Many paper producing industries make use of chlorine bleaching technique which emits loads of toxic chemicals. These toxic chemicals include dioxins, phenols, mercury, lead, arsenic etc. These toxins contaminate the environment by mixing with the atmosphere as well as they enter the water bodies. This polluted
water produces fatal effects in animals as well as humans.
To avoid these fatal effects, one must switch to alternatives for chlorine bleached paper which are already in practice around the world. These are chlorine free papers which are free from all poisonous organochlorines and are dangerous for the environment.
PCF – Processed Chlorine-Free, indicates that the recycled fiber used in the paper sheet is either unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. This is not totally chlorine free because the recycled fiber may or may not be chlorine free, but the virgin pulp used is entirely chlorine-free. This involves processing of the recycled paper back into the paper using no-chlorine derivatives. Secondarily chlorine free (SCF) is similar to PCF.
ECF – Elemental Chlorine-Free, indicates that the recycled fiber or virgin fiber is bleached with chlorine dioxide or other chlorine compounds. This indicates that the whitening process in this case involved chlorine dioxide. This process significantly reduces the amount of hazardous dioxins but does not eliminate them completely, as other chemicals containing low amounts of chlorine are used here. ECF manufacturing involves production of strong fibers, forest resource conservation and enhancing recyclability.
TCF – Totally Chlorine-Free, indicates that the entire virgin fiber is unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. This whitening process involves no use of chlorine in any form. In fact there is no chlorine used in the process of conversion of wood pulp to paper. TCF papers are much more preferable than ECF due to its enhanced environmental friendly qualities.
Hence, by being aware of the paper choices available and by educating yourself, you can use consumer power to go for the best option and protect the most precious resource – The Earth.
