Information about labels
Paper
Always look for 100% recycled
Some other important terms:
Post-consumer: has been recycled using paper that has already been used and collected from through recycling collection at work and home. Kind of what you might expect a recycled paper to be!
Pre-consumer: are the off cuts of the paper manufacturing process, often from non-recycled paper. Purchasing this paper contributes the demand for non-recycled paper.
Non-chlorine bleached or Oxygen bleached: Uses a process that is free of chlorine in the paper whitening process. Chlorine is an environmentally harmful chemical.
We have enough paper in Australia in the recycling stream to use only recycled product!
For more info see the Know your Paper Guide developed by the NSW State Department of Environment and Conservation in 2004
Energy
EnergyStar: Many office appliances (computer hard drives, monitors, photocopiers, printers, faxes, etc) have EnergyStar approval. This means they have a power saving option that can be activated.
The appliance will automatically ‘go to sleep’ into power save mode, after a tine period (eg 15 minutes) decided by you.
6 star rating system: In Australia, many household appliances (fridges, washing machines, etc) are rated according to their energy efficiency and overall energy use. A sticker on the front of the appliance displays its rating – the more stars the better!
This rating system being extended to some AV equipment (televisions, stereos) in the near future.
Water
AAA rating: Appliances that use water also attract an Australian standard. Dishwashers, washing machines, taps and showerheads are some appliances that attract this.
