s another way of looking at the savings?
It’s the equivalent of:
• as many trees as would grow on 1.4 football fields
• as much water as a shower running for 8.5 days straight.

What brand paper is this, anyway? This 100% post-consumer
waste paper is a Cascades paper called Rolland EnviroTM 100
Copy. What’s more, you can buy it at either store and protect
trees, air and water with every ream you purchase.

Happy Earth Day everyone!