Paper industry: true or false?

The impact of the paper industry is quite big both in terms of opportunities and external factors: this means that it can also make a positive contribution to the development of society and the protection of the environment.

This is why Burgo Group is a founding member of Two Sides, an international communications project that aims to provide accurate and documented information on the sustainability of paper and print.

Because also when it comes to print and paper sustainability, it is important to distinguish facts from misconceptions.

"Europe's forests are declining"

False.

Between 2005 and 2020, European forests grew by 58,390 square kilometres, which is to say an area of over 1,500 football pitches every day (FAO data, 2005-2020)

In Europe, where almost all primary forests are protected, paper comes from sustainably managed forests where the cycle of planting, growing, and logging is carefully controlled.

"We should use only recycled paper"

False.

Actually, not possible! Paper is one of the most recycled products in the world and depicts the circular economy model of make, use, recycle and reuse. However, recycled fibres degrade after several uses and the paper industry needs fresh fibre to keep the virtuous paper cycle going.

Still, in Europe paper fibres are reused on average 3.6 times (European Council for Paper Recycling, 2018. Monitoring Report 2017) and Europe is the world leader in recycling paper, with 74% of paper recycled in 2020. (Cepi, Key Statistics, 2021)

"Digital communication is better for the environment" 

False.

“Go Paperless” and “Save Trees” are common messages to encourage the switch to electronic communications. However, they can be misleading, as it is all too common for the impacts of digital to be forgotten. The telecommunications industry accounts for about 2.5-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this share is expected to rise to 14% by 2040 (Belkhir and Elmeligi, 2018).

What about electronic waste? In 2019 there has been a gigantic 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste across the world, up by an alarming 21% over the past five years. (Global E-waste Monitor, 2020). The recycling of these materials is not keeping pace with such numbers, since it can also be difficult to recycle.

"Paper production uses too much water"

False.

The pulp and paper industry depends on water for trees to grow (rainwater) and to make pulp and paper. 

In Europe, most mills use surface water, such as rivers and lakes (89% of intake). Since the 1990s, the average water intake per tonne of paper has decreased by 47%. (Cepi, Key Statistics, 2020)

However, 93% of the water used in the European paper industry is returned in good quality after being suitably treated. (Cepi, Key Statistics, 2021).

"Paper production is the biggest cause of global greenhouse gas emissions"

False.

The paper, pulp, and the print sector is one of the lowest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for 0.8% of European emissions. (European Environment Agency, Annual European Union Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2018, 2020)

Furthermore, the sector's CO2 emissions decreased by 25% between 2005 and 2017 (CEPI Statistics, 2018).

Would you like to know more?

The information and studies cited in this article come from the outstanding work of Two Sides, which is actively committed to ensuring that print and paper continue to be versatile, effective, and powerful means of communication. Find out more about their amazing research and divulgation: https://www.twosides.info/resources/research