In 2005 International Paper announced a new technology which allowed them to increase paper brightness levels from 84 to 92.  Prior to that time acceptable brightness levels for copy paper were in the 82-84 brightness range.  Today the paper brightness chase is nearing the extremes with new papers entering the marketplace with brightness ratings of 98 and even 100!

 

Paper brightness is determined by measuring light wavelengths reflected off the surface of a sheet paper.  Special additives are often required to make paper brighter such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate and florescent dyes as well as the chlorine bleaching of the pulp.  Many view the manufacturing of higher and higher brightness papers as a marketing tactic to make some papers appear more desirable than others to the consumer.  Unfortunately, the consumer often ends up paying a premium for high brightness papers when less expensive, less bright papers are adequate for most applications. 

 

Luckily the federal government is moving to bring some sanity to the brightness issue.  They point out that more energy is used to manufacture it, the paper is actually weakened, more trees are pulped to make it, and more wastewater treatment is required to clean it up.