Student Activist Guide to Changing Paper
Purchasing Policies at Colleges and Universities

by Ginger Dollar
Alternatives In Action!

with help from:
Billy Stern - Native Forest Network
Lynn Cumiskey - American Lands Alliance & AIA!

original layout by:
Ben Taylor - The Environmental City Task Force

reformated by Andy Buckley

CONTACTS

Alternatives In Action! 1430 Cabin Creek Dr. Nicholson, GA 30565
706-757-3904 - Athens (Virginia Dollar Ginger - vdollar@earthlink.net)
404-524-9073 - Atlanta (Lynn Cumiskey- lcumiskey@earthlink.net)
Lynn is also the southeast organizer for the American Lands Alliance

The Dogwood Alliance - dogwood@essential.org
Danna Smith, P.O. Box 1598, Brevard, NC 28712, (828) 883-5889

Earth Culture - earthcul@nr.infi.net
Rick Spencer, P.O. Box 4674, Greensboro, NC 27404, (336) 685-7012

Environmental City Task Force - ectf@listserv.highertech.net
Ben Taylor, 2406 Charlotte Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37415, (423) 870-0754

Heartwood - voices@compuserve.com
Devin M. Scherubel, P.O. Box 7653, Columbia, MO 65205, (573) 443-6842

Heartwood - heartwd@bluemarble.net
Megan Hollingsworth, P.O. Box 281, Bloomington, IN 47402, (812) 337-8898

Katuah Earth First! & SE Center for Ecological Awareness -
john johnson, P.O. Box 281, Chattanooga, TN 37401, (423) 624-3939
johnjgb@mindspring.com

Memphis Audubon Society - sbanbury@earthlink.net
Scott Banbury, P.O. Box 41678, Memphis, TN 38714-1678, (901) 726-1473

National SEAC - amanda@igc.org
Amanda Bahnson, (515) 386-4325

Native Forest Network - billysun@wildrockies.org
Billy Stem, P.O. Box 8251, Missoula, MT 59807, (406) 542-7343

Re-Think Paper - rtp@earthisland.org
Emily Miggins, Flood Building 870 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 398-2433

Sam Pearson - fgs.korrnet.org

Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project - SABP@main.nc.us
Andrew George (Executive Director), (704) 258-2667

THE PROBLEM

Each year, the world economy cuts down four billion trees. Since the 1950's, we have more than doubled our consumption rate. Industrial extraction of wood to meet a growing demand is a main factor for worldwide deforestation.

The US consumption of wood products is three times higher than in developing countries and two times higher than other industrialized nations. Despite well documented reports that show that the proliferation of the wood chipping industry is destroying forests, watersheds and wildlife habitat, clogging landfills, hurting indigenous people, and fouling the air, the pace of industrial logging is increasing. Projections show that US rate of consumption will increase 46% percent by 2040 unless measures are taken to slow down our appetite for wood products.

Paper consumption plays a huge role in these figures. Every year, the US consumes over 90 million tons of paper - over 700 pounds per person. The US is by far the largest consumer of paper with Japan coming in second at 30 million tons per year.
Office paper, writing and printing paper, and newsprint are the three largest users of wood pulp. Printing and writing paper consumption is approximately 30 million tons each year.

Colleges and universities consume a huge amount of wood products from building materials to toilet paper. In 1992-93, colleges and universities spent $186 billion for goods and services with college bookstores' sales reaching $6.5 billion. Colleges and universities have a lot of buying power; they can create new markets.

A SOLUTION

Many people believe that our intact forests are too precious to be logged. They offer game, medicines, fruits, gums, resins, nuts, help moderate the world's climate, filter water supplies, maintain fisheries and watersheds, and provide a rich diversity of life. There are alternatives to forest destruction and that is why many folks from all walks of life are calling for an end to industrial forestry and a campaign to reduce US wood consumption by 75% in the next ten years.

Paper does not have to be made from trees. In fact, cutting down a tree, treating and processing it to make paper is one of the most expensive and environmentally degrading methods used. However the pulp and paper industry is well established, subsidized and has a large consumer market. It is hard for alternative markets to compete even though there is a growing demand for paper made from non-wood fiber. The quality of alternative fiber paper continues to improve and is often better than wood fiber paper.

Alternative fiber paper has been proven to work well with most printing machines. Availability is reasonable, but prices are higher than wood pulp based paper and will continue to be so until a huge market is created. If colleges and universities bought only non-wood fiber papers for even a small percentage of their overall purchases, than the prices of non-wood papers would
begin to drop.

At the Spring 1998 southeast regional SEAC conference, students decided, after hearing discussions about forest destruction in the US and of rainforests all over the world, to adopt a paper purchasing campaign for the southeast with a suggestion that it should become a national SEAC campaign. Universities have tremendous consumer power and by buying alternative fiber products and/or paper containing no virgin wood fiber they would create a demand that would make these markets more accessible and affordable to the general public. They would definitely put a dent in the tree-fiber market, ease the demand for tree-fiber products and send a strong message to industry and congress not to cut native forests.

The question is: How can students get their university to change its paper purchasing policies? This will not be an easy task, but by developing a strategy that works, using some basic guidelines and looking at universities ( i.e. The University of Virginia and Rutgers) that have already been successful with similar campaigns, a good concise plan can be mapped out.

Before you can begin, you must come up with achievable goals. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to get your university or college to buy only paper products that are made from tree-free fibers or contain no virgin wood products, but you may have to work on lesser goals first. Below is an outline for starting a campaign to change the paper purchasing policies on your campus.

I Research and gather information
II Analyze your information
III Develop a Plan of Action and Timeline
A. Establish target(s)
B. Select tactics
IV Approach your target(s)
A. Possibility of revising plan of action - depends on response
V Education and Outreach - Expanding your Support Base
VI Coalition Building
VII You're Successful! What's next?

Research and gather information

Research who buys paper on your campus, and determine what kind of paper, the recycle content, the cost of the paper and how much is bought at a time. Determine if any individual departments decide the type of paper they buy or is it left up to one individual who decides for the entire school. Your university may have to go through a department within their state to purchase paper - if so, determine which department and talk with the person in charge. Are there state mandates? What are their concerns (if any) about purchasing TF or PCW paper? Has your school or department tried high post-consumer waste paper or non-wood paper before? Why not? ( There could be many reasons: color concerns, quality concerns, price, availability) If they have tried alternative paper, were there any problems or complaints. Make a list of complaints, suggestions or praises.

At both The University of Virginia and Rutgers, university buyers helped the students with their campaign. Kevin Lyons, Rutgers buyer, has been working on "buying green" for Rutgers since 1988 and is a tremendous ally to the student environmental groups on campus. Althea White, UVa's purchasing manager, has been relentless in pursuing companies that sell high content PCW paper. Find out if there is anyone in your school's purchasing department who is concerned enough about this issue to help.
Research alternative paper and recycled paper; learn what materials are used to make alternative fiber paper and if these fibers are environmentally friendly. For instance, bamboo forests in Thailand are critical habitats for the Panda bear and many other species; deforestation of these habitats to make bamboo paper isn't an environmentally friendly choice.

When researching possible alternative papers, remember to determine how they were bleached. Paper that is bleached with chlorine creates high levels of toxic organochlorines, including cancer-causing dioxins and furons and is unacceptable. Paper bleached with chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite results in lower levels of organochlorines but are still not preferred. Look for PCW paper or recycled paper that is PCF. If paper made from virgin wood fiber is the only choice, TCF is clearly better.

Talk with the distributors that currently supply paper for your school. They may be able to help with information like how much paper your school buys and the recycled content. There is a list of alternative and recycled paper supplies attached to this guide. Talk with these distributors and find out what they have to offer because it is important to know the product that you want your university to purchase, and look for distributors other than the ones listed. Also, to set a good example, your group should be purchasing TF and high PCW paper.

University of Virginia discovered that their president signed on to the Talloires Declaration, a historic agreement signed by presidents of over 20 major universities around the world that called for higher educational institutions to pave the way in sustainability education, research and practice. Research your university for any agreements or declarations similar to this and if an environmental policy has been signed use it when approaching the head of your college or university.

Here is a list of other questions to help in your research:

• What are the purchasing policies for your university?
  
  
• Must the buyer take the lowest bid? Is there any leeway?
  
  
• Must departments purchase from campus procurement?
  
  
• Must campus procurement purchase from a centralized government warehouse?
  
  
• If so, what types of papers are available there?
  
  
• Do any school or government requirements to purchase recycled, PCF, or TCF papers apply?
  
  
• Might other environmental policy statements apply?
  
  
• If it didn't create any legal conflicts,would your school or department participate in a buying cooperative?
  
  
• Are campus copying machines set up with a double sided option?
  
  
• Could double sided be made the default setting for each machine?
  
  
• Can each machine reduce two pages to fit on one copy?
  
  
• Are there clear instructions posted for double sided and 2-1 copying?
  
  
• If your school uses paper towels, napkins, cups or plates, are they really needed?
  
  
• Are they bleached with chlorine chemicals?
  
  
• Do campus food outlets give a discount for drinks purchased with reusable mugs?

Analyze your information

Determine who your allies are and who your adversaries are and if there could be short term victories. ( i.e. Would there be a department that would switch to TF paper right away?) An immediate victory, no matter how small, will give credibility to your campaign and will help keep spirits high. Talk with the distributors that can offer your university the best deal. At this point, you should have a good idea the amount of paper your university or specific departments purchases. The higher volume bought, the lower the price. By analyzing your information carefully, your choices and next steps should be clear. Don't let it overwhelm you.

Develop a Plan of Action and Timeline

It is important that when you begin a plan of action that you determine specific tasks that need to be accomplished and then assign folks to those tasks - be sure to give them a timeline to finish their tasks. Structure is important or things won't get done. Have weekly meetings to discuss your progress.

A. Establish targets: Your targets should be individuals, such as the university president or regents, department heads, the head of purchasing or the student government, not the college or university as a whole. Personalize your approach for each target. Find out what you can about their environmental record. It is important to consider who would be the best person to approach.

B. Select tactics: Remember tactics are not strategy; they are tools to be used to achievespecific objectives. Tactics can be many things including: media events, petitions, letter writing, tabling, sit-ins, teach-ins, hearings, presentations, etc. The main thing is that your tactics are appropriate to your strategy. For each tactic that you use make sure there is a well thought out purpose behind it. Don't do a demonstration if there isn't a need for one or direct action without trying other things first. Don't write articles or letters to the editor until you have contacted your targets and specified your campaign. An effective campaign is like connecting dots. When all the dots are connected in the right order, they make a clear picture. Doing things in a precise and
timely manner will keep the campaign effectively going.

At Rutgers, after a lot of research, Kevin Lyons tactic was to deal directly with the vendors and come up with competitive prices. He looked at Rutger's entire purchasing policy and decided to change everything, not just paper. He was successful and proved it
was economical to purchase environmentally friendly products, but it took years because he had to develop a new university purchasing policy. UVa went a different route. Their 360 departments each have separate purchasing autonomy, so they sent a proposal directly to the administration telling them exactly what they wanted, why they wanted it, and why the administration should do it. They did not get an all encompassing decree from the president, but they did get help. They then planned a demonstration to educate the public in which they "Clear Cut the Lawn" by using guerrilla theater. Obviously, they didn't actually cut down the trees but their theatrics attracted the desired attention. At this demonstration they collected petition signatures and handed out information. They also effectively used the media; their demonstration was covered by TV, radio and print, and the administration responded positively.

Recently at the University of Georgia (UGA), a member of their Student for Environmental Awareness (SEA) group struck a deal with the student bookstores. He put up signs and a raffle box in each store notifying customers that if they bought recycled paper products, they would receive a raffle ticket. Whoever's name was drawn would receive a free CD player. It worked so well that a couple of the stores sold out of recycled paper products! They did this again in the Spring and got a local merchant to donate merchandise to be raffled.

SPEAK at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville is an example of one group that made an agreement with several vendors in the area to give a drink discount for folks who bring in refillable containers as part of a campaign to reduce paper usage. Many other colleges and universities are doing this as well.

These are just a few creative ideas that STUDENTS came up with, and they work! So be innovative and have fun with your campaigns. Everything you can do to reduce consumption of wood products helps.

Approach your target(s)

Do not attack your target(s) - go to them and explain what you want to do and why. Be nice and courteous; they may have already considered doing what you're asking but not had the resources, information or support to change paper purchasing policies. Remember, at UVa and Rutgers the buyers wanted to help with the students' campaigns, and they did! Also, approach your target(s) at the appropriate time. You should have your initial research and information gathering finished. Before you talk with your target(s), know the products and prices that your university purchases. Be able to offer competitive prices or have a feasible economical solution. For instance, you might be able to purchase 100% recycled toilet paper that is cheaper than toilet paper currently being used and that could off-set having to spend more on copier/printer paper. You might want to come up with a paper reduction solution that would allow spending more on TF paper.

Possibility of revising plan of action:

There is a possibility that after you approach your target(s) that you will have to change your plan of action. You might be lucky and find that your purchasing department just needs to be connected with a distributor or you may run into a brick wall where no one wants to help you. Kevin Lyons at Rutgers initiated everything and determined the plan of action for that university. At UVa, Althea White does a good job finding post-consumer recycled paper and works with other schools in order to offer a larger market to potential distributors, but lets the student groups work with getting the individual departments to switch and campaign strategies. Be flexible - even though you have come up with a beautiful plan of action, parts of it may not be necessary while other parts might have to be intensified if you aren't getting any positive responses from your target(s).

Education and Outreach - Expanding your Support Base

Talk to folks who can help you if they are open to it; if they're not move on to someone who is. Get your information out. Pass out fact sheets, create an information table, start a petition and letter drive, get an article in your school paper, do a presentation to your school counsel and other like-mind organizations, etc. It is important that you thoroughly know your topic before you give any presentations.

UVa gave away 150 reams of two different high PCW papers to various departments with a survey about how they liked the paper. They followed up with action memos and e-mails about how to purchase the paper. UVa also did slide presentations to various student groups and departments.

Your campaign should outreach to as many diverse groups as possible. For instance, if your school has a medical program, talk to them about dioxin. Explain that the pulp and paper industry uses chlorine bleaching that results in mass quantities of cancer causing by-products being dumped into our lakes, streams and rivers. Talk to the agriculture department about using agriculture residue to make paper and how some paper companies are combining ag-residue with paper waste to make quality paper products without any virgin tree fiber. Figure out how much time and money this campaign will take and determine if you need outside help. You'll have help from outside activists if you want it. Some questions to ask yourselves: How do we keep the campaign going? Do we need technical assistance? Do we have enough training and knowledge to make this campaign work?

VI Coalition Building: Stay in touch with other colleges and universities who are working on the same campaign. Compare notes; exchange ideas; give moral support; go to conferences. Reach out to other clubs and groups in your community that can help you achieve your goals. When this campaign started at Rutgers there were over 25 environmental/ecology groups; once they joined forces, things got accomplished. Attend meetings that involve other environmental issues - talk with activists, politicians, and community leaders. Get recognized and really communicate with people who can help you even if that help is minor. People always have connections. Don't be shy about sharing your campaign with others. This isn't a secret and the more people who know the better your chances are to connect with someone who can help. In some cases it will take knowing just one person to win your objective - for instance, the person in charge of purchasing paper. It is important to build coalitions whenever the opportunity presents itself, especially during the research process.

For most colleges and universities, getting your school to change to TF or PCW paper will not be a quick campaign. It may take a few years; it may not. It will be essential to recruit freshman and sophomores into your group so that they can continue all the hard work you started. Find a faculty or administrative member to get involved so that he/she knows the campaign, understands the strategies and timelines and will be a constant reference for students.

Please use the list of contacts in this guide! All the folks on the list want to help you and do not mind you contacting them. We want you to contact us - it is part of what we do!

You are Successful !

What's next?: Have a huge celebration!

This is a major victory and you have played a big part in reducing wood consumption in the US and increased the market for tree-free paper. However, there is other work to be done. For instance how does your university handle waste and recycling? What about radioactive and hazardous waste? Is your university energy efficient? The list goes on. Mary Anne Peine and Jamie Pizzirusso have revised their 1997 publication, Environmental Blueprint for the Twenty-first Century: The Greening of Big Orange.
This is an excellent resource for any college and university that wants to comprehensively address their campus environmental policies. In this well documented publication examples and resources are cited. Any group wanting a copy of this should contact Mike McKinney: 423-974-2368 or MMcKinney@utk.edu.

Students have been incredibly effective in the environmental movement and will continue to be, but it is important that older students successfully recruit and pass their legacy to younger students. All your hard work should not be lost simply because you graduate. Keep things going, but don't forget to have fun. Enjoy what Mother Earth has given us and rejoice in it. It is what we all are working for.

Glossary of Terms

ECF - Elemental Chlorine Free: paper manufactured with chlorine dioxide rather than elemental chlorine in its bleaching process. This produces lower levels of organochlorines than paper bleached with elemental chlorine.

PCF - Processed Chlorine Free: recycled paper processed without additional chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

TCF - Totally Chlorine Free: paper with 100% virgin wood fibers manufactured without chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

PCW - Post Consumer Waste: paper produced from recovered wood products.

RP - Recycled Paper: paper that may be made from wood by-products that occur when processing trees. Recycled paper may not be made from finished wood products or recovered paper. Also known as pre-consumer recycled content.

TF - Tree-Free: paper that is produced from totally tree-free fibers.

NVW - No Virgin Wood: paper that is 100% PCW, 100% TF, or a combination.

Paper sources

Graphic Paper/PCW 100
31 Windsor Place, Central Islip, NY 11722 - http://www.pcwl00.com
Contact: Greg Barber - pcwl00@pcwl00.com - (800) 840-4555 ext.195
One of their papers is New Life Dual Purpose - a white, 100% recycled (75%
post-consumer & 25% pre-consumer) PCF paper which can be a competitive
replacement for coping and printing. Large orders are about $3 a ream. The
Environmental City Task Force is the Southeast distributor.

Friendly Chameleon
223 Sumac Street Philadelphia, PA 19128 - (215) 487-3317
chameleon@igc.apc.org
hemp & TF combinations

Green Earth Office Supply
P.O. Box 719, Redwood Estates, CA 95044 - (800) 327-8449/(408) 353-2096
geo7@ix.netcom.com http://www.webcom.com/geos/treefree.html

Living Tree Paper
1430 Willamette Street, #367, Eugene, OR 97401 - (800) 309-2974
Manufactures forest-friendly paper: 70% agricultural waste, 20% PCW and 10% hemp.

Vision Paper
PO Box 20399, Albuquerque, NM 87154-0399 - (505) 294-0293 - kenaf

Ecolution
2800 Juniper Street, #2, Fairfax, VA 22031 - (800) 769-HEMP - 100% hemp

Crane & Co.
30 South Street, Dalton, MA 01226 - (800) 527-2676
Selling: denim scrap, old money, PCW, cotton, & flax www.crane.com

Re-Copy by Amerikal
(847) 949-8690 - 100% post-consumer, PCF paper at about $20 a case

Kinko's
Promised to carry 100% post-consumer in every store, but it may have to be special
ordered. Ask for the regional manager if request is denied or call 1-800-2-KINKOS.

Domtar's Sandpiper - (800) 267-3060 (100% PCW)

Fox River's Quest - (800) 558-8327 (100% PCW)

Fraiser Paper's Genesis - (800) 543-3297 (100% PCW)

Mohawk's Vellum - (800) 843-6455 (100% PCW)

Esleek - (413) 863-4326 (denim scraps)

Watson - (505) 242-9351 (denim scraps)

Costa Rica Natural - (800) 777-3378 (banana stalk)

Abrokem - (604) 322-1317 (wheat straw)

Kimberly Clark - (800) 558-5061 (ag-residue)

EcoSource Paper (Canada) - (800) 665-6944

Tree-free EcoPaper - (800) 755-0255

Real Goods Trading Co. - (800) 762-7325