The production of recycled toilet paper requires 50 percent less energy when compared to paper made with virgin wood pulp, which comes from forests across the world. As even recycled paper is bleached to become whiter, a greener option is 100 percent recycled unbleached toilet paper. Bleached toilet paper can contain traces of formaldehyde, a toxic agent and skin irritant which can cause vulvar irritation in some women.
In addition to toilet paper, unbleached recycled paper can also become napkins, kitchen towels and tissues. These products are often stronger and do not need to be bright white to use. Another advantage of unbleached recycled products is that they degrade quicker than bleached products after use. Although the label PCF (process chlorine free) indicates that chlorine was not used in the product, it does not exclude the use of other bleaching agents.
Unbleached recycled paper can also be used to make cone-style coffee filters and disposable coffee cups. Unbleached recycled parchment paper is often coated with silicone resins instead of quilon, a most common and cheaper alternative, which contains the heavy metal chromium. Other unbleached recycled paper products used to bake include sheets of baking paper and baking cups.
It is possible to make notebooks, envelopes, printing paper and other stationery items with unbleached recycled paper. Some educational institutions, such as the University of Alaska Anchorage, use unbleached 100 percent recycled paper in their official stationery, as well as in the staff's business cards. Unbleached recycled paper can also become storage boxes and greeting cards.