Are you looking for a recycled CD/DVD sleeve or case for an upcoming project? Do you get overwhelmed by the different terms that manufacturers and replicators use to describe the different options? This 3-part series is created to help you navigate through the somewhat confusing world of recycled packaging.

Our first step is to give you a brief overview of the most frequently talked about recycled terms that is related to CD/DVD packaging.

Virgin Paper
Paper manufactured from new pulp or cotton. Does not contain any recycled material.

Recycled Paper
Paper that is designated as “recycled” can be a mixture of virgin wood fiber, pre-consumer waste and/or post-consumer waste, which will be explained below.

Recyclable
Capable of being re-used, recycled into a new product. All cardboard, paper can be readily recycled.

Pre-consumer waste
Pre-consumer content is paper made out of paper scraps and trimmings left over from the paper manufacturing process. These paper scraps and trimmings are easiest to recycle, as they do not have to be collected, separated, de-inked.

Post-consumer waste
Post-consumer waste is paper made out of paper which has been used by the end consumer and then is collected for recycling from various recycling programs. This is the best paper to use, as it creates demand for paper which would normally end up in the landfill and no trees are cut down for manufacturing process.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The Forest Stewardship Council was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.

Well Managed Forest
The exact definition of a well-managed forest will be debated as long as there are interest groups that value different sets of attributes available from a forest. Fundamental to all is the premise that forests are recognized as a community of interacting plants, animals, soil, water, air, and people within a major landscape – no longer just a concentration of trees.

Next we’ll look at choosing recycled jewel case and DVD cases.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpomme/1775236399/