A4 Recycled Brochures

Making the responsible choice has never looked so good. Our recycled brochures are printed throughout on Evolution — a 100% recycled paper made entirely from post-consumer waste, whitened without chlorine bleach, with good opacity, consistent sheet formation and excellent resistance to ageing. FSC certified.

The quality gap people still expect from recycled stock simply isn't there any more, and hasn't been for years. Evolution prints cleanly, holds colour predictably and behaves reliably through the press — which is precisely why we carry it. Printed and finished in-house at our Paisley studio, from 8 to 48 pages, in runs from 25 copies upwards.

Who is this for?

This range is for organisations whose sustainability commitment is real rather than decorative — charities, public sector bodies, B Corps, environmental groups, and any brand that would rather its printed material reflected its position than quietly contradicted it. Evolution is made entirely from paper already in circulation, diverting it from disposal and closing the loop completely. It is the strongest environmental choice we offer.

A4 gives you roughly twice the page area of A5, which matters when your content includes annual figures, impact reporting, detailed programmes or full-bleed photography. In the hand Evolution behaves like a good uncoated sheet: softer, warmer colour, natural texture, and it takes pen and pencil beautifully.

How does this compare to our standard range?

Identical size, page counts, quantities, binding and turnaround — the only difference is the stock, and a modest £5 premium reflecting what recycled paper costs. Our standard A4 stitched brochures give you a wider choice of finish, including coated silk and gloss, which reproduce photography more vividly. If your brochure is heavily image-led and sustainability isn't the driver, standard silk will flatter the pictures more. If it is the driver, this is the range. Our coated vs uncoated vs recycled guide sets out the trade-offs honestly, including the genuine question of whether recycled or FSC virgin fibre is actually greener.

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Product Specifications

• Size: A4 Portrait / 210mm (w) x 297mm (h)
• Pages: 8 to 48, in multiples of four, including the cover
• Quantities: 25 to 1,000 copies
• Paper options: 120gsm Evolution 100% recycled throughout / 150gsm Evolution 100% recycled throughout / 250gsm recycled cover with 120gsm recycled inners
• 100% post-consumer recycled waste, chlorine-free whitening process
• FSC certified and fully recyclable
• Full colour throughout, both sides
• Wire stitched through the spine fold
• Printed and finished in-house at our Paisley studio

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Need a different paper, size or quantity? The combinations above are the ones we run most often, chosen because they work — they are not the limit of what we can do. A4 landscape and square formats, bespoke trim sizes, recycled stocks in other weights up to 350gsm, mixed stocks between cover and text, page counts and quantities outside the dropdowns — all available, none of it listed.

Lower volumes than 25 or higher than 1,000? Both are absolutely fine. Past around 1,000 copies litho becomes the more economical method and the unit cost drops significantly, so a larger run is always worth pricing. Whatever the volume, the job is specified, checked and managed by the same team here in Paisley.

Call 0141 237 1924 or email sales@printstudioscotland.com and we'll come straight back with a quotation.

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What is a saddle stitched brochure?

Saddle stitching is a method in which folded sheets are gathered together, one inside the other, and then wire stapled through the fold line. The collated sheets are draped over a saddle-like apparatus during the stitching process, which is where the name comes from. It produces a neat, flat spine with no bulk, and is the standard binding for brochures up to around 48 pages.

Is recycled paper lower quality?

No. Evolution achieves its high whiteness without chlorine bleach and offers good opacity, consistent formation and excellent resistance to ageing. Colours are slightly softer than on a coated sheet — that's a property of uncoated surfaces generally, not of recycled fibre — and many clients prefer the warmer, more natural result. If your brochure depends on punchy photographic reproduction, we'll tell you so before you order.

Is recycled paper better for the environment than FSC virgin paper?

They answer slightly different questions, and we'd rather explain that than let you choose on assumption. Evolution is made entirely from post-consumer waste, diverting paper already in circulation and closing the loop. FSC certified virgin stocks come from responsibly managed forests delivering environmental, social and economic benefits, and are fully recyclable after use — and recycled fibre can't exist without virgin fibre entering the system somewhere. Both are defensible positions. If you need to justify the choice to a board or a client, we'll help you word it.

Why does my page count have to be a multiple of four?

Because each printed sheet folds in half to make four pages — two on the front, two on the back. So 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 pages are all valid; 10, 14 and 18 are not. The cover counts as pages 1, 2, 3 and 4. Our page counts guide explains it in full.

What is the lead time for this product?

Typical timescale is 3-4 working days depending on the quantity required. If you have a specific deadline, get in touch — we'll always tell you honestly whether we can hit it.

What are my delivery options?

We send our parcels via courier on a next day service within the UK. If you are in a remote area of the UK, please allow 48hr deliveries. If you are local to us, you can simply click and collect from our studio.

Artwork Requirements

Please supply your artwork as a single multi-page PDF, single pages in reading order starting with the front cover — not spreads, and please don't impose the file yourself. Set the document to finished size with an additional 3mm bleed around all edges plus trim marks, and keep critical content at least 5mm inside the trim. Images at 300dpi, colours in CMYK. One tip specific to recycled stock: ink absorbs into the sheet rather than sitting on a sealed surface, so lightening images very slightly and avoiding hairline rules makes a visible difference. Full detail is in our artwork and design guide.

Do you offer a design service?

Yes we do. Our in-house graphic designers are available to create artwork to your specific requirements. Simply contact us and we'll come straight back with a quotation. Our team will supply drafts for approval, where you can suggest any tweaks you would like, ahead of print. Design charge: Our artwork service is charged at £35 per hour. Final cost based on the timescale required on the project. Don't worry, we'll keep you up to date at every stage.

Helpful Guides

• Coated vs Uncoated vs Recycled Paper — the honest comparison.
• Brochure Paper Stock Guide — every weight and finish we print.
• Brochure Printing Scotland: The Complete Buying Guide — the full range in one place.
• Saddle Stitched vs Wire Bound vs Perfect Bound — which binding suits your job.
• Brochure Artwork & Design Guide — file specs before you order.

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Artwork Templates