How to create a better office environment with furniture, supplies, and products

What makes good copy paper in your opinion? I have an inkjet printer and my top priority is copy paper that doesn't jam my printer or smear badly (although all inkjets print wet to a point). My second priority is buying green, or recycled paper over new.

Green Seal reports that only 9% of paper marketed in the U.S. is made with recycled fibers. Recycled paper prints just as well as new paper. I see many green minded sites that claim that recycled paper is as available and as inexpensive as regular new paper; but personally, as a consumer, I don't think that's the total truth.

Look at any typical office supply store and count up the recycled paper available compared to new and you'll see that I'm correct. One major complaint I have about recycled copy paper is you don't see it in bulk very often at typical office stores. That's an issue because I need to buy paper by the box; not some one ream deal.

If you're interested in recycled paper here's some more info, including some purchasing ideas.  

 

Recycled paper is not all the same: 

Some paper is made with less recycled fibers than others. If you want to market your paper as certified recycled you need to meet the minimum level of required recycled fibers in copy paper, which is a minimum of 30% post-consumer content.

Cost of buying recycled: 

First off, a typical 20lb, 8.5 x 11," 5000 sheets, 10 ream box of Office Max Brand Copy Paper is about $33 or $3.30 a ream. This assumes you buy in bulk. If there was a sale you'd get a better deal.

Here are prices on some eco-paper... For the price check I used the specs of the above box of Office Max paper. I also pretended that I was a new consumer with no experience looking for recycled paper. 

• Office Max 30% Recycled Paper:$45 a box or $4.50 a ream
• Boise Aspen 100% Recycled Copy Paper: $72 a box or 7.20 a ream
• Office Depot 30% Recycled Paper: $36 a box or 3.60 a ream
• Staples 100% Recycled Copy: $48 a box or $4.80 a ream (VERY good price for 100%) 

The best inexpensive array of recycled paper I found was at Discount Office Supplies -- but I don't think any beat the Office Depot price. The search for prices was frustrating. Most basic office sites don't sell hardly any recycled in boxes, it's mostly reams.

Also, many sites that sell eco-paper are not office supply stores, they're eco-stores that also sell paper. My best advice is to stick with a site with an array like Discount Office, or try your local typical office supply store. The selection is low but the prices on store brands can't be best. 

Like I said above, the green agencies like to promote eco-paper as 'easy' but I really had to look around. I like the idea of earth friendly office products and it is getting better, but I'm starting to wonder how long it'll take to get mainstream.

Have you found a great place to buy recycled paper -- a place with both a variety of choices and great prices? Tell us about it.