Eco-friendly paper, is exactly what its name implies: A greener version of traditional paper, with a smaller carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. There are two main kinds of eco-friendly paper. The first is recycled paper. The second is FSC Certified paper.

The truth is that virgin fiber harvested using recognized third-party certified sustainable forestry practices is as environmentally sound like the use of recycled paper. While the recycled paper does reduce waste, paper's full life cycle must be considered before making a determination.

Recycling paper helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change. ... Best of all, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

Although paper is considered by many the “better” option, it too has harmful environmental impacts. First, paper bags and straws are made from trees. Trees act as a carbon sink, temporarily storing carbon from the atmosphere which reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, thereby lessening climate change.

Fiction: Many believe that paper bags are more environmentally friendly than plastic bags because they are made from a renewable resource, can biodegrade, and are recyclable. Fact: Plastic shopping bags outperform paper bags environmentally – on manufacturing, on reuse, and on solid waste volume and generation.