Taking Action

There are several initiatives underway to promote the switch to recycled paper. The Green Press Initiative at www.greenpressinitiative.org has persuaded 20 U.S. book publishers to stop using fiber from ancient forests, and to maximize recycled content in three to five years. Co-op America is working with Conservatree and the Independent Press Association on the Magazine PAPER Project (www.woodwise.org) to convince publishers to use eco-paper. Environmental Defense is going after wasteful catalog mailers in the Alliance for Environmental Innovation (www.environmentaldefense.org/alliance). The Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative (www.recycledproducts.org) concentrates on increasing recycled paper nationwide. Consumers can take a stand against paper waste in a number of ways. If you’re a subscriber to a major magazine, take a look at the small but growing list of publishers who have committed to using chlorine-free paper and high post-consumer recycled content at www.ecopaperaction.org/actionsteps.html. Even glossy magazines can be printed on recycled stock now. And, of course, all magazines should be recycled. Learn all about getting off junk mail lists through the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service (www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailing list.html). When you register, your name is put in a delete file that is made available to mailing houses four times a year. It typically takes three months for the flow to slow down. Another way to get off junk mail lists is by using Harman Research’s online software (www.stopthejunkmail.com). The caveat here is that this is a pay service (a year’s subscription is $20), but part of the proceeds go to American Forests.