FACT SHEET
Environmentally Preferable
Janitorial Paper Supplies
in Alameda County
Good news! Environmentally friendly paper towels, bathroom tissue, paper napkins
and facial tissue are readily available in Alameda County.
What To Look For
Quality, cost, and availability are still primary considerations when making purchases. Adding
environmental benefit considerations does not need to sacrifice other factors, and in fact, may reduce
costs and improve performance.
Environmental attributes to consider:
Recycled Content — Using recycled materials saves energy, water, and trees;
reduces air, water and land pollution; and creates markets for papers collected in local
office and community recycling programs.
Postconsumer fiber content is what really counts. Look for “postconsumer content”
which meets or exceeds the following minimums used by federal agencies:
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Paper Napkins
Facial Tissue
40% postconsumer content
20% postconsumer content
30% postconsumer content
10% postconsumer content
Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) — Many paper manufacturers use chlorine
derivatives to bleach paper. Byproducts from this bleaching process create
organochlorines which contain hazardous substances that can act as endocrine
disruptors when released into the environment. Products can be bleached in processes
that whiten them with chlorine free chemicals. Recycled papers bleached with chlorine
free processes are sometimes described as being “Processed Chlorine Free” (PCF)
because, while the papers are manufactured without chlorine or chlorine derivatives,
the fibers in the recycled pulp may have been originally bleached with chlorine.
Purchasing policies for dioxin-free paper is one of the first 3 implementation projects of
the Bay Area Dioxins Project of the Association of Bay Area Governments. Go to
dioxin.abag.ca.gov and click on “Final Report and Project Materials” for information on
Cooperative Purchasing Opportunities for Buying PCF Paper, Frequently Asked
Questions in Getting Started on Chlorine Free Paper Purchasing, and additional
information about dioxins and the Project.
Unbleached - Another alternative is to simply not bleach the products. Personal
hygiene papers such as bathroom tissue, facial tissue and sanitary products do not need
to be bright white for use. Unbleached products are either brown in color or, if high in
recycled content, off-white.
Look for unbleached, natural color and processed chlorine free (PCF) paper
alternatives. Brightness, price and suitability for PCF products are
comparable to products bleached with standard chlorine-derived processes.
Performance, Cost and Ease
“We like our recycled content paper towels
and have had no complaints. They’re soft
and absorbent — so soft you can even wipe
your eyes with them. They’ve been very
well received.”
Dorothy Killingsworth
Manager, Janitorial Services
Alameda County General Services Agency
“It was simple. The last time our
janitorial contract was up for bid, we just
stipulated in the bid document that we be
provided with paper supplies that met or
exceeded EPA guidelines. No extra cost or
work on our part, and they bring the
products to us!”
Judith Baker
MACTEC Engineering
and Consulting, Inc., Oakland
How to Buy
Many janitorial products list their environmentally preferable qualities, but some don't. Some brands
also make many different products, some with recycled content and some without. Ask specifically
for the highest postconsumer recycled content available.
The tables in the Appendix at the end of this Fact Sheet list examples of products and
manufacturer brands with the percentage of postconsumer recycled content. Sample listings of
wholesale distributors, local distributors and stores, and catalog and Internet sources for buying
environmentally preferable paper towels, bathroom tissue, facial tissue and paper napkins in Alameda
County are also provided.
Tips To Save Money
Buy jumbo rolls - reduces packaging, more can be packed in a
carton, reduces labor costs, and people tend to use less.
Buy in bulk, saving purchasing dollars and packaging waste.
Buy cooperatively - check the “Guide to Purchasing Recycled
Products Cooperatively: Opportunities for Local Governments in
Alameda County” at www.stopwaste.org/buyrecycled.html.
Paper towels vs. other options - evaluate the cost/benefit to your
workplace of using air dryers or cloth towels.
Consider not using paper seat covers.
2
Sample Specifications and Bid Language
Product Specific Performance
Requirements
Facial Tissue: the fiber in facial tissue shall
contain at least 10% postconsumer materials.
Green Seal, an independent non-profit product
standards and certification program, offers this
example of specifications for tissue paper:·
Paper Towels: the fiber in paper towels shall
contain at least 40% postconsumer materials.
Paper Napkins: the fiber in paper napkins shall
contain at least 30% postconsumer materials.
Product must be made in accordance with
reasonable industry practice with respect to
holes, tears, wrinkles, cleanliness, foreign materials
or dirt. It must have no disagreeable odor, either
wet or dry, in accordance with reasonable
industry practice. Edges of the product must be
cleanly cut and not ragged. Product must
dispense properly from the box or fixture.
Postconsumer Content: the postconsumer
content of a product shall be determined by
measuring the average product fiber utilization
over a period of no longer than three months.
De-inking of Recovered Paper: recovered
paper shall not be de-inked using a solvent
containing chlorine, or any chemicals listed by the
EPA under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning
and Community Right To Know Act.
Each roll of bathroom tissue must contain at least
40 square feet of product (equivalent to
approximately 300 x 4.5 x 4.4 inch sheets). Each
box of facial tissue must contain at least 70
square feet of product (equivalent to
approximately 175 x 8.0 x 8.0 inch sheets).
Bleaching: Chlorine and its derivatives shall not
be used.
Additional Ingredients: the product (not
including packaging) shall not contain any added
pigments, inks, dyes, or fragrances.
Product Specific Environmental Requirements
Examples of standards for products are offered
below:
There are many other examples from other
businesses and federal, state and local
governments. See the list of other resources to
find more information.
Bathroom Tissue: the fiber in bathroom tissue
shall contain at least 20% postconsumer materials.
Steps for Success
Changing products and purchasing practices can take time. Businesses and
governments that buy more environmentally friendly products have found that
including those who use the products in the decision-making process and
starting with pilot programs, testing one or two products at a time in specific
applications, helped make it easier.
The City of Fremont tested two brands of recycled paper towels in one building
before making any changes. The building manager was concerned about
quality, performance and "client" satisfaction. The two brands of towels were
chosen from a list of a half dozen and the price, an overriding criteria, was
comparable. At the end of the test period, one towel clearly out-performed the
other. The test was a success and useful in obtaining what the manager
wanted — happy customers and a paper towel that cost less than the nonrecycled brand.
Remember, when you consider environmental attributes in purchasing decisions,
you are helping save money, creating a safer and healthier environment and
workplace, and closing the recycling loop by buying products made from the
papers collected from office recycling programs!
3
Additional Resources
There are many resources available to help identify products and their performance, see sample bids
and specifications, and read case studies of successful programs.
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board offers
technical assistance and grant funding for applicable recycled content product
purchasing. Click on “Buying Recycled & Environmentally Friendly Products”
at the Agency's website www.stopwaste.org for an annotated list of resources and
links to other environmental purchasing websites and documents.
Contact Rachel Balsley at rbalsley@stopwaste.org for information about the
StopWa$te Partnership for technical assistance and funding for Alameda County
businesses.
See also www.stopwaste.org/partnership/
Contact Debra Kaufman at dkaufman@stopwaste.org or Rachel Balsley at
rbalsley@stopwaste.org for information about environmental purchasing technical and
financial assistance to local governments in Alameda County.
Contact the Alameda County Recycling Hotline, toll-free at 1-877-STOPWASTE
(786-7927) for information about recycling and source reduction opportunities in
Alameda County.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this Fact Sheet should be considered by public agency and business purchasers who are interested in
buying environmentally preferable products. It is provided as a public service by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority
and Recycling Board in an attempt to provide environmental benefits and reduce costs. The information on products listed is supplied
by the manufacturers. Listing in this Fact Sheet is not a recommendation or an endorsement. This Fact Sheet is not a substitute for the
exercise of sound judgment in particular circumstances and is not intended as recommendations for particular products or processes.
This Fact Sheet was last updated in April 2004 by Kies Strategies, Susan Kinsella and Associates, Conservatree, and Beth Eckl,
environmental consultant, on behalf of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board.
4
Appendix
Environmentally Preferable
Janitorial Paper Products in Alameda County
This Appendix provides businesses and residents with resources for purchasing environmentally preferable tissue and toweling products in
Alameda County. Manufacturers are listed first so you can see a variety of brands to look for. Please refer to your local yellow pages or
contact the manufacturers for local distributors near you.
Local distributors and stores selling tissue and toweling products generally describe their products in one of two ways: “at home” products
for residential use and “away from home” for business and commercial use. Local stores and distributors may sell one or both product areas.
If you are looking for recycled paper products for residential use, these items are generally found in groceries, drugstores and health food
markets. Additional sources can be found through catalog and Internet sources.
Brands of recycled products for businesses can be found in office supply, janitorial supply and paper supply stores. If you buy commercial
products in large quantities, you may be able to purchase from wholesale distributors.
The information in these tables was provided by the stores and manufacturers and is subject to change. It is recommended that suppliers be
contacted for further product inquiries. The listings are not comprehensive; many businesses not listed below carry recycled products.
Manufacturers
Company
Bay West Paper Co.
Division of Wausau-Mosinee
Harrodsburg, KY
(800) 723-0001
www.baywestpaper.com
Cascade Tissues Group
Waterford, NY
518-238-1900
Candiac, Quebec
800-246-0711
Earth Friendly
Winnetka, IL 60093
(800) 335-3267
www.ecos.com
Select Product
List
Paper Towels
EcoSoft
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
40%
Bathroom Tissue
EcoSoft
20%
Facial Tissue
EcoSoft
20%
Seat Covers
Ecosoft
40%
Paper Towels
North River (Kraft)
80%
Paper Towels
Earth Friendly
10-25%
Bathroom Tissue
Earth Friendly
10-15%
Sample of Lines
Appendix – Page 1
Notes
Commercial products.
Purchase through a distributor.
Towels only on West coast.
Variety of residential products sold through
Internet, groceries.
Manufacturers (cont.)
Company
First Star Fiber
Omaha, NE
(877) 234-7782 (toll-free) (402)
894-0003
www.firststarfiber.com
Select Product
List
Bathroom Tissue
Sample of Lines
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
Kick Butt
Skill Craft
30-100%
40%
40%
10%
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
30%
30%
10%
40-60%
20-45%
10%
40%
Kimberly-Clark
1400 Holcomb Bridge Rd
Roswell, GA 30076
www.kimberly-clark.com
(800) 851-7538
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Green Forest
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Green Forest
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Green Forest
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Green Forest
Tradition, Scott
Scott
Scott, Surpass
Seat Covers
Scott Personal Seats
Marcal Paper Mills
1 Market Street
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
(201) 796-4000
www.marcalpaper.com
Paper Towels
Marcal
40-60%
Bathroom Tissue
Marcal
20-60%
Facial Tissue
Marcal
10-40%
Napkins
Marcal
30-60%
Paper Towels
Natural Value
10%
Bathroom Tissue
Natural Value
10-25%
Napkins
Paper Towels
Natural Value
Imperial
Bathroom Tissue
Imperial
10%
35-100%
Kraft 60-80%
Bleached white 25%
Napkins
Imperial
Paper Towels
Georgia Pacific
Atlanta, GA
www.gp.com
(888) 478-4778
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Natural Value
www.naturalvalue.com
Princess Paper
3055 E. Fruitland Street
Vernon, CA 90058
(323) 588-4777
www.princesspaper.com
40-80%
Appendix – Page 2
Notes
Paper Converter. Serves mostly commercial
customers. Use this phone number to call
about products or orders. Economy grade of
paper similar to “Renature.”
“Green Forest” is a residential product.
“Envision” is a commercial line available in two
quality levels: Acclaim or Preference.
Manufactures recycled content in select
commercial products categorized by product
numbers.
Manufactures 100% total recycled content in all
of its paper products.
Distributes to residential market through
groceries, health food stores and its own
Internet site.
Paper converter. Serves commercial
customers.
Manufacturers (cont.)
Company
Seventh Generation
One Mill Street, Suite A26
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 658-3773
www.seventhgen.com
SCA Tissue North America
Neenah, WI
(866) 722-6659
www.scatissue.com
Select Product
List
Paper Towels
Seventh Generation
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
80%
Bathroom Tissue
Seventh Generation
80%
Sample of Lines
Facial Tissue
Seventh Generation
80%
Napkins
Seventh Generation
80%
Paper Towels
Main Street
40%
Bathroom Tissue
Main Street
20%
Napkins
Main Street
30%
Notes
Distributes through groceries, health food
stores and Internet paper suppliers. All products
are processed chlorine free (PCF).
Wholesale Distributors
This section is for governments and businesses, buying in large quantities, generally on contract from commercial paper vendors.
There are often minimum order requirements. Start with your current supplier; most also have recycled content products. Ask
vendors for samples. If janitorial services are contracted out, include environmentally preferable specifications/requirements in the
bid and contract. Require the winning contractor to provide environmentally preferable products. See sample of specifications in the
Fact Sheet.
Company
A-C Paper & Supply Co.
(510) 964-0600
www.acpaper.com
Store Location
Hercules
Brands
Georgia Pacific
SCA Tissue
Select Product
List
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Paper Towels
J.C. Paper
(510) 568-6604 Store
(800) 245-2650 for delivery
www.jcpaper.com
Bathroom Tissue
Oakland
Georgia Pacific
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Sample of Lines
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Main Street
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Appendix – Page 3
%
Postconsumer
Recycled
Content
40%
40%
40%
20%
20%
40%
40%
20%
20%
10%
10%
30%
30%
Notes
Paper supplies company. Serves
mostly restaurants; minimum
order: $100.
Wholesale paper supplier.
Minimum order $200 (for
delivery).
Wholesale Distributors (cont.)
Company
Store Location
Brands
Select
Product List
Paper Towels
Mountain People’s
Warehouse
Auburn, CA
(800) 679-2733
www.mtnpeoples.com
Warehouse in
Auburn
Earth Friendly
Envision Acclaim
Natural Value
Seventh
Generation
Bathroom
Tissue
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Unisource Supply
Systems Division
(925) 598-6400
(800) 767-5677
www.unisourcelink.com
Paper Towels
Pleasanton
Georgia Pacific
Bay West
Kimberly-Clark
Toilet Tissue
Seat Covers
Facial Tissue
Xpedx - Packaging &
Facility Supplies
(800) 468-0204
www.xpedx.com
Hayward
Georgia Pacific
Paper Towels
Bathroom
Tissue
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Sample of Lines
Earth Friendly
Envision Acclaim
Natural Value
Seventh
Generation
Earth Friendly
Envision Acclaim
Natural Value
Seventh
Generation
Envision Acclaim
Envision Acclaim
Natural Value
Seventh
Generation
EcoSoft
Envision Acclaim
Envision
Preference
Scott
EcoSoft
Ecosoft
Envision
Preference
%
Postconsumer
Recycled
Content
Notes
10-25%
40%
10%
80%
10-15%
20%
10-25%
80%
Largest distributor in West of full
line of natural foods. Minimum
order of $500 for free delivery.
Seventh Generation is processed
chlorine free (PCF).
10%
30%
10%
80-100%
40%
40%
40%
40%
20%
40%
Commercial products.
Open to public--call for inquiries.
Serves residential and commercial.
Minimum orders: $150 for
delivery.
10%
40%
Envision Acclaim
Envision
Preference
Appendix – Page 4
20%
10%
30%
Commercial products.
Serves mostly businesses.
Local Distributors and Stores
This section is for buying in smaller quantities – directly from retail stores or office product catalogs. As with all products, there
is a wide range of quality and cost. Shop around and try other options if one doesn’t meet your needs. Typical consumer brands
include Green Forest, Marcal, Earth Friendly, Natural Value, Seventh Generation, Main Street, Envision Acclaim, Envision
Preference, and EcoSoft (partial list).
Company
Andronico’s
(510) 845-1062
(Berkeley store)
Berkeley Bowl
Marketplace
(510) 843-6929
www.berkeleybowl.com
Berkeley Natural
(510) 526-2457
Mission Peak Supply
(510) 651-2298
Monahan Paper
(510) 835-4670
Store
Location
Berkeley
(three
locations)
Brands
Select Product
List
Paper Towels
Seventh Generation
Georgia Pacific
Bathroom Tissue
Sample of Lines
Seventh Generation
Green Forest
Seventh Generation
Green Forest
Earth Friendly
Paper Towels
Berkeley
Seventh
Generation
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Fremont
Oakland
Seventh Generation
Georgia Pacific
Kimberly-Clark
Advantage
Georgia Pacific
Kimberly-Clark
SCA Tissue
Seventh Generation
80%
80%
Seventh Generation
80-100%
Bathroom Tissue
Seventh Generation
Envision Acclaim
Natural Value
80%
20%
10-25%
Facial Tissue
Envision Acclaim
10%
Paper Towels
Envision Preference
40%
Bathroom Tissue
Advantage
20%
Envision
Main Street
Envision Preference
Scott
Envision
40%
40%
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Grocery store.
Grocery store.
80%
Paper Towels
Paper Towels
Notes
80%
Napkins
Berkeley
%
Postconsumer
Recycled
Content
80-100%
10%
80%
10%
10-25%
Appendix – Page 5
20%
10%
Health food store.
Janitorial supply store.
Serves mostly commercial
accounts; retail store in
industrial complex; no credit
cards; delivery minimums
vary.
Serves residential and
commercial customers.
Local Distributors and Stores (cont.)
Company
Office Depot
(800) 685-8800
www.officedepot.com
Office Max
(800) 788-8080
www.officemax.com
Sav-on Supplies
(925) 829-0300
Store
Location
Berkeley
Dublin
Fremont
Oakland
Emeryville
Fremont
Pleasanton
San Leandro,
Union City
Dublin
Brands
Marcal
Georgia Pacific
Select Product
List
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Bathroom Tissue
Napkins
Marcal
Marcal
Marcal
Envision Acclaim
Marcal
Fort James
Marcal
Marcal
Facial Tissue
Marcal
40%
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Renature
Renature
Renature
60%
20%
40%
Renature
20%
Napkins
Paper Towels
Marcal
Georgia Pacific
Advantage
Marketing
Associates
Napkins
Paper Towels
Staples
(800) 333-3330
www.staples.com
San Ramon
Newark
Georgia Pacific
Kimberly-Clark
Marcal
Sundrop Health
Foods
925-600-7863
Pleasanton
Seventh
Generation
Georgia Pacific
Trader Joe’s
(510) 769-5450
(Alameda Store)
www.traderjoes.com
Alameda
Castro Valley
Emeryville
Fremont
Pleasanton
Trader Joe’s
Sample of Lines
%
Postconsumer
Recycled
Content
40%
40%
40%
30%
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
40%
40%
40%
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Marcal
Scott
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Marcal
Scott
Marcal
Marcal
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation
Envision
40%
40%
40-60%
40-60%
20%
20%
20-60%
20-45%
10-40%
30-60%
80-100%
80%
20%
Trader Joe’s
10-25%
Appendix – Page 6
Notes
Office supply store.
Residential and commercial
products.
Office supply store.
Residential and commercial
products.
Serves commercial customers.
Also open to public. Recycled
line is an economy grade of
paper and available by order –
not yet in stock.
Office supply store.
Residential and commercial
products.
Health food store.
Grocery Store.
Local Distributors and Stores (cont.)
Company
Store
Location
Brands
Paper Towels
Sample of
Lines
Envision
Acclaim
Envision
Preference
Scott, Surpass
Envision
Acclaim
Envision
Preference
Scott, Surpass
Envision
Acclaim
Envision
Preference
Scott, Surpass
Seventh
Generation
Seventh
Generation
Seventh
Generation
Seventh
Generation
Marcal
Bathroom Tissue
Marcal
Select Product List
Paper Towels
WAXIE Sanitary
Supply
(925) 454-2900
(800) 299-9964
www.waxie.com
Livermore
Georgia Pacific
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Paper Towels
Whole Foods
510-649-1333
(Berkeley store)
Berkeley
San Ramon
Bathroom Tissue
Seventh Generation
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Xpedx Store
(formerly Arvey Store)
(510) 839-8863
Oakland
Marcal
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
Notes
40%
40%
40-60%
20%
20%
Serves Commercial
Customers.
20-45%
10%
10%
10%
80-100%
80%
Grocery store.
80%
80%
40%
40%
Retail store. Serves
residential and commercial
customers.
Catalog and Internet Sources
Company
Clean Sweep Supply Inc.
Tampa, FL
(800) 330-9631
www.cleansweepsupply.com
Earth Friendly Products
Winnetka, IL
(800) 335-3267
www.ecos.com
Brands
Kimberly-Clark
Georgia Pacific
Earth Friendly
Select Product List
Sample of Lines
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
Bathroom Tissue
(Jumbo rolls only)
Envision Acclaim
20%
Facial Tissue
Tradition
40%
Paper Towels
Earth Friendly
10-25%
Bathroom Tissue
Earth Friendly
10-25%
Appendix – Page 7
Notes
Residential and
commercial
products.
Available
locally—see
sources above.
Catalog and Internet Sources (cont.)
Company
Gaiam/Harmony/Real Goods/
Green Market Place
(877) 989-6321
www.gaiam.com
www.greenmarketplace.com
www.realgoods.com
Brands
Seventh Generation
Paper Towels
Seventh Generation
% Postconsumer
Recycled Content
80-100%
Bathroom Tissue
Seventh Generation
80%
Napkins
Seventh Generation
80-100%
Facial Tissue
Seventh Generation
20%
Main Street
Envision
Envision
Envision
Envision Acclaim
Envision Preference
Main Street
Envision
Seventh Generation
Envision
Main Street
40%
40%
20%
30%
Select Product List
Paper Towels
The Real Earth Environmental
Company
(800) 987-3326
www.treeco.com
Georgia Pacific
SCA Tissue
TREECYCLE Recycled Paper
Bozeman, MT
(406) 586-5287
www.treecycle.com
Georgia Pacific
Seventh Generation
Georgia Pacific
SCA Tissue
Bathroom Tissue
Napkins
Facial Tissue
Paper Towels
Bathroom Tissue
Facial Tissue
Napkins
Sample of Lines
Notes
Residential and
commercial
products.
10%
40%
80%
10%
30%
Residential and
commercial
products.
Information listed above was provided by the stores and manufacturers and is subject to change. It is recommended that suppliers be contacted for further
product inquiries.
This information was last updated in April 2004.
Appendix – Page 8