I have just checked the paper in our office. It was sourced from responsible sources (FSC) and does not contain chlorine. It also features the EU ecolabel (with the sunflower) and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. It recommends that users collect used paper for recycling. However, the paper itself is not recycled.

I will explore this issue further. If recycled paper turns out to be better than this eco-friendly wood-sourced paper, do I buy my own recycled paper, or shall we start a campaign to change the university's preferred paper supply to recycled?

To be continued!

Lots of opportunities to improve insulation in my house.

I have no car, so taking public transport is not really a challenge for me. However, I try to avoid taking public transport, instead using my bike to get to work, etc. I experience biking to work along the river as very relaxing. 

I am all for 'slow', so I prefer to walk to the train station. I have decided to make more time for this. 

I did some research on adding a compost heap to my back garden today. It turns out my garden is too small for a heap, but I could use a compost bin. 

However, since my city collects organic waste (vegetable, fruit, and garden waste) separately, starting a compost bin does not to be an advantage. The Dutch environmental agency Milieucentraal writes that it is unknown whether DIY composting is better for the environment than large-scale composting of organic waste. They do see advantages in terms of energy use and transport if I compost in my back garden, but they also warn that if not done properly, composting can produce methane gas, adding to global warming. It ain't easy being green. 

To make up for the challenge, I will revisit the rules for organic waste in my municipality, to make sure that I am not adding things to my green bin that should not be in there -- I have learnt that composting is quite a tricky process.

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