Enemies of Paper - Internal Threats
Not all papers are the same, and choosing a permanent paper is not an easy task.
Paper quality is determined by a number of factors including:
- paper fibre cotton, wood, recycled
- manufacturing process
- acidic impurities and additives.
Word of Warning! Recycled paper is not always the right choice. Why? Because papers made from recycled fibres have a limited life span of 10 - 30 years. Their fibres are shorter and weaker than virgin fibres.
You can still use recycled paper for documents that are not required for more than ten years such as draft documents, message pads, bulk distribution leaflets and internal telephone directories.
But for the permanent record get smart, get permanent paper. If your records are required to last ten years or longer - always choose permanent paper. There are specifications and standards for permanent paper and details of these can be supplied by the Preservation Services Branch.
