Ready to bust some myths about paper? Part 2
THE MYTH:Paper is bad for the environment
THE FACT:
Paper is one of the few truly sustainable products
PAPER IS MADE FROM WOOD, A NATURAL RESOURCE THAT IS RENEWABLE, RECYCLABLE AND CAN BE MANAGED SUSTAINABLY.
"Besides easily recognizable paper products (e.g. writing paper or paper towels), more than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper."
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20161
In North America,
paper is recycled more than any other commodity and the benefits include:
extending the wood fiber supply;
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding methane emissions (released when paper decomposes in landfills or is incinerated);
contributing to carbon sequestration;
reducing energy needed for paper production; and
saving landfill space.1
These features, combined with the North American paper industry’s advocacy of responsible forestry practices,
certification, the
use of renewable biomass and advances in
efficient paper-making technology, make paper
one of the most sustainable products we use.
•
About 39% of the fiber used in paper-making in the U.S. is obtained through recycling. The rest comes from wood that is typically obtained through:
1) thinning of forest stands being grown to larger diameters to provide raw material for production of lumber and plywood2) patch clear-cutting of smaller diameter trees managed for pulp production, and/ or3) collection of chips and sawdust produced as by-products in the production of lumber.2
•
In Canada, 87% of the wood fiber used to make paper comes from a blend of sawmill residues (59%) and recycled paper (28%).3
•
The paper industry adheres to respected third-party certification standards, ensuring the paper you use has come from a sustainable forest source. These include the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®); the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) program; the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and systems endorsed by the international Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFCTM).4
•
Globally, only about 10% of the world’s forests are certified – the majority of which are in North America. By sourcing certified products from a variety of credible standards, buyers are sending a message that they support sound forestry.5
•
Wood fibers can be grown, sourced and reused in a responsible way. Maximizing the use of recycled fibers and sourcing virgin fiber from credibly certified natural forests and plantations can reduce paper’s ecological footprint.”6
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016
2 Dovetail Partners, 2016
3 Forest Products Association of Canada, 2012
4 American Forest & Paper Association, 2014
5 Sustainable Forestry Initiative, 2013
6 World Wildlife Fund, 2015
This article was originally published by The international Two Sides network, and can be found here
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