Carbon Neutral Government program paper reporting

Emissions from 500-sheet (20 lb) packages of printer paper are in scope, all other types of paper are out of scope.

Unlike other emissions sources in the Carbon Neutral Government program, paper emissions are life cycle emissions. Life cycle emissions encompass all greenhouse gases released throughout a product's entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.

Note: 20 lb in this context refers to the density of the paper, not the weight.

In-scope paper

Multipurpose copy paper

• 500-sheet (20lb) packages
• Usage: for laser printers, fax machines, photocopiers, and multifunction devices
• Sizes: 8.5” x 11”, 8.5” x 14”, 11” x 17”
• Colours: all colours
• Material varieties: wood fiber and non-wood fiber sources including wheat, eucalyptus, sugarcane, and bamboo

Out-of-scope paper

General use

• Envelopes: for official and personal communication
• Note pads and writing paper: for jotting down ideas, taking notes, and other writing needs

Specialty papers

• Card stock: thick and durable, for crafting and official documents
• Plotter paper: used for large scale printouts, commonly for design or architectural work
• Photo paper: designed for photo printouts

Pre-printed stationery

• Letterheads, forms, and other pre-designed paper essentials for official and business communication

Student supplies

• Paper that is sold to students for personal use, typically available in a university supply store
• Paper used for the production and distribution of educational resources

Other paper

• Paper packages that are not the standard 20 lb, for instance, 24 lb paper packages