A comprehensive guide to printing paper, from size to thickness and certifications to sustainability

A3 paper is twice the size of A4, and A4 is twice that of A5. The easiest way to remember paper sizes is that the smaller the number, the bigger the size. For instance, A1 is larger than A2, which is larger than A3, and so on.

A4 and A3: Most commonly used in schools and businesses.
A5: Widely used in health care (pharmacies, hospitals, doctors.)
SRA4, SRA3 and SRA2: Used by printing companies for brochures, advertising, posters, and artwork

'SRA’ stands for ‘Supplementary Raw format A’ sizes, meaning they are slightly larger than Standard A-series paper (A3, A4, A5). Professional printers often use SRA3, SRA2, and SRA1 series paper when making larger format prints as they have extra space for bleed and trim.

SRA3 > A3
SRA4 > A4
SRA2 > A2

These sizes are ideal for brochures, booklets, and other large-format prints.

Foolscap is a traditional size paper mostly used in Europe and the British Commonwealth. It is 203 x 330 mm and slightly bigger than A4 size paper (210 x 297 mm).

Foolscap is not as common today, and its size is comparable to that of a legal pad or large sketchbook. However, it still has some uses. For example:

• It is used in ring binders and lever arch files
• These files often store A4 paper
• Foolscap is bigger, so it protects the edges of A4 pages better

This way, important documents stay in good condition.

GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter.

• 80 GSM: Standard copy paper sufficient for everyday printing needs.
• Most printers are designed to take paper between 65 GSM and 300 GSM. Too light paper (less than 65 GSM) can cause jams and feed issues.
• Digital paper is usually 100 GSM and above.
• Higher GSM means thicker paper, which is less likely to tear or show through when double-sided printing.
• Higher GSM papers generally provide better print quality but cost more. They bleed through less, which is crucial for colour printing or documents with heavy ink coverage.

Most businesses in Australia and New Zealand use 80 GSM paper, which offers the best balance of quality, performance, and cost. In South Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe, 65-70 GSM paper is widely used.

CIE stands for Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage or International Commission on Illumination. CIE has developed the standard for measuring paper whiteness. A higher CIE value signifies a whiter paper.

FSC certified products support responsible forestry management and sustainable sourcing practices throughout the supply chain.

PEFC promotes sustainable forest management and ensures forest-based products that reach the market have been sourced from sustainably managed forests. 

OfficeMax holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody (FSC®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Chain of Custody Certification (PEFC).

Carbon neutral paper refers to OfficeMax measuring and offsetting the carbon emissions (CO2) associated with a paper product's lifecycle. A life cycle assessment measures the environmental impact of a product from raw material extraction to manufacture, transportation, and final disposal. To offset the emissions associated with this product, OfficeMax purchases carbon credits.

Virgin fibre paper is paper that has been sourced directly from a tree as is—i.e., it hasn't been mixed with other materials or made from recycled content.

By selling paper with recycled content, we are reducing the pressure on sourcing virgin fibre and reducing waste sent to landfills. However, paper can only be recycled a limited number of times (3-5 times) and does not produce paper of the same quality. 

Each time paper is recycled, some of the fibres break down. It takes more energy, pulp, and water to produce paper from recycled than virgin fibre. The benefits are that recycled paper can reduce forest demands, extend the useful fibre life of trees, and reduce waste in landfills.

Both virgin fibre and recycled paper play important roles in sustainability and are essential to meeting global demand while ensuring environmental responsibility.

• Uncoated copy paper is inherently biodegradable and compostable
• Wrapper made from recyclable and biodegradable (EN13432) paper can be recycled with normal paper waste with no extra treatment.

• Glossy paper, food-stained or thermal papers (e.g., receipts)
• Coated paper with plastic layers and paper laminated in plastic
• Some specialty papers may not qualify for the council recycling programs

• Remove staples, clips, rubber bands, and sticky notes before recycling
• Keep paper clean and dry and store it in dedicated recycling bins
• Separate glossy from regular copy paper
• Consider partnering with a professional recycling service and implementing transparent sorting systems for businesses handling large volumes.

Remember, proper paper recycling helps the environment and ensures that paper can be effectively transformed into new products.