Mike Shepherd, director of administrative services in the Purchasing Office, celebrated UALR’s Sustainability Day earlier this semester by offering 20 campus clients a free package of 100 percent recycled copy paper.

“We asked that as a condition of receiving the ‘free’ paper that the recipient complete and return  a report of the 100 percent recycled paper’s performance,” Shephard said.

Nine respondents offered positive comments and only one didn’t like the change.

“I couldn’t tell the difference between this paper and our other paper,” one respondent said. “It had the same look and feel as normal paper. It was pure white unlike older recycled paper.”

Negative comments said the paper was too flimsy or not good for high-volume printing.

Recycled paper has improved and can be considered a sustainable alternative to virgin paper, Shepherd said.

“The remaining drawback is cost,” he said. “A case of virgin paper costs $24.88 while recycled paper costs $27.27 under state contract prices.”

Is $2.59 per case worth moving toward sustainability?

“I think it is,” Shepherd said.