ABCD Classification
of
recycled papers


Class Examples of type of waste Environmental features
ADamaged, faulty goods rejected at paper mill. Marginal environmental benefit; contains no post-consumer waste; no de-inking required.
B Printers and converters trimmings, off-cuts; faulty unprinted items (eg. envelopes). Indirect environmental benefit; limited post-consumer waste; no de-inking, little cleaning required; energy saved as fresh pulp is replaced; fossil fuels conserved.
C Office correspondence; computer printouts; top class printed literature, books, quality brochures. Significant direct environmental benefits; almost all post-consumer waste; de-inking, cleaning and non-chlorine bleaching (where required) all done responsibly; land-fill or incineration pollution avoided; fresh pulp replaced so energy saved; fossil fuels conserved.
D Newspapers, magazines, comics; cheap catalogues, directories. Greatest environmental benefit; all post-consumer waste, mainly ex-household; de-inking, cleaning and non-chlorine bleaching (where required) all done responsibly; major land-fill or incineration pollution avoided; fresh pulp replaced, so energy saved; fossil fuels conserved.

The prefix indicates the percentage(s) of each of the above groups of waste in the paper (eg. "25B/50C" means the paper is made from 25% high quality unprinted waste, 50% high quality printed waste, and - by definition - 25% virgin fibre).

The prefixed percentages will be the production standard, but may vary +/- 10% to cater for raw material variables. Finished paper quality is the primary criterion.



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