8 Myths about paper
There are many myths about paper that often make us reticent about the environmental impact of our choices in terms of media. We are often subjected to campaigns to migrate to electronic invoicing with the argument that we will be "saving trees", but is this really true?
We present in this article a set of facts that counteract some of the myths that have been about paper, which we hope will help you make more informed decisions. informed decisions.
Myth 1: Europe's forests are shrinking
Fact:
European forests grew at a rate of 1,500 soccer fields per day between 2005 and 2015 (Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - United Nations)
Additional facts:
More than 90% of the pulp used by the industry comes from the European Union (Source: CEPI - Confederation of European Paper Industries - Sustainability Report, 2018)
More than 60% of European forests (EU-28) are FSC or PEFC certified or both (Source: European Forest Ecosystems - State and Trends, 2016)
Myth 2: Paper is a product that generates a lot of waste
Fact:
Paper is one of the most recycled products in the world
Additional facts:
The European paper recycling rate is 72.3%, which is close to the theoretical maximum of 78%* (Source: European Paper Recycling Council, Monitoring Report, 2017)
53% of the fibers used in paper production in Europe come from paper for recycling (Source: CEPI Key Statistics, 2018)
*Many materials are not recycled because they are kept for a long time (books) or archived (records); others are destroyed or contaminated when they are used, such as tissues and toilet paper.
Myth 3: Paper is harmful to the environment
Fact:
Paper is one of the few truly sustainable materials and is already seen as an alternative to plastic for many uses
Additional facts:
71% of the wood and 83% of the pulp purchased by the European paper industry is FSC or PEFC certified (Source: Two Sides, 2017)
91% of production capacity is certified or registered according to ISO 14001 and EMAS, the internationally recognized environmental management rules (Source: CEPI Sustainability Report, 2018)
Myth 4: We should only use recycled paper
Fact:
Virgin fibers from sustainably managed forests are needed to maintain the paper cycle
Additional facts:
Fibers degrade after several uses and it becomes unfeasible to use them infinitely, new fibers are needed to maintain the renewal cycle (Source: European Paper Recycling Council, 2017)
In 2018, paper for recycling represented 53% of the fiber used compared to 47% of virgin fibers (Source: CEPI Key Statistics, 2018)
Myth 5: Paper production is one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions
Fact:
Most of the energy used is renewable and the intensity of carbon emissions is surprisingly low
Additional facts:
DirectCO2 emissions from the European pulp and paper industry fell by 25% between 2005 and 2017 (Source: CEPI Key Statistics, 2017)
The paper and printing industries are among the least emitting of these gases, accounting for less than 1% of all European greenhouse gas emissions (Source: Eurostat, 2016).
Myth 6: Paper production consumes an excessive amount of water
Fact:
Although paper production is water-dependent, very little water is actually consumed
Additional facts:
93% of the water used is returned in good quality to the environment, the rest is evaporated, incorporated into the product or added to solid waste (Source: CEPI, Water Profile 2015)
The use of water in the process by ICFPA members, considering the cubic meters used per ton produced, has decreased by 7.2% since 2004/2005 (Source: International Council of Forest & Paper Associations - ICFPA, 2017).
Myth 7: Electronic communication is better for the environment than paper communication
Fact
Electronic communication also has an environmental impact
Additional facts:
The information and communication technology industry is responsible for 2.5 to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this figure is expected to reach 14% by 2040 (Source: Belkir L & Elmeligi A, Journal of Cleaner Production: Assessing ICT global emissions footprint: Trends to 2040 & recommendations, 2018).
In 2016 alone, 44.7 million tons of electronic waste were generated, of which 435,000 tons were mobile phones (Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2018)
Myth 8: Digital is the preferred means of communication
Fact:
Many consumers value paper communication
Additional facts:
Consumers worldwide prefer to read printed books (72%), printed magazines (72%) and printed newspapers/newspapers (55%) over digital alternatives (Source: Survey Two Sides, 2017).
Many consumers (68%) don't pay attention to digital advertising and 57% do everything they can to avoid it (Source: Survey Two Sides, 2017)
Final notes:
Here is just a brief summary of the data that has been collected on the subject in a joint effort by FEPE (Fédération Européenne des Producteurs d'Enveloppes) and Two Sides (a group of companies in the printing sector that aims to promote the sustainability of this market and dispel myths about the environmental impact of this activity). For more information, you can consult the websites of these two organizations, as well as the sources mentioned.
