{"id":1355,"date":"2021-04-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cos.p10.sol1.net\/uncategorized\/your-complete-guide-to-office-paper-cos\/"},"modified":"2024-11-26T01:05:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T01:05:48","slug":"complete-guide-to-office-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/complete-guide-to-office-paper","title":{"rendered":"Your Complete Guide to Office Paper &#8211; COS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the wild world of office printing, where it can be virtually impossible to know which type of <a title=\"paper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/category\/paper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paper<\/a> to choose for your office printer.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:post-content --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>How can you tell if the paper is <em>eco-friendly<\/em>? What\u2019s the difference between <em>Brightness<\/em> and <em>Whiteness<\/em>? And how about <em>Grammage<\/em> vs <em>Thickness<\/em> vs <em>Stiffness<\/em>? It can be confusing!<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But don\u2019t stress \u2013 we at COS have compiled this handy guide to tell you everything you\u2019ve ever wanted to know (and even some stuff you didn\u2019t) about choosing the right paper for your office!<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2>Which Office Paper is Good for the Planet?<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>The first thing to consider is where the paper comes from.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Paper-Body-Image-1.png\" alt=\"Paper crafts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Paper-Body-Image-1.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/11\/Paper-Body-Image-1-300x180.png.avif 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/Paper-Body-Image-1.png 500w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/Paper-Body-Image-1-300x180.png 300w&quot;}\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<h3>Virgin Paper<\/h3>\n<p><em>Virgin Wood Fibre Paper<\/em> is typically manufactured directly from trees, without any recycled or alternative fibres. Virgin fibres are popular because they produce whiter, higher quality paper. But if you are buying Virgin paper, it is important to choose paper that is sustainably sourced. Look for products with environmentally responsible certification, such as <em>FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)<\/em>, which supports responsible forest management worldwide. These logos identify that the paper is produced from responsibly sourced materials, and minimises environmental impacts.<\/p>\n<p>Some virgin paper types that are sustainable forest certified according to the FSC include the A4 <a style=\"text-align: var(--text-align); background-color: var( --e-global-color-6758e1c ); font-size: 1rem;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/paper\/white-copy-paper\/COS-Premium-A4-80gsm-Copy-Paper-PAPE7970\">COS Premium 80gsm Copy Paper<\/a> and A3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/paper\/white-copy-paper\/COS-A3-80gsm-Premium-Copy-Paper-PAPE8820\">COS Premium 80gsm Copy Paper.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Recycled Paper<\/h3>\n<p>From the manufacturing stage to the consumption stage, paper production produces paper waste. In the past, this paper waste has either been burned or buried in landfills. This is obviously pretty terrible for the environment! That\u2019s why it is so important to buy<em>\u00a0Recycled Paper<\/em> and <em>Close the Loop<\/em> (reuse and recycle). Recycled paper is measured by a percentage of <em>Pre <\/em>and<em>\u00a0Post-Consumer<\/em> waste. What does this mean?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Pre-Consumer:<\/em><\/strong> this is paper that is recovered after the papermaking process but before use by a consumer.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Post-Consumer:<\/em><\/strong> these are waste materials recovered after being used by a consumer.<\/p>\n<p>Some examples of recycled paper include the A4 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/paper\/recycled-copy-paper\/COS-A4-80gsm-100-Recycled-Copy-Paper-PAPE9238\">White 80gsm 100% Recycled Paper<\/a> and A3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/paper\/recycled-copy-paper\/COS-A3-80gsm-100-Recycled-Copy-Paper-PAPE9237\">White 80gsm 100% Recycled Paper.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>Does Office Paper Have Certification?<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>It is important to choose paper that is sustainably certified, so that you know it has been independently approved as meeting international standards through its production and supply chain. Look for the following logos. These logos identify different things, but they all show you that environmental impacts have been minimised.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/COSpedia-Image-Paper-Icons.jpg\" alt=\"Paper Certification Icons and their meanings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/COSpedia-Image-Paper-Icons.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/04\/COSpedia-Image-Paper-Icons-300x200.jpg.avif 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/COSpedia-Image-Paper-Icons.jpg 600w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/COSpedia-Image-Paper-Icons-300x200.jpg 300w&quot;}\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>How to Choose the Right Office Paper?<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Choosing your office paper seems simple enough, right? Think again! Here are some aspects to choosing the perfect paper that you may not have thought of. Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t get it all straight away!<\/p>\n<h3>Paper Size<\/h3>\n<p>The first thing to think about is your paper size. Our most popular sizes are A4 and A3. A4 is the standard size that you would usually use for printing paper (210 x 297mm), whereas A3 is roughly twice the size (297 x 430mm).<\/p>\n<h3>Paper Coating<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong><em>Uncoated Paper\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u2013 This paper is the most common type of paper for printing. As the name suggests, Uncoated Paper has no coating.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong><em>Matte Paper\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u2013 This paper has a smooth light coating that adds contract to images and makes the paper feel slightly smoother.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\"><em>Glossy Paper<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This paper has a glossy coating that is thicker than standard paper, making it ideal for photos, posters and marketing materials.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong><em>Silk\/Satin Paper<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This is a high-quality smooth coating that makes the printing very vibrant in colour and sharper text.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Roughness vs. Smoothness<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Roughness<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<em>Roughness<\/em> describes the surface texture of the paper. Low roughness paper is smoother and allows finer details to be printed. The higher the number, the rougher the sheet.<\/li>\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\"><em>Smoothness<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<em style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Smoothness<\/em>\u00a0refers to the flatness of a sheet of paper, which generally determines the crispness of the image printed upon it. This is measured under a moderate pressure to see how the paper performs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other things to consider include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong><em>Opacity<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<em>Opacity<\/em>\u00a0measures the transparency of a piece of paper (opaqueness). The more fibres or fillers in a paper, the less opaque it will be. Higher opacity ensures that the print from the opposite side of the sheet is not visible and is suited for double-sided printing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong><em>Moisture<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<em>Moisture<\/em> refers to the amount of water contained in paper expressed as a percentage of the paper\u2019s total weight. Moisture loss or gain can be seen across the surface of a paper. Wavy edges or baggy edges on paper have gained moisture while tight edges have lost moisture.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>The Difference Between Whiteness and Brightness<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Although they might sound like the same thing, it\u2019s important to know the difference between whiteness and brightness when it comes to paper.<\/p>\n<h3>CIE Whiteness<\/h3>\n<p><em>CIE Whiteness<\/em>\u00a0is the internationally recognised standard for measuring paper whiteness.\u00a0<em>Whiteness\u00a0<\/em>refers to the shade of the paper, measuring a combination of shades (blue, yellow) as well as brightness of paper surface. Many paper grades have whiteness well above 100 due to the addition of Fluorescent whitening agents. The whiter the paper the brighter the printing will be.<\/p>\n<h3>Brightness with UV<\/h3>\n<p><em>Brightness<\/em>\u00a0refers to the volume of light reflected off the sheet of paper. The brighter &amp; whiter the paper, the better and more vivid the colour prints will be.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>How Do They Make Office Paper White?<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Paper does not naturally come out white, so it is necessary to whiten it. Traditionally it is whitened using\u00a0<em>Elemental Chlorine (CI) gas<\/em>, which also removes Lignin, an element of wood fibre that yellows paper when it\u2019s exposed to sunlight. However, this chemical is very dangerous to humans and the planet \u2013 and this pollution doesn\u2019t break down naturally over time, it just accumulates in the environment. Chlorine gas is so dangerous to humans that it was actually used in World War I as a chemical weapon! Until the 1990\u2019s, it was used in 90% of paper pulp production. Thankfully nowadays it\u2019s more like 20%. Instead of this dangerous chemical, we use the\u00a0<em>Elemental Chlorine Free\u00a0(ECF) technique<\/em>\u00a0to whiten our paper at COS. It\u2019s important to choose paper that is produced using the<em>\u00a0ECF technique<\/em>, because it doesn\u2019t result in this dangerous environmental impact.<\/p>\n<p>What about Grammage, Thickness and Stiffness?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m glad you\u2019re still reading! Hang in there, we\u2019ll get to the good stuff in the following paragraphs. When it comes to\u00a0<em>Grammage<\/em>\u00a0vs\u00a0<em>Thickness<\/em>\u00a0vs\u00a0<em>Stiffness<\/em>, you\u2019d be forgiven for getting confused. Read on to find out the difference.<\/p>\n<h3>GSM Grammage<\/h3>\n<p><em>Grammage<\/em>\u00a0refers to the density of paper or cardboard is the weight of the product, measured by the amount that a square metre weighs. The higher the\u00a0<em>GSM<\/em>\u00a0number, the heavier the paper.<\/p>\n<h3>Thickness<\/h3>\n<p>The physical\u00a0<em>Thickness<\/em>\u00a0of a piece of paper<em>\u00a0(Caliper)<\/em>\u00a0is usually expressed in thousandths of an inch. A higher\u00a0<em>caliper<\/em>\u00a0will have a more substantial feel and flexibility with better quality print coverage.<\/p>\n<h3>Stiffness<\/h3>\n<p><em>Stiffness\u00a0<\/em>is the ability of paper to resist an applied bending force and to support its own weight while being handled. An adequate degree of\u00a0<em>Stiffness<\/em>\u00a0is important to avoid distortion of the paper, and a sheet that is too limp can cause feeding problems in copiers and printers.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>How to Load Office Paper into Your Printer<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paper-Body-Image-5.png\" alt=\"Loading office paper into a printer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paper-Body-Image-5.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/04\/Paper-Body-Image-5-300x180.png.avif 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Paper-Body-Image-5.png 500w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Paper-Body-Image-5-300x180.png 300w&quot;}\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>Now for the really useful stuff!<\/p>\n<p>Loading paper into your printer is a relatively easy task, but can result in printer jams and other frustrations if done incorrectly. Follow these two easy steps for a perfect printing experience:<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lA_c1wKzeAc&amp;t=1s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Click here<\/strong>\u00a0to watch our video<\/a>\u00a0for handy tips on how to load your printer for the best printing experience.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Air out your paper before loading<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most paper is packaged at the same time it\u2019s cut, which means that there tends to be no air in between the sheets of paper when it\u2019s packaged. This makes it harder for your printer to load only one sheet at a time.<\/p>\n<p>Air out your paper before loading into the tray, by fluffing or lightly fanning it to help separate the sheets so they feed smoothly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Prevent your paper from curling<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Paper is always packed with the printable side up. So, as soon as you receive your fresh box of paper, flip it over so that gravity will help to flatten it.<\/p>\n<p>If you notice any curl in the paper before loading into the printer, gently but firmly bend the paper back against itself in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n<p>Ensure you print on the correct side of the paper, because the heat of the fuser will counteract the natural curl of the paper and you\u2019ll end up with a flatter sheet of paper.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>Handling Office Paper and Printer Jams<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Paper-Body-Image-6.png\" alt=\"Broken Office Printer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Paper-Body-Image-6.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/05\/Paper-Body-Image-6-300x180.png.avif 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/05\\\/Paper-Body-Image-6.png 500w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/05\\\/Paper-Body-Image-6-300x180.png 300w&quot;}\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>Well, one thing you definitely\u00a0<em>should not do<\/em>\u00a0is take it out on your copy machine (as this image depicts). More likely than not, it is not the printers fault. Instead, try troubleshooting the problem before you grab that baseball bat.<\/p>\n<h3>Reset the memory<\/h3>\n<p>Your office printer is smarter than you think. Over time, if a printer has been using the same kind of paper repeatedly, the printer forms a memory for that paper. So, when you change brands or paper type, your printer may struggle to recognise the new paper, potentially causing jams and frustration. The good news is that this doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s anything wrong with your printer or your new paper, the printer might simply require a service in order to reset the memory.<\/p>\n<h3>Check how your paper is stored<\/h3>\n<p>Your copy paper is actually quite sensitive. It\u2019s made from tree pulp which is a natural resource, so it\u2019s highly responsive to temperature and humidity changes. If your paper is stored in an unsuitable environment, you risk curling, waving, static and other issues. These can all affect how your printer interacts with each sheet and often leads to avoidable paper jams. High moisture content can affect the transfer of toner onto the paper, resulting in poor image quality or image deletions. It can also cause curling which is a common reason for paper jams. Low moisture content can contribute to increased static electricity, which means sheets can stick together and feed through the printer at once. This is also a cause of paper jams, as well as bad stacking.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>How to Store Paper:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Store paper in a cool, dry, stable climate. Paper stores best at around 20C and a relative humidity of 35 to 55 percent.<\/li>\n<li>Store away from direct sunlight<\/li>\n<li>Keep reams flat and wrapped until use<\/li>\n<li>Use up an open packet before opening a new one<\/li>\n<li>Acclimatise paper between storage and printing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2>Why You Need to Acclimatise Office Paper<\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Paper that is stored separately to your office, such as in a warehouse, basement or storage room, will need time to acclimatise before you use it. By letting it adjust, the paper has time for its moisture levels to balance. How long your paper will need to acclimatise depends on the paper quantity and the temperature difference between storage and the office. For the standard office, it could be between 13 and 30 hours.<\/p><div class='watch-action'><div class='watch-position align-left'><div class='action-like'><a class='lbg-style3 like-1355 jlk' href='javascript:void(0)' data-task='like' data-post_id='1355' data-nonce='3c6d52cef8' rel='nofollow'><img class='wti-pixel' src='https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Did you find this useful?' \/><span class='lc-1355 lc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class='action-unlike'><a class='unlbg-style3 unlike-1355 jlk' href='javascript:void(0)' data-task='unlike' data-post_id='1355' data-nonce='3c6d52cef8' rel='nofollow'><img class='wti-pixel' src='https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post\/images\/pixel.gif' title='' \/><span class='unlc-1355 unlc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <div class='status-1355 status align-left'><\/div><\/div><div class='wti-clear'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are many kinds of office paper available in the market, but which one do you really need?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8],"tags":[1076,530,1077,1078,1079,1080,1081,724,1052,1082,1083,1084,1085,234,1086,1087,1088],"class_list":["post-1355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cospedia","category-productivity","tag-copy-machine","tag-copy-paper","tag-guide-to","tag-guide-to-office-paper","tag-how-to-choose-office-paper","tag-how-to-choose-paper","tag-how-to-store-paper","tag-office","tag-office-life","tag-office-printing-paper","tag-paper","tag-paper-jam","tag-printing","tag-stationery","tag-which-paper-is-best-for-printing","tag-working","tag-workplace"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1355"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47151,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1355\/revisions\/47151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}