By using sustainable paper alternatives, World Centric® makes measurable and significant reductions in the environmental damage caused by our tree-based products.
Though using any form of tree based paper is not ideal, cafes, restaurants, and cafeterias often prefer paper products over plant fiber products for certain items due to their look, printability, and customer acceptance. Through ongoing research we hope to create a more sustainable product made from alternative fibers. Until technology allows us to provide viable paper product alternatives, sourcing paper from sustainable, responsible resources is the best way to ensure that the paper is not being harvested from virgin forests. For example, World Centric® provides a post-consumer waste (PCW) paper option. Post consumer waste paper is paper claimed after consumer use, that is recycled and processed to make a new product.
As well, some of World Centric®’s tree-based paper products are made from paper that meets the certification standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certification verifies the claims of manufacturers that they only use tree-based materials that come from forest-management practices designed to meet the “social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations.”
Another ecological concern that may guide a consumer’s paper goods choice is the question of bleaching. World Centric® offers paper cups and bowls that are whitened with 100% elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleach instead of the standard solid bleached sulfate (SBS). We also offer paper cups and bowls that are made from unbleached paper, referred to as Kraft. Consider the tables below to compare the environmental impacts of PCW recycled paper versus tree based virgin-wood paperboard using solid bleached sulfate (SBS) when choosing among World Centric® paper cups and bowls.
Manufacturing paper from 100% recycled content versus virgin-wood based content: Comparative ratios between the two products
100% PCW Recycled Paper | Tree-based (virgin-wood coated paper) | |
Energy consumption ratio = 1.0 : 2.41 | ![]() |
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Water consumption ratio = 1.0 : 6.24 | ![]() |
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CO2 emissions ratio = 1.0 : 1.19 | ![]() |
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Solid waste production ratio = 1.0 : 0.93 | ![]() |
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Manufacturing paper from 100% recycled content versus tree-based content: Direct measurements of manufacturing one pound of each paper type
100% PCW Recycled Paper | Tree-based (virgin-wood coated paper) | |
Energy consumption (kwh) | 2.31 |
5.56 |
Water consumption (gal) | 1.58 | 9.86 |
CO2 emissions (lb) | 1.28 | 1.52 |
Solid waste (lb) | 1.47 | 1.37 |
Manufacturing products from 100% recycled paper versus tree-based paper: Comparative ratios between the two products
100% PCW Recycled Paper | Tree-based (virgin-wood coated paper) | |
Energy consumption ratio = 1.0 : 1.48 | ![]() |
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CO2 emissions ratio = 1.0 : 1.0 | ![]() |
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Manufacturing products from 100% recycled paper versus tree-based paper: Direct measurements of manufacturing one pound of each paper type
100% PCW Recycled Paper | Tree-based (virgin-wood coated paper) | |
Energy consumption (kwh) | 3.26 |
4.83 |
CO2 emissions (lb) | 1.28 | 1.52 |
> Back To Eco-Profiles of Compostables
Page Notes
Tags: Compostable Materials
Written by
World Centric
Read time
5 minutes
Published on
Jul 3, 2018
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