In order to reduce two classes of persistent organic pollutants, dioxins and furans, which are chemical by-products of papermaking which uses chlorine bleaching, the Chlorine Free Products Association has designated two symbols, TCF and PCF paper. 

TCF stands for Totally Chlorine Free papermaking. TCF papers do not use pulp bleached with any chemical containing chlorine. Instead, bleaching agents such as oxygen, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and enzymes are used. With these non-chlorine bleaching processes, no chlorine enters the environment as a waste. 

PCF denotes Processed Chlorine Free papermaking. The PCF designation is reserved for recycled paper products. All recycled fibers must meet the regulations of the producing country for recycled and post-consumer content. A minimum of 30% post-consumer content is required. These recycled fibers must have been deinked and/or re-bleached without chlorine compounds. Processing of any virgin fibers must be accomplished without chlorine. In addition, an environmental compliance certification of the paper mill and its pulp feedstock is included in the PCF label. This certification is performed by members of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and requires that there be no current or pending environmental permit violations. The virgin fiber does not come from old growth timber, and is from a certifiable sustainably managed forest. The post-consumer recycled content also needs to be calculated with an accountable method. 

Environmental labeling with the TCF or PCF label is a positive third party designation which shows that a paper mill is able to prove its commitment to the environment and its customers.