There are many grades of paper used throughout society, from low-quality toilet paper to high-quality printing paper. It is possible to source paper from a sustainable source, but you may be surprised by where some of the paper fibre comes from.

The most obvious type of sustainable paper is that which comes from recycled paper. The important thing here is to make sure it is from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Unfortunately some companies where calling the re-use of production waste as recycled, which is why it is important to look out for post-consumer recycled paper. It is therefore worth looking out for the three main standards for recycled products, the Nordic Environmental Label, NAPM & the Blue Angel Award.

As paper is lost to the normal waste route, it is not possible to have all paper come from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and therefore some will have to come from virgin pulp. This virgin material is best coming from certified sustainable forestry, such as the FSC, which works minimise the environmental damage caused by deforestation.

The virgin material can also come from other sources, such as coffee plantation waste, banana plantation waste and elephant poo (yes you heard right). These materials can help the developing world in a number of ways, including reducing environmentally damaging waste, provides an extra income for the developing world, elephants become part of the solution and not seen as a pest, as well as reducing the number of trees which need cutting down. Other sources might be straw, hemp or even beer labels.