- Acid-free refers to a non-acidic, or alkaline, pulping process that increases the longevity of paper.
- Coated paper or Glossy paper refers to magazine paper that has a shine from a very thin “coating” of clay that is used in paper production. (See Uncoated paper)
- De-inking is the technical process of removing ink from paper.
- Dioxin is a cancer-causing byproduct from the chlorine bleaching process and is created by chlorine molecules combining with organic molecules in the tree fibers.
- Ecopapers are recycled papers with one or more of the following environmental characteristics: a) high levels of postconsumer recycled content, b) any remaining virgin fiber is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and does not come from forests that are endangered, threatened, old-growth or ancient, or from forests that were converted into tree plantations, and c) mills employ the cleanest possible production methods, including the reduction and elimination of dangerous chemicals, such as chlorine from the bleaching process.
- Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) is a bleaching process that substitutes chlorine dioxide for elemental chlorine in the bleaching process. Compared to elemental chlorine bleaching processes, ECF bleaching reduces the formation of many chlorinated organic compounds. However, the quantity of effluent from the mill is not reduced. (See TCF, PCF, and Enhanced ECF)
- Endangered Forests are forests of high ecological value that require protection to maintain their vulnerable values, which are threatened by one or more stressors (climate change, industrial use, urbanization, etc.). They are in danger of losing their ability to function as complete and intact natural ecological communities, and are thereby unable to continue supporting numerous species and essential ecological processes.
- Enhanced ECF with extended or oxygen delignification removes more lignin from the wood before bleaching. Therefore, fewer bleaching chemicals are required. In addition, compared with traditional ECF, this process reduces energy consumption by 30%, improves the quality of mill wastewater, and reduces the quantity of mill wastewater by nearly 50%. (See TCF, ECF w/ ozone, and PCF)
- Enhanced ECF with ozone substitutes ozone for chlorine or chlorine dioxides as a brightening agent in the initial stages of the bleaching process. (Final stage uses chlorine dioxide.) This process further improves the quality of the wastewater and enables recovery of most mill wastewater. In addition, this process reduces mill wastewater by 70 to 90% compared to traditional ECF. (See TCF, ECF, extended ECF, PCF)
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the best certification scheme for ensuring that forests are managed in a sustainable manner. (See SFI)
- Kraft paper is a chemical process that eliminates most of the lignin (thick tree cell walls) from the fibers.
- Processed Chlorine-Free (PCF) is recycled paper made with a bleaching process that uses no chlorine-based compounds. (See TCF, ECF, and Enhanced ECF)
- Post-consumer recycled fiber (PCR) is recovered from paper that was previously used by an end-use consumer, such as paper collected from offices and residential collection programs.
- Pre-consumer recycled fiber has not reached an end-use consumer; for instance, the paper scraps after the paper is trimmed to size, unsold magazines, and printer scraps.
- Recycled paper is made with paper fibers recovered from paper that was diverted from landfills and incinerators and may include both pre- and post-consumer recycled fiber.
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is an industry backed certification scheme that, among other deficiencies, allows companies to set their own criteria for compliance, rather than being held accountable to an independent standard. (See FSC)
- Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) is paper made with a bleaching process that uses no chlorine-based compounds; currently TCF refers only to 100% virgin paper. (See PCF, ECF, and Enhanced ECF)
- Uncoated paper does not have a clay coating and is not glossy. (See Coated paper)
- Virgin paper is produced from trees and tree parts (chips, sawdust, branches, etc.) that were harvested in order to make lumber or paper. (See Post-consumer recycled
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