Post consumer recycled paper, ink and toner

On the 5th June 2009, World Environment Day, LSBU became the London Regional Centre of Excellence and the first European Capital City to join the UNESCO RCE network. http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/efs/conference/RCE_launch.shtml

To coincide with this event, LSBU switched to using 80% post consumer recycled paperin all office functions and 100% post consumer paper on our corporate stationery. The cost difference to move from virgin paper substrates to post-consumer substrates was neutral.

Prior to the 5th June 2009, we were blind-testing both papers with post consumer recycled content around the campuses. The outcome of the blind testing was there were no complaints on the quality of the paper and the paper worked will in all office machines (printers, fax, and photocopiers).

On the 5th June 2009, the announcement of the paper switch over, (and when we activated an auto switch paper function with Office Depot) some users were critical of using this new paper, but most welcomed the change as “Practicing what we teach”.

To celebrate the first year of the LSBU RCE and World Environment Day 2010, we are considering switching branded ink and toner with office depot own brand and remanufactured products, which we are currently doing some cost benefit work on.