By purchasing paper and paper goods with recycled content we can affect the choices that paper mills eventually make as investors in new technology and processes, thereby saving our forests and protecting our watersheds.

You'll find different levels of recycled content in paper and other supplies-from 10 to 30 percent, and sometimes up to 100 percent post-consumer waste. Look for the recycled symbol (chasing arrows), and a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled content, also known as post-consumer waste. Dedicated recyclers can find three-ring binders made of recycled corrugated cardboard and pocket portfolios and dividers made from 100 percent recycled paperboard (the majority post-consumer).

As you sort through your eco-friendly options, remember also that paper products bleached without chlorine are safer all around. Making sound choices relies on understanding definitions, enforced federal standards, and accurate labeling. The sustainability ratings are based on the percentage of a store's office supplies and paper that are sustainably made and produced and/or are made from recycled or reclaimed resources.

To learn more about the Greenopia and their ratings, visit www.greenopia.com.