EPFL switches to 100% recycled paper!
© 2014 EPFL
Since december 8th 2014, EPFL has switched to 100% recycled paper for all of its printing and archiving needs (exceptions for some specific needs of the Repro- EPFL Print Center), as a result of a decision of the Environment Commission, on the proposal of the Vice-presidency for planning and logistics. The objective is to significantly reduce the environmental impact of our activities related to paper and to demonstrate EPFL commitment for sustainability.
The selected paper
From now on there is only one sort of paper A4 And A3 available in the purchase catalogue : Image recycled High White, the recycled paper currently used on campus. This paper is FSC certified, 100% recycled, chlorine-free bleached and certified “Blue Angel”, one of the most demanding standards regarding environment, health protection and machine reliability.
This paper is rated as good (87%) by the WWF. It is a little cheaper than the non recycled paper used until now on the campus.
Why use recycled paper ?
- the greenest choice: recycled paper uses about three times less energy and water than virgin fibre paper.
- long term archiving: recycled papers holding the industry standard DIN 6738 can be archived at least 100 years. For most documents, it is more than necessary.
- preserve the forest: recycled papers made of waste papers avoid the use of virgin fibre. 5 kg of wood are necessary to produce a pack of paper (500 sheets, 2,5 kg).
- adapted to copiers and printers: copiers and printers function without any problem with recycled paper as they nowadays fullfill the requirements of the standard DIN 19309, "paper for copying purposes".
From: Communauté d'Intérêt Ecologie et Marché (CIEM) (in french)
A pilot project launched in 2012 proved conclusive: since 2012, the real estate and infrastructures departement has been using only recycled paper, without any problem.
Situation until november 2014
In 2013, more than 120 tons of A4 paper were used on the campus, which represents almost 12 kg per full time equivalent. Only one third of the paper used for current needs on the campus (A4 and A3) was recycled. At the EPFL print center, this percentage is 10%. All the other paper was non recycled but certified by the label Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) "mixed sources", which garantees that at least 70% of the fibre comes from forests responsibly managed.
