Chlorine-Free Paper: Why It Matters

Many kinds of paper production use chlorine to make the paper white. This was to satisfy the consumer’s desire for the paper to look good. It was supposed to make it easier to read the words on the paper. However, chlorine is known to be responsible for harmful substances like dioxins and furans being released. These pollutants enter aquatic ecosystems through wastewater discharge, often contaminating sediments and fish. Chlorine-free paper, on the other hand, is processed without the use of either chlorine or chlorine derivatives and thus is a more eco-friendly method of whitening paper.

How Paper is Made

Paper is made from cellulose fibers. The fibers can come from wood, cotton, grasses, or other sources. The first step is to separate the fibers from the rest of the plant material. The fibers are then beaten or cooked into pulp. Chemicals are then added to adjust the properties and color of the paper. The pulp is spread on wire mesh or a paper machine to form a sheet. The sheet is pressed and dried to form the final product.

Types of Chlorine-Free Paper

There are three types of chlorine-free paper: processed chlorine-free paper (PCF), elemental chlorine-free paper (ECF), and totally chlorine-free paper. PCF paper is bleached using peroxide, oxygen, and/or ozone, while ECF paper is bleached using chlorine dioxide. Totally chlorine-free paper (TCF) does not use any chlorine compounds for wood pulp bleaching. PCF paper produces less waste during the bleaching process than ECF paper, making it more environmentally friendly. However, both PCF and ECF papers are better for the environment than papers that use elemental bleach.

Processed Chlorine-Free (PCF) Paper

Let’s talk about processed chlorine-free paper first. Instead of chlorine, PCF paper uses peroxide, oxygen, or ozone to bleach the paper. No chlorine is used, eliminating the harmful waste. Many recycling mills use this process, but there are currently no virgin paper pulp mills in the United States that are completely free of chlorine. That means that all U.S. paper mills are producing some waste.

Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) Paper

Now let’s talk about elemental chlorine-free paper. Natural wood pulp is brown in color, like trees themselves. Until the 1990s, elemental chlorine was used to bleach paper pulp and make it white. The problem with elemental chlorine is that it produces furans and carcinogenic dioxin when combined with the cellular glue in wood (lignin). These toxins are then dumped into wastewater from the paper mill. The wastewater enters the environment and travels up the food chain. For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency required paper mills to stop using chlorine gas. Chlorine dioxide is now used instead. This is safer, but it still produces a few dioxins. Unfortunately, some paper mills that follow this method adhere to a strict minimum of following the law.

Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) Paper

Finally, totally chlorine-free paper is the most environmentally friendly method of bleaching. The paper is bleached using hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. Thus, no toxins enter the environment. Unfortunately, not many paper mills use TCF.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Chlorine-free paper can be more expensive than traditional paper. It requires more steps to produce and the chemicals necessary can be more expensive. The chlorine-free paper may be less bright or less smooth than traditional paper. Traditional paper is supposed to last longer and have less yellowing. Despite these drawbacks, it’s necessary to understand the benefits of chlorine-free paper.

The main benefit of chlorine-free paper is that it is good for the environment. This is an important consideration. Although the paper may not be as white or as durable, it’s still good paper. You may have to give up whiteness or durability, but it’s worth it. If you’re shopping for paper, look for PCF, ECF, or TCF labels on the package to make sure you’re getting what you need. By purchasing chlorine-free paper, you’re going to help the environment and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals—a win-win situation.