Recycled paper and virgin paper have some key differences:
Energy source: Virgin paper mills often use wood waste for energy, while recycled paper mills typically rely on grid energy (gas/coal mix).
Carbon footprint: Surprisingly, virgin paper (kraft) often has a lower carbon footprint than recycled paper (testliner) due to the energy sources used.
Production location: Virgin paper is usually made near forests, while recycled paper is produced closer to cities where waste paper is collected.
Carbon storage: Neither receives carbon uptake credits in LCA due to their short lifespan (less than 100 years).
Recycling potential: While both can be recycled, the actual recycling rate may differ from their recyclability.
To understand how they both affect your impact data you can access this link to read more.