Fact sheet: paper and the environment 1 FACT SHEET Paper and the environment Paper and the environment

For 2000 years, paper has helped shape the modern world. It has been hugely important in developing our cultural and creative life. Newspapers, magazines, books, packaging and banknotes are everywhere – and how many of us actually work in a ‘paperless office’?

Concerns still abound over paper’s use and production. What paper you choose, and how you use it, makes a difference. This fact sheet concentrates on European paper production and use. Hopefully it will answer some of your main questions. Fact sheet: paper and the environment 3

Is paper bad for the environment? What to look for when choosing When recycled or FSC virgin fibre based paper are not available, then the fallback would be to ask for In a nutshell – no. Paper is made from a renewable a paper paper that is certified under an alternative forest raw material that can be recycled. It boasts the Use paper with post-consumer recycled fibre. certification scheme, such as the Programme for highest rate of recycling of any material in the Fibre from collected waste paper materials can the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes UK, and it is potentially sustainable. Demand also be reused up to seven times before becoming too (PEFC). encourages responsible forestry and the growth worn out to bind together. Although it needs to be of recycling. de-inked, recycling uses much less energy, chemicals Responsible pulp and paper producers monitor and water, and normally produces less pollution, and manage energy, waste, raw material selection European paper production uses non-tropical than processing virgin wood fibres. Using recycled and consumption, and always strive to reduce the softwoods as its source of virgin fibre so is not paper also helps promote and support collection impacts of their mills. Most will use third-party responsible for the depletion of tropical hardwood and recycling systems, thus reducing the amount verified environmental management systems such forests as seen in other parts of the world. In fact of waste paper going to landfill. as ISO 14001 or EMAS (Eco-Management and driven by responsible management Europe’s forests Audit Scheme). While neither of these guarantees are increasing in size each year. However damage Recycled paper has improved greatly in quality any particular benchmark, they do distinguish to natural forests and illegal logging still occurs and over the last 25 years, and most recycled graphical producers that have identified, and manage, their is one reason why traceability is so important. Not papers are now on par with virgin fibre products. environmental impacts. only does illegal logging damage the environment, In fact, many people, including designers, choose there are serious social consequences as well. recycled for their look and feel, as well as their Environmentally committed producers are also environmental credentials. And it’s also not true becoming increasingly aware of the need to Paper production has greatly reduced its that recycled always costs more than virgin fibre – be transparent about their practices and to environmental impact over the last 15 years, as especially if you can buy in bigger quantities. communicate their performance through corporate investment in energy supply and improvements sustainability reports. Good reporting also in efficiency take affect alongside stricter EU Paper can be produced from a variety of other addresses a wide range of other issues including regulation on waste emissions and the wider pulp sources, including interesting ones like workers’ safety, transport and interactions with adoption of Environmental Management Systems, Venetian lagoon algae, cotton, bamboo, jute and local communities. forestry certification schemes and Eco labelling. hemp – although there are other environmental For example by 2011, 55% of the energy used by the considerations to take into account with these The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has a good tool for European paper industry was bio-energy and 92% ‘exotic’ paper types such as endangering checking environmental credentials of many papers of the water used was returned to the environment ecosystems and manufacturing efficiency. although not all European produced ones are listed. in good condition. Most if not all mills in Europe are now certified to ISO 14001 standard or registered For some paper grades, recycled alternatives to EMAS. are hard to find or unavailable. If you can’t find the right recycled paper, then look for a Forest Compared to paper products electronic Stewardship Council (FSC) certified alternative. In communication must be recognised as delivering any case, as recycled fibres eventually get worn out, efficiencies, but that doesn’t mean it’s more there will always be a need to put some new, virgin sustainable. Computers and servers are a major fibre into the system. contributor to global warming, and E-waste is an ever increasing environmental problem. Terminology

FSC EU Eco-label

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organisation promoting responsible forest management. FSC has developed principles for forest management Nordic Swan Terminology of forest holdings, and a system of tracing, verifying and labelling timber and wood products, which originate from FSC-certified forests. FSC has the support of many FSC environmental groups.EU Eco-label FSC paper can be purchased either Blue Angel Terminologywith a 100%, Mix or Recycled logo. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organisation promoting responsible forest management.‘FSC 100%’ contains nothing but fibre from FSC certified The good news is that no paper is allowed to be produced in FSC has developed principles for forest managementFSC forests. Nordic Swan EU Eco-labelEurope using elemental chlorine bleaching - the worst kind. of forest holdings, and a system of tracing, verifying and They are instead produced Elemental chlorine free (ECF), labelling timber and wood products,The whichForest originate Stewardship ‘FSC Council Mix’ Contains is an international minimum 70% FSC certified and or Process Chlorine Free (PCF), or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). from FSC-certifiedTerminology forests. FSCorganisation has the support promoting of manypost responsible consumer fibreforest andmanagement. balance ‘controlled’ wood or pre environmental groups. 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The Forest Stewardship Council is an internationalEurope using elemental chlorine bleaching - the worst kind. with a 100%, Mix or Recycled‘FSC Recycled’They logo. are means instead that produced all the fibre Elemental in the chlorinepaper is free (ECF),compounds as a substitute for elemental chlorine. organisation promoting responsible forest management. ‘FSC Mix’ Contains minimum 70% FSC certified and reclaimedor Process material. Chlorine Free (PCF), or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). FSC has developed principles for forest management Nordic Swan post consumer fibre and balance‘FSC ‘controlled’ 100%’ contains wood or nothing pre but fibre from FSC certified The good news is that no paper is allowed to be produced in of forest holdings, and a system of tracing, verifying and consumer waste recycled. Controlledforests. wood is verifiedIf asyou are ‘chain of custody certified’, then promoteEurope usingyour elemental chlorineProcessed bleaching -Chlorine the worst kind. 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4 V1 2015 Julie’s Bicycle Fact Sheet: Paper and the Environment © Fact sheet: paper and the environment 5

Good environmental practice to answer the eternal question of which is best, recycled or virgin. Always recycle and think about Calverts is a workers cooperative specialising Reduce excessive paper consumption by using less, its after use, to make sure it can be recycled, as in high quality graphic design and sustainable lighter or thinner paper. Moving from 100gsm to treatments and processes like wire-o binding or print. 2 80gsm (grams per m ) cuts consumption by 20 laminating make the job harder. per cent. In 2013, for example, the UK exported 4.2 We have a hard-earned reputation as million tonnes of recovered paper and cardboard. ‘green’ printers and believe that designing References and resources for today’s world means coming up with If you don’t have a policy in place already, then • Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI). solutions that are not just beautiful and collect all your reusable paper waste for recycling. engaging, but also careful about people and If you’re a small organisation, think about pooling mindful of resources. collections with others. In some cases, if the grade • Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI). is good enough and you produce enough of it, you Our environmental policy has evolved over will get paid for it! It is a valuable resource after • WWF Guide to Buying Paper. 40 years, as an outcome of Calverts’ ethos all, and you will be contributing to the circular as a socially responsible business, and in economy. Authored by Lee Sargent and with thanks to Clare support of our clients’ own corporate social Taylor Consulting. responsibility (CSR) and environmental Most graphic arts paper in the UK is sold through policies. merchants who have direct links with the mills, most of which are now based in mainland Europe We have FSC® chain of custody certification and beyond. The UK still does have a paper industry ISO14001 certification and EMAS, The Eco- and adhere to the ISO 14001 environmental although it is dominated by the production of Management and Audit Scheme are examples management system standard. That means packaging boards, tissues, toilet rolls and newsprint! of environmental management systems used in we measure, control and reduce impacts the pulp, paper and print industry. including carbon emissions, recycling and UK merchants will have full environmental data resource efficiency. sheets on the paper sold in the UK and information about the mills that make it so if you want to find We work with our clients to deliver print and out design solutions that are financially, socially more just ask. Our blog post “Mad about mashed and environmentally sustainable as well as paper” gives a great insight into how a modern beautiful and effective. European recycling pulp plant and paper mill works. If you’d like to talk about an upcoming In summary it is best to think about paper in a project or just find out more about our work, holistic sense. On balance using recycled paper please email us at [email protected] or call is better as it uses less energy to make and us on 020 7739 1474. makes best use of trees by using the fibre over and over again. However we still need a balance of virgin fibre paper made from well managed forests to keep the loop going. In fact this is the official position of The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) when asked