Thursday, April 17, 2008

Paper Bleaching!

Think of all the paper you use every day. Toilet paper, office paper, Kleenex, paper towels, paper napkins, coffee filters, newspapers . . . it really adds up! Of course, we should use cloth alternatives whenever possible, such as cloth napkins and dishtowels. However, there are some times that a cloth alternative will just not work. Businesses in the take-out food industry need to be able to provide a disposable option, and there is certainly no substitute for toilet paper!

We can reconcile ourselves to this necessary paper consumption by choosing to buy better paper products. First, we can choose products that are made from wood that was logged in sustainably managed forests. Also, we can compost our paper waste when possible, instead of sending it to landfills. We can also take another important step, and buy non-chlorine-bleached paper.

Most of the paper we used is bleached to a bright white with chlorine. When wood pulp is bleached by chlorine, chemical reactions take place which produce dioxins, organochlorines, and a wide variety of other toxic chemicals. These toxins are released with wastewater into our rivers and streams, or into “containment” ponds that accomplish little in the way of containing the toxins. One website notes that “dioxins are now so widespread in the environment that virtually every man, woman, and child in America has them in their bodies. In fact, each day we ingest 300-600 times more than the EPA's so-called ‘safe’ dose. As they accumulate inside us to critical levels, the effects begin to show.”

Dioxins are bio-accumulative, and build up in organisms as you move up the food chain. They are also extremely carcinogenic, and have been linked not only to cancer but also to reproductive disorders and both physical and mental development problems in feti and children. Organochlorines are also bio-accumulative, and have been linked to a number of developmental and reproductive disorders, cancers, and failures of organ systems.

Lucky for us, every paper product we use has a chlorine-free alternative version on the market! Look for paper products that are labeled as “TCF” (totally chlorine free). Be careful that you don’t confuse TCF paper with paper labeled “ECF,” or “elementally chlorine free.” These papers do not use elemental chlorine, but they do use chlorine derivatives and are not as good for you and the environment. The Green Seal website has an extensive list of chlorine free paper products and brands available here.

I’ve overheard some discussion in the aisles of stores like Whole Foods about the color of paper products. I’ve heard people say they like their white paper towels and do not want to buy non-bleached paper because it just doesn’t seem “clean”. I’ve also seen enviro-litist people talking about how they only buy the brown, non-bleached products and would never dream of using white paper. To settle the debate I’d like to point out that brown paper products are not bleached, which is good for the environment. But, if you are not ready to give up your white paper towels and toilet paper, they make paper products that are both chlorine free AND white. Seventh Generation is one brand that offers white chlorine-free products. They use hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydrosulphite to bleach their papers, and the only by-products of this process are oxygen and water. Enjoy your white paper guilt free! And buy white, chlorine free office paper!

As a side note, chlorine is also used in many household cleaners. I won’t get into the dangers of traditional soaps, detergents, and disinfectants since we have already had a post on that subject; but I will remind everyone that buying alternative types of cleansers is important for the health of our families and the environment.

More info on paper bleaching can be found here.

6 comments:

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Anonymous said...

Its amazing how little people know about the paper industry and especially chlorine bleaching. Only two parts of your "research" are correct. Yes dioxins are carcinogenic, and yes the environment would be better off without bleaching. But would you believe that TCF bleaching is actually worse for the environment than ECF bleaching? Of course not because you environmental buffs dont stop and look at the science behind processes. I would suggest taking a look at the facts one more time. And by the way, dioxin concentrations are strictly regulated by the EPA and are controlled to the PPQ. The paper industry is one of the most green industries in the world and mills run any where from 96-99% efficiency, and in most cases the water put back into the river by the mill is cleaner than the water that entered it. The paper industry cares about the environment just as much or more than any other industry.

RoxanneKT said...

Hi, what are the effects of composting bleached paper? it is safe?

Hovawart said...

Anonymous' comment in defense of the paper industry is rather specious. If there is anything positive to be said about the paper industry, just give us a link to learn more about it for ourselves, Anonymous Defender.

ANAND said...

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vjes said...

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