Paper for office use is normally between 70gsm and 80gsm. Some companies sometimes use a heavier paper 90gsm to 120gsm for formal correspondance.

Above 120gsm comeS various thicknesses of card with 160gsm and 200gsm being most common.

• Recycled paper. Improvements in technology mean that modern recycled paper is practically indistinguishable from standard paper in terms of quality of finish and performance. Collecting and converting recycled paper means that it is more expensive to produce, but the use of post-consumer content means less waste is sent to landfill and the removal of chlorine products from the production process makes it kinder to the environment.

• FSC certified paper. Forest Stewardship Council certification gives the option to choose products like paper that have been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable manner. FSC was founded in 1993 in response to concerns about deforestation.