Reference Tool: Why Print Is Truly Green

Of the fiber that went into paper in 2007, more than a third came from recycling, even though demand for newsprint, a key destination for reused fiber, has slowed considerably. In 2008, more than 57 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling—more than any material.

The paper industry is aiming to reach 60 percent recycling by 2012; every additional percentage point means that a million tons of paper are recovered. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), paper is recycled at significantly higher rates than any other material. (Glass: 24 percent. Plastic: 7 percent)