Chlorine

No chlorine gas (elemental chlorine) was used to bleach any of the fibers used in these papers. The best options are Process Chlorine-Free or Totally Chlorine-Free, techniques that completely eliminate the use of toxic chlorinated compounds during the bleaching stage.

PCF (Process Chlorine-Free) indicates that fiber is recycled and is unbleached or bleached without the use of additional chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

TCF (Totally Chlorine-Free) indicates virgin fiber (including virgin tree-free fiber) that is unbleached or bleached without chlorine or chlorine derivatives. In both cases, all new bleaching is done with benign elements such as oxygen, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide. The recycled fiber in PCF paper may have been bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives in a previous incarnation.

ECF (Elemental Chlorine-Free) indicates virgin or recycled fiber bleached with chlorine dioxide or other chlorine compounds. This is a cleaner process than chlorine gas bleaching, however this process still creates environmentally hazardous toxins.

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The ecological guide to paper was originally conceived by Celery Design Collaborative of Berkeley, CA