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. Free (PCF) having a lowlabelling probability timber of beingand wood from forestsproducts, that whichcontainuse originate of the FSC logo.Elemental This contributes Chlorine to environmentalThey Free are instead (ECF) produced Elemental chlorine free (ECF), credibility and inspires other users. This indicates the paper contains some recycled content GM trees,from have FSC-certifiedbeen illegally harvested forests.‘FSC Mix’ orFSC whereContains has violationthe minimum support 70%of manyFSC certified and or Process Chlorine Free (PCF), or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). Terminology and is bleached without chlorine, or left unbleached. Any of traditionalenvironmental rights or conservation groups.post FSC values consumer paper are threatened.can fibre be purchasedand balanceThis either ‘controlled’term is used towood mean orBlue paperpre Angel that is made from virgin virgin pulp in the mix is TCF. The original paper in the with a 100%, Mix or consumerRecycled logo. waste recycled. Controlledor recycled wood fibre is verifiedand bleached as using alternative chlorine PEFC recyclate mix may or may not have been bleached with ‘FSC Recycled’FSC means that all thehaving fibre ina low the probabilitypaper is of beingcompounds fromEU Eco-label forests as a substitutethat contain for elemental
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