| Chlorine-free
Paper — Confronting the Destruction of Life Systems
Facts on
the issue
The bleaching
of pulp and paper with chlorinated chemicals contributes to the formation
of persistent organic pollutants, or POPs. POPs are carcinogenic and are
endocrine disrupters. They have a long-term impact on humans and wildlife.
POPs:
- Wreak havoc
on wildlife, ecosystems and human health,
- Have been
implicated in cancers, reproductive disorders, neurobehavioral impairment
and reduced intelligence capacity,
- Resist breakdown
in sunlight and persist for years,
- Are fat-loving
and accumulate in body tissue, and
- Move north
with air and ocean currents, thus are more concentrated in northern
climates.
The pulp and
paper industry has used chlorine gas to bleach wood pulp in manufacturing
paper. Realizing that this process was releasing dioxins, the industry
began using chlorine dioxide. This process has significantly reduced the
level of dioxins and is called ECF (elemental chlorine free).
However, another
process is totally chlorine free and uses oxygen delignification and ozone
bleaching along with hydrogen peroxide. Paper that is all virgin pulp
bleached without the use of any chlorinated compounds is called TCF (totally
chlorine free). Paper that contains recycled content but that is re-bleached
without any chlorine compounds is called PCF (process chlorine free).
Many environmental
groups are urging U.S. paper companies to move toward TCF/PCF manufacturing
processes. Under current regulations these companies do not have sufficient
incentive to make that commitment. They also argue that TCF/PCF is not
a large share of the market. Encouraging consumers to increase the demand
for TCF/PCF paper is one step to bring about change.
Actions
you can take
- Join the
Adrian Dominican Sisters in purchasing chlorine free copying paper.
- If your
supplier claims that a specific paper is chlorine free, ask for certification
because many claims are actually false or misleading
- When using
Kinkos, request chlorine-free paper.
- Check out
the web site: www.chlorinefreeproducts.org.
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