Green paper products are often identified by certifications that outline criteria for post-consumer fiber, recovered fiber and processed chlorine free, but these terms can be easily misinterpreted.

Post-consumer fiber is finished product that served its purpose, and then was recovered from or otherwise diverted from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling.

Recovered fiber is fiber generated after the completion of the paper making process, such as post-consumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, butt rolls and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories and rejected unused stock.

Processed chlorine free means that environmentally friendly paper isn't rebleached using chlorine or chlorine derivatives.