Having researched the buying habits of paper purchasers in corporate roles, Arjowiggins discovered around half do not understand the range of recycled papers available to them.
One in four of the respondents said that they relied on a dedicated printer for advice on which paper to buy, while a third of respondents who felt they had a very good understanding of recycled paper felt it was of poorer quality than non-recycled.
Arjowiggins' corporate affairs manager Shannan Hodgson said: "Printers are in a very strong position commercially as they are unrivalled in their understanding of the use and suitability of different papers.
"This provides them with a great opportunity to show that they understand the requirements of their clients can add value to their business and help them meet sustainability objectives through recommending the right recycled papers."
The survey, which featured 100 people responsible for paper purchasing who hold a CSR role and 100 people responsible for paper purchasing who do not, also confirmed that CSR policies are on the increase. Of the respondents, 30% said sourcing sustainable materials was the biggest environmental challenge facing the business.
Hodgson added: "The recession saw costs being cut across the board and in many fields this superseded commitment to procuring sustainable materials. Recently, however, we have seen customers return their focus to securing sustainable products and quality is now one of the top two most important factors when making purchasing decisions."
