Print and Paper The Facts

Many leading companies, including banks, utility companies and telecommunications providers, are urging their customers to go paperless with claims that paperless bills, statements and other electronic communications save trees, are “greener” or otherwise protect the environment. While these well-known, reputable companies take great care to be sure their claims used to market other products and services are verifiable and meet both government requirements and accepted industry standards for truth in advertising, they disregard best practices when it comes to making environmental claims about the use of paper.

Beyond the fact that “go paperless” marketing messages ignore the highly sustainable nature of print on paper – it comes from a renewable resource and is one of the most recycled commodities in Europe – these claims fail to meet the most basic tests for acceptable environmental marketing as outlined by the UK Government and others. They are not specific, they are usually not backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence and are misleading because they imply that electronic communication always has less effect on the environment than printed materials.

The truth is that both electronic and paper communications have environmental consequences and we should continue to look for ways to reduce the footprint of both rather than using unsubstantiated environmental marketing claims to promote one over the other.

• “Legally, any claim or information in advertising and marketing (whether it is environmental or not) must be fair and not misleading... And further, that you have robust and/or scientifically accepted evidence to substantiate your claim if ever challenged... Ensure the evidence and assessments forming the basis of the claim is objective and of a kind that can be fully traced and referenced. You should consider the way a reasonable consumer would interpret your claim to ensure you can justify those interpretations with good evidence.”1

• All self-declared environmental claims shall be: “accurate and not misleading; substantiated and verified; unlikely to result in misinterpretation... Vague or non-specific claims, which broadly imply some environmental benefit, shall not be used. Examples of such claims include ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’ and ‘nature’s friend’.”2

• “It is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product, package, or service offers a general environmental benefit. Unqualified general environmental benefit claims are difficult to interpret and likely convey a wide range of meanings. In many cases, such claims likely convey that the product, package, or service has specific and far-reaching environmental benefits and may convey that the item or service has no negative environmental impact. Because it is highly unlikely that marketers can substantiate all reasonable interpretations of these claims, marketers should not make unqualified general environmental benefit claims.”3

• The pulp and paper industry has for long been under attack from different environmental groups, sometimes being projected as a clear-cutting, polluting sector using large amounts of energy, water and other resources. The option

of using information and communication technology (ICT) instead of paper – reducing the consumption and thereby reducing the environmental implications of pulp and paper production – therefore attracts interest among the fast growing group of environmentally aware citizens. However, the direct impact of ICT products and services replacing paper is far from negligible, and the trade-off between the two “technologies” depends on conditions such as use frequency, source of energy, end-of-life management of the products, etc.4

• Paper-making creates the need for a dependable supply of responsibly grown wood. The reliable income landowners receive for trees grown on their land encourages them to maintain, renew and manage this valuable resource sustainably. This is an especially important consideration in places facing economic pressures to convert forestland to non-forest uses.5

• Over the past 15 years the paper recycling capacity in Europe has doubled as a result of the significant investment by the paper industries in its recycling capacity. The paper recycling rate in Europe reached 71.7% in 2013. The total amount of paper collected and recycled in the European paper sector remains stable at just over 57 million tonnes, despite decreasing paper consumption in Europe. 53.5% of the fibres used in new paper and board are sourced from paper for recycling.6

“Go Green – Go Paperless” messages are misleading

Print and Paper The Facts

• Annual UK retail sales of electrical and electronic products constitute around 1.4 million tonnes of materials in 180 million products, including 65 tonnes of precious metals such as gold and silver. Each year, consumers discard a similar amount of products, only 7% of which are re-used and around a third go to landfill.7 Every year, around the world, almost 50 million tonnes of electrical and electronic goods are discarded. That is equivalent to eight times the weight of the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is simply not sustainable. 8

• Today, 95.2% of electricity is produced on-site in paper mills using the energy-efficient combined heat and power method... Although the sector is energy intensive, it is less carbon intensive than other sectors. Bioenergy accounts for 56% of our energy use.9 Our sector is the largest industrial producer of bioenergy, generating 20% of the biomass based energy in Europe.10

• The pulp, paper and print industry accounts for only 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.11 It is estimated that the production and running of the information and

communications technology (ICT) sector equates to 2% of global GHG emissions, similar to the airline industry, and this is expected to double by 2020.12

1. DEFRA, 20112. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 20123. US Federal Trade Commission, 20124. Arnfalk, 20105. World Business Council for Sustainable Development /

NCASI, 20116. European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC), 2014

7. WRAP, 20148. STEP, 20149. CEPI, Sustainability Report, 2013, p3610. CEPI, Sustainability Report, 2013, p3611. World Resources Institute (WRI), 200512. Gartner, 2007

Print and Paper The Facts

One definition of a ‘carbon footprint’ is “the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community”.1 For paper products, this includes everything from harvesting trees, through the manufacturing process, to use and disposal or recycling. A look across this entire life cycle shows that paper’s carbon footprint can be divided into three basic elements: greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration and avoided emissions. Each of these elements is influenced by important characteristics that make paper’s carbon footprint smaller than might be expected: it’s made from a renewable resource that stores carbon, it’s manufactured using mostly renewable energy, it’s recyclable and recycled at a rate of 72%.

• The forest products industry is a leader in the production of renewable energy, with more than 58% of the on-site energy needed to produce paper products derived from carbon-neutral biomass. The specific CO2 emissions decreased since 1990 by 44% per tonne of product. Our sector is the largest industrial producer of bioenergy, generating 20% of the biomass based energy in Europe.2

• There is a vital difference between energy production from fossil fuels and from biomass. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide that has been locked up for millions of years [introducing “new” carbon to the atmosphere]. By contrast, burning biomass simply returns to the atmosphere the carbon dioxide that was absorbed as the trees grew and there is no net release of carbon dioxide if the cycle of growth and harvest is sustained.3

• It is the new carbon from fossil fuels that is primarily responsible for the increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide that have occurred in the last 100 years.4

• The global print and paper industry accounts for only 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.5

• Energy consumption of our mills has decreased by 5.2% in the last two years (2013 over 2011).6

• Today, 96.4% of electricity is produced on-site in paper mills using the energy-efficient combined heat and power method7 [which recycles exhaust steam for use as manufacturing process heat or space heating]. Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are highly efficient (up to 80% efficiency compared to about 50% for traditional fossil-fuel power plants8) and, because they require less fuel to produce the same amount of energy, have lower emissions than separate heat and power generation.

• Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by trees and stored for a period before being returned to the atmosphere. The sequestered carbon is stored not only in trees. It is also stored in forest products [including paper] for periods ranging from days to centuries.9

• In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained [climate change] mitigation benefit.10

• Trees use energy from sunlight to convert CO2 from the air into sugars. This is the process of photosynthesis. These sugars fuel tree growth and wood production. When trees die most of the stored carbon is returned to the atmosphere, although some of it may be locked up in the soil. Young forests grow rapidly and soak up carbon more quickly than mature forests. In mature forests the carbon balance may reach a

Paper’s carbon footprint isn’t as high as you think

Print and Paper The Facts

1. Oxford University Press, 2015 2. CEPI, 20143. Biomass Energy Centre, 2011 4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth

Assessment Report, 20075. World Resources Institute (WRI), 20056. CEPI, 2014

7. CEPI, 20148. Association for Decentralised Energy, 20159. NCASI, 200710. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth

Assessment Report, 200711. Forestry Commission, 201412. European Commission, 2012

steady state as carbon storage is matched by decomposition. At this point the forest becomes a vast carbon reservoir. When mature trees die the carbon stored is released back into the atmosphere. By harvesting trees before they die we can ensure that the carbon is locked up for longer in recyclable wood products. We can ensure that the system will continue to provide environmental benefits for future generations by replacing the felled trees with new ones.11

• The purpose of sustainable forest management is to ensure stable or increasing stock of wood as well as carbon sequestered in it. European forests sequester increasing amounts of carbon in tree biomass. Each year about 430 million tonnes of CO2 (MCPFE, 2011), or around 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions, are removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and tree biomass growth in EU countries.12

Print and Paper The Facts

Many service providers are urging their customers to go paperless with claims that it will “save trees”, it is “greener” or it will otherwise “protect the environment”. These “go paperless” marketing messages ignore the unique sustainable features of print on paper, for example, it comes from a renewable resource; it is recyclable; it is one of the most recycled commodities in Europe; and that a large portion of the energy used to produce paper comes from renewable biomass.

The claims also fail to meet the most basic tests for acceptable environmental marketing as outlined by Government and others. They are not specific, they are usually not backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence and are misleading because they imply that electronic communication always has less effect on the environment than printed materials. Therefore, such claims may be construed as “greenwashing” – falsely leading consumers to believe there are environmental savings when in fact there are not.

Since 2008, Two Sides has led a campaign to challenge unsubstantiated environmental marketing claims used to promote electronic services, and encourage companies to follow best practices for environmental marketing. The ongoing initiative has been resoundingly successful, with over 30 leading North American companies removing their anti-paper claims and over 80% of European companies we engaged with doing the same. Outlined below are some key facts used in our campaign.

Marketing claims like “go green, go paperless” and “go paperless, save trees” do not meet guidelines for environmental marketing established by the UK Government and the International Organization for Standardization.

UK Government Green Claims Guidance: “Legally, any claim or information in advertising and marketing (whether it is environmental or not) must be fair and not misleading... And further, that you have robust and/or scientifically accepted evidence to substantiate your claim if ever challenged... Ensure the evidence and assessments forming the basis of the claim is objective and of a kind that can be fully traced and referenced. You should consider the way a reasonable consumer would interpret your claim to ensure you can justify those interpretations with good evidence.”1

International Organization for Standardization: All self-declared environmental claims shall be: “accurate and not misleading; substantiated and verified; unlikely to result in misinterpretation... Vague or non-specific claims, which broadly imply some environmental benefit, shall not be used. Examples of such claims include ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’, ‘nature’s friend’.”2

Claims like “save trees” create a false impression that forests are a finite resource, being destroyed. In truth, forests are a renewable resource that is continuously replenished using sustainable forest management practices.

Since the 1990s, the forest area in Europe, North America, Caucasus and Central Asia has been increasing steadily. Forest area in the region has grown by 25 million hectares over the last 20 years (a size equivalent to the surface of the United Kingdom). In addition to forest area, the volume of wood in pan-European forests is growing - by over 430 million cubic meters every year (which corresponds to a 1 cubic meter ring around the globe) due to the expansion of the forest area and increases in stock levels.3

Avoiding the use of wood is not the way to protect forests for the long term.

While saving trees and protecting forests is a widely shared goal, avoiding the use of wood is not necessarily the way to get there. It is precisely the areas of the world that consume the least wood that continue to experience the greatest forest loss. Continued use of paper and other wood products may be a key factor in maintaining a forested landscape for future generations. This realization is reflected in today’s third-party forest certification systems that aim to offer a market-based system for supporting the sustainable growth, harvesting, and consumption of forest products.4

The income landowners receive for trees grown on their land is an important incentive to maintain their land in forests.

This is especially important in locales facing economic pressure to convert forestland to non-forest uses.5 If the market for their wood products is lost, there is little

Why challenge anti-paper environmental marketing claims?

Print and Paper The Facts

incentive for owners to maintain their land in forest. 99.9% of company owned and company leased forests in Europe are certified by independent certification schemes.6 Far from causing deforestation, the demand for sustainably sourced paper promotes responsibly managed forests, which provide many environmental and social benefits.

In Europe, most of the virgin wood fibre used for paper-making comes from well-managed European forests.

Of the total raw materials consumed by the European paper industry, paper for recycling represented 45% and wood pulp 40%; non-fibrous materials made up most of the rest. More than 90% of the wood used comes from Europe. 64.6% of wood, chips and saw-milling by-products delivered to European mills are forest management certified by independent forest certification schemes.7

The full impacts of converting to e-media are often not properly considered and sometimes completely ignored.

The direct impact of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services replacing paper is far from negligible, and the trade-off between the two “technologies” depends on conditions such as use frequency, source of energy, end-of-life management of the products, etc.8 Over one billion internet-connected devices were sold worldwide in 2012.9 In Europe, the total collection rate [of all electronic and electrical items] achieved so far is around 37 %.10 This compares to a European paper recycling rate of 71.7% in 2013.11

Unsubstantiated environmental marketing claims like “go paperless, go Green” are damaging to the economy and threaten jobs.

In fact, the graphic industry in the 28 European Member States comprises some 121,000 companies and employs around 714,000 people for a turnover of about €88 billion. The industry throughout Europe consists mainly of small enterprises, as more than 90% of the graphic companies employ less than 20 persons.12 In addition, the European paper industry provides jobs to about 185,000 people and contributes €75 billion to the European economy.13

The misleading nature of “go green, go paperless” environmental claims is not lost on the consumer.

Consumer surveys in the U.S.14, 15 and UK16 found that:

• 50% or more of respondents don’t believe, feel misled or question “go green – go paperless” claims.

• 83% agreed that e-billing and e-statements are being promoted to save cost.

• 80% did not think it was appropriate for companies to cite environmentalism when it is not their real motive.

• Over 70% believe that print and paper is a sustainable way of communicating when produced and used responsibly.

1. DEFRA, 20112. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 20123. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 20114. Dovetail Partners, 20145. WBCSD, 20116. CEPI, 20137. CEPI, 20138. Arnfalk, Peter, 2010

9. The Telegraph, 201310. European Environment Agency, 201311. European Recovered Paper Council, 201412. InterGraf, 201013. CEPI, 201314. Two Sides N.A., 201315. Envelope Manufacturers Assoc. Foundation, 201416. Two Sides UK, 2013

Print and Paper The Facts

“Go paperless, go green” is a common theme these days as many corporations and governments encourage their customers and employees to switch to electronic transactions or communications. But are appeals to help the environment by eliminating paper based on sound science or on marketing strategies aimed at cost cutting? Organizations that truly want to make responsible environmental choices should do so based on rigorous, peer-reviewed and verifiable life cycle assessments of each alternative.

Rather than asking which is better – paper or electronic communication – we should be working to determine which combination of the two provides the most effective means of communication as well as the least impact on the environment. As the population and resulting demand on resources continues to grow, a sustainable future will necessarily depend more heavily on the use of renewable and recyclable products and less on non-renewable materials and the use of fossil fuel energy.

Because the responsible manufacture and use of print and paper contributes to long-term, sustainable forest management and helps mitigate climate change, it will remain an important element in our media mix. It will also continue to provide social and economic benefits that contribute significantly to the well-being of businesses and citizens alike.

• “Paper has been an integral part of our cultural development and is essential for modern life. Paper helps to increase levels of literacy and democracy worldwide and plays an important role in protecting goods and foodstuffs during transit. Paper is made from renewable resources, and responsibly produced and used paper has many advantages over other, non-renewable alternative materials.”1

• “The direct impact of information communication technology (ICT) products and services replacing paper is far from negligible, and the trade-off between the two “technologies” depends on conditions such as use frequency, source of energy, end-of-life management of the products, etc…”2

• With a reading time of 30 minutes per day the environmental impact of the web based newspaper was in general in the same range as the printed newspaper environmental impact.3

• A study commissioned by the Internet security software company McAfee estimated spam wastes 33 billion kilowatt-hours annually, with the same greenhouse gas emissions as 3.1 million passenger cars using 2 billion gallons of gasoline, or enough to drive a car around the globe 1.6 million times.4

• Over one billion internet-connected devices were sold worldwide in 2012.5 In Europe, the total collection rate [of all electronic and electrical items] achieved so far is around 37 %.6 This compares to a European paper-recycling rate of 71.7% in 2013.7

• A recent study estimates that developing countries will produce at least twice as much electronic waste (e-waste) as developed countries within the next six to eight years. The authors, who are based in China and the United States, forecast that in 2030 developing countries will discard some 400 million to 700 million obsolete personal computers per year compared to 200 million to 300 million in developed countries. This is significant because uncontrolled toxic emissions result from the informal recycling practices that are often used to deal with e-waste in the developing world. The resulting emissions, which can include dioxins, furans, and cyanide, can harm the recycling workers and pollute local environments.8

• A study by Two Sides found that half the 100% leading Fortune 500 telecommunications companies, banks and utilities were making unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of electronic billing. In response, Two Sides initiated a campaign to educate senior executives and their corporate general counsels on the sustainability of paper and to encourage them to abandon misleading environmental claims. To date, over 20 companies have either changed or removed their online environmental claims and several more are working with Two Sides to develop language that does not contain misleading or factually incorrect environmental claims about the use of online transactions and communications.9

• “It is estimated that the production and running of the ICT sector equates to 2% of global GHG emissions, similar to the airline industry, and this is expected to double by 2020.”10 The pulp, paper and print industry accounts for only 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.11

• In 2013, a relatively small portion of the global population relied on more than 14 billion network-enabled devices in homes and offices. As more people use a wider range of

Electronic communication

Print and Paper The Facts

devices for increasingly diverse purposes, the total is expected to sky-rocket to 50 billion network-enabled devices by 2020. Left unchecked, by 2025 the corresponding energy demand would soar to 1,140 terawatt hours per year (TWh/yr) – more than the current annual electricity consumption of Canada and Germany combined.12

• Today, 96.4% of electricity is produced on-site in paper mills using the energy-efficient combined heat and power method. Although the sector is energy intensive, it is less carbon intensive than other sectors. Bioenergy accounts for 58% of our energy use.13 Our sector is the largest industrial producer of bioenergy, generating 20% of the biomass-based energy in Europe.14

1. WWF, 20102. Arnfalk, P, 20123. Moberg, A. et al, 20094. McAfee, 20095. The Telegraph, 20136. European Environment Agency, 20137. European Recovered Paper Council, 2014

8. Williams, E., et al, 20109. Two Sides N.A., 201310. Gartner, 200711. World Resources Institute, 200512. International Energy Agency (IEA), 201413. CEPI, 201414. CEPI, 2013

Print and Paper The Facts

A definition of Sustainable Forest Management is “the stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”1

The print and paper industry supports the principles of sustainable forest management (SFM) and is committed to managing forests accordingly. The industry supports the development of forest certification systems and other mechanisms to promote SFM and improve forest management on the ground and the extension of SFM certification systems to all nations, as an assurance that forest products are being produced sustainably from forests managed to the highest standards.

The industry’s perpetual use of trees harvested from responsibly managed forests has a host of economic, social and environmental benefits. For example, it discourages the sell-off of land for non-forest development, it encourages sustainable forestry practices and it supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.

While it’s true that collecting used paper and recycling it into new products is good for the environment, there’s a catch. Not only is the durability of wood fibres limited in repeated production and consumption cycles but most importantly, collection systems are not able to get back 100% of materials placed on the market. That’s why we need fresh fibre harvested from responsibly managed forests, too.

• “A fibre can be recycled several times, yet not indefinitely, depending on the paper grade, therefore there is a continuous need to feed the inflow of recovered fibre with paper products made of virgin pulp. The share of non-collectable and non-recyclable paper is, for technical reasons, estimated to be 19% of the total paper and board consumption, such as libraries, archives, sanitary paper, etc... Consequently the theoretical maximum collection rate would be 81% instead of 100%. The more one approaches this threshold, the less benefit can be made from it (long transportation, no economies of scale, etc.). Many countries have already reached this threshold.”2

• “Responsibly managed forests are necessary for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystems services, both on individual sites and within the wider landscape. Forest management, including intensive commercial management, can be a critical and cost¬ effective conservation tool within larger-scale conservation strategies. Well-managed commercial or community forests can for example provide vital buffers for and links between protected areas. Forest management should therefore seek to maintain forest quality and not degrade either the timber resource or the range of associated goods and services (non-timber forest products, environmental services, biodiversity, spiritual values, recreational uses, etc.).”3

• “Sustainable forest management is commonly viewed as one of the most important contributions that the forestry sector can make to sustainable development.”4 The future of a thriving print and paper industry, and all its economic spin-offs, also depends on well¬ managed and healthy forests.

• “Healthy forests absorb more carbon than unhealthy forests. Sustainable forest management practices (including fire and disease prevention, better growing conditions, healthier trees and more efficient stand rotation) produce trees that help further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”5

• “In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained [climate change] mitigation benefit.”6

• Paper-making creates the need for a dependable supply of responsibly grown wood fibre. “When landowners receive

Harvesting trees through sustainable forestry

Print and Paper The Facts

income for products grown on their land, they are encouraged to maintain, renew and manage this valuable resource sustainably. This is an especially important consideration in places facing economic pressures to convert forestland to non-forest uses..”7

• “Changing forest ownership patterns and the divestiture of large tracts of forest land by traditional forest management companies in particular, are important trends to consider when analysing the loss of forest lands. A number of studies have shown that managing forests for timber production can enhance biodiversity and other ecosystem services in certain settings (Gustafson et al. 2007; Miller et al. 2009). Moreover, where profitable, timber management and the revenues it generates can serve as a hedge against the conversion of forest land to other uses such as real estate development, although the extent to which it can actually do so in the face of rapid increases in land values close to urban areas will vary. The same issue faces non-industrial private forest landowners who must balance concerns such as their need for current income and desire to maximize their long-term investments for themselves and their children with their desire to be good stewards of the forests under their care (Stein et al. 2009).”8

• “European forests remove 870 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to about 10% of European countries’ greenhouse gas emissions. The area of protected forests is expanding, and forest management practices increasingly promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Most forests have management plans, and the forest sector accounts for about 1% of GDP and 4 million jobs. The net annual increment in forest volume is higher than annual felling in almost all countries. Across Europe as a whole, only about 40% of the increment is felled, and the total growing stock of forests increased by nearly 9 billion cubic metres between 1990 and 2010.”9

• According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, the overwhelming direct cause of deforestation is agriculture. Subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation; commercial agriculture is responsible for 32% of deforestation; logging (legal and illegal) is responsible for 14% of deforestation and fuel wood removals make up 5% of deforestation.10

• Among countries with a per capita GDP of at least US$4,600, net deforestation rates have ceased to increase.11

1. MCPFE, 19932. ERPC, 20153. WWF, 20104. UN FAO, 19955. GreenBlue, 20136. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007

7. WBCSD, 20118. USDA, 20109. Forest Europe, 201110. FAO, 201111. Kauppi, P. et al, 2006

Print and Paper The Facts

When you think about learning, typically you envision students at their desks putting pencil to paper, or listening to a teacher in the front of the classroom. However, today there are a variety of tools that support learning and literacy.

Around the world at an increasingly rapid pace, new classroom learning methods and tools, including digital technology, are being adopted.

Interestingly, current research reports that there are learning and retention limitations to engaging digital technology in the classroom and as a studying tool when compared to pencil and paper.

Two Sides has compiled some eye-opening facts about learning and literacy that demonstrate why print, paper and pencil remain highly effective learning tools. From handwriting, to reading, to comprehension and retention—print, paper and handwriting deliver proven benefits and continue to play an essential role in education and development.

• “Having a wide range of writing skills – from the basic production of letters, shapes and numbers to quality handwriting – has been positively linked to academic performance.”1

• “… Students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally”.2

• For young children, the development of handwriting is a complex task requiring the coordination of several cognitive, motoric and neuromotor processes and recent evidence suggests that writing by hand in the early years supports the development of reading skills.3

• “Fine motor writing skills in preschool were consistently stronger predictors of reading and math achievement than fine motor manipulation tasks.”4

• “Elementary students who write by hand are found to write more quickly, produced longer pieces, and wrote more complete sentences than those who do not and handwriting strengthens fine motor skills in young students.”5

• “When children composed text by hand, they not only consistently produced more words more quickly than they did on a keyboard, but expressed more ideas. And brain imaging in the oldest subjects suggested that the connection between writing and idea generation went even further. When these children were asked to come up with ideas for a composition, the ones with better handwriting exhibited greater neural activation in areas associated with working memory — and increased overall activation in the reading and writing networks.”6

• Children “remembered more details from stories they read on paper than ones they read in e-books enhanced with interactive animations, videos and games.”7

• Millennials overwhelmingly said they prefer paper. In fact, 60 out of 66 students preferred paper to computer when studying.

Even though it is thought that this generation of students may have adapted to new technology, nearly everyone expressed a preference for paper, usually saying they felt they performed better when reading on paper rather than a screen.8

• Laptops are commonplace in university classrooms and one of their drawbacks is that they offer distractions to note taking. Research on the effects of in-class laptop use on student learning showed that multitasking on a laptop poses a significant distraction to both users and fellow students and can be detrimental to comprehension of lecture content.9

• [Two Sides Summary] - Studies that compare the efficiency and effectiveness of print vs. paperless reading typically agree that print has key advantages. Print readers:

∘ Read more quickly10 ∘ Experience less mental fatigue11 ∘ Report significantly lower levels of eye fatigue following

reading12 ∘ Find it easier to concentrate13 ∘ Retain more of what they read14 ∘ Score better on reading comprehension tests15

• Students frequently need to view more than one text at a time, both in class discussion and when studying. This is difficult to do with e-texts, because e-reading devices often do not allow more than one reading to be viewed on the screen at a time.16

• A 2012 study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Library Services Survey of 2,252 people age 16 and older found that 81 percent of parents believe it is “very important” that their child read print books, citing the importance of print’s unique sensory and tactile experience.”17

• The tangibility of traditional print also provides a stronger emotional impact, allowing readers to interpret and internalize text through their own experiences and beliefs.18

Print and paper play a key role in learning and literacy

Print and Paper The Facts

• Print text allows readers to mentally map information they read in relation to other information or ‘landmarks’ (e.g., a chapter, the left or right page, near the top or bottom of the page). Spatial maps have been shown to improve learning, retention and comprehension overall.19

• Print-based texts are ‘well suited to student needs’ because highlighting and annotating can be performed right on the paper.20 Handwritten annotation helps students re-locate important points or citations for use in narrative development.21

• A study of college students at Oxford University found: “…reading on screen was conducive to a more superficial reading style… Attention span and reading sessions were shorter.” Students reported that with e-texts they generally read short passages only and usually in a non-linear fashion. They also reported it required more effort to concentrate when reading on screen.22

• “In a comprehensive study of students at five major universities (Cornell University, Indiana University, University of Minnesota, University of Virginia and University of Wisconsin), most students expressed a preference for print textbooks, and generally had a negative experience with e-texts.”23

• “54% of Wisconsin students reported print textbooks provided a better learning outcome than e-texts.”24

• “Negative aspects of e-texts included “poor readability, eye strain, insufficient resolution for graphics, zooming and scrolling difficulties, difficulty annotating, not readable on some mobile devices, and a dislike of reading on a computer or other device.”25

• “Minnesota faculty expressed the belief that e-texts did not enhance student outcomes. Some professors reported that their students actually read less than their counterparts reading a print textbook. As a result, faculty preferred printed texts for class instruction.”26

1. Dinehart, L., 20142. Mangen, A., et al, 2013*3. James, K. and Engelhardt, L., 2012*4. Dinehart, LHB and Manfra, L. 2013. Early Education and

Devel. 24(2): 138–161*.5. Zubrzycki, J., 20126. Berninger V.W., et al., 2006. Dev. Neuropsychol.

2006:29(1):61-92.*7. Jabr, F., 20138. Subrahmanyam, K., 20139. Sana, F., et al, 201310. Nielsen, J., 201211. Wastlund, E. et al, 2005*12. Jeong, H., 2012*13. Jabr, F., 2013

14. Christensen, A., 201315. Jeong, H., 2012*16. The Trustees of Princeton University, 201017. Zickuhr, K., 201318. Millward Brown, 201319. Jabr, F., 201320. Jabr, F., 201321. Cull, B., 201122. Keller, A., 201223. American Forest & Paper Assoc., 201324. Internet2 eTextbook Final Project Report, 201225. Internet2 eTextbook Final Project Report, 201226. Internet2 eTextbook Final Project Report, 2012

*Full article available from journal only

Print and Paper The Facts

In addition to the sustainable advantage of being made from a renewable resource, paper is one of the most recycled products in the world. Since we began tracking how much paper gets recycled back in 1990, the recovery rate for used paper has increased dramatically. We’re not only recovering more, but we now know how to get the most environmental and economic benefits from using recycled paper in new products. Two Sides members support the implementation of effective recycling schemes and the minimization and eventual elimination of print and paper waste in landfills.

• One of the key environmental attributes of paper is that it can be easily recycled and used to make new products. In fact, paper is the most recycled material in the world today, with recovery rates ranging from 60 to 72% in North America and the EU. Over the next 15 years, paper for recycling is expected to grow from 43% to 61% of total global fibre supplies.1

• The benefits of paper recycling include: extending the supply of wood fibre; reducing greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change by avoiding methane emissions [which are released when paper decomposes in landfills or is incinerated]; contributing to carbon sequestration ; reducing the amount of energy needed to produce some paper products; and saving considerable landfill space.2

• More than 57 million tonnes of used paper are collected in Europe.3 The collection rate of paper for recycling is constantly increasing, exceeding 60% every year since 2005.4 Main sources of paper collection: 50% from trade and industry, 40% from households, and 10% from offices. Future potential: mainly households and offices, as the industrial sources are already utilised to a large extent.5

• “Paper has always been recycled to produce new paper. The growth in collection was initially modest and varied greatly between countries in Europe. Paper recycling boomed in the 1990s. Back in 1990 the recycling rate was around 40% compared to 50% 10 years later, and 72% in 2013.”6,7

• “The paper industry is the largest recycler in Europe. Recovered fibres are particularly suited for applications such as newsprint and packaging, but also fine papers can be based on recycled fibres. However, for some “higher quality” publication paper and some packaging applications, for example, only top quality paper for recycling can be used but it is not available in large quantities.”8

• “Today 54% of the paper industry’s fibre raw material comes from paper for recycling. Paper is the most recycled product in Europe, and as a region, Europe is the global champion in paper recycling with a rate of 72%.”9

• “Newsprint is a big user of paper for recycling. Its utilisation rate of paper for recycling has reached 97% (2013). Another main user is packaging, with a utilisation rate of 75%, especially case materials, which uses 94% paper for recycling and accounts for over 50% of the total volume used.”10

• “Every time paper is recycled, the fibres get shorter. After being recycled five to seven times, the fibres become too short to bond into new paper. New fibres must be added to replace the unusable fibre that washes out of the pulp during the recycling process.”11

• “Determining the best use of recovered and virgin fibre for any paper type requires a life cycle perspective with an evaluation of the environmental, economic and technical considerations

Paper is one of the most recycled products

Print and Paper The Facts

along the entire supply chain. This includes understanding where fibre is coming from (source), how the paper is made (manufacturing) and how effectively fibre can be utilized depending on the paper type (use).”12

• Life cycle analysis has shown that the end of life (how a product is disposed of) contributes nearly as much to the carbon footprint of a product as the manufacturing process. One

way to promote recycling is to use currently available “Please Recycle” logos and claims, and to get engaged in recycling initiatives with end users, cities and communities.13 Likewise it is essential that all actors in the value chain consider design for circularity so as to prevent value destruction of materials in paper-based products.

1. SAPPI, 2011. Vol 2. Sustainable use of recycled fibre2. U.S. Environmental Protections Agency (EPA), 20133. ERPC, 20144. ERPC, 20155. Indufor, 20136. ERPC, 20157. ERPC, 20148. ERPC, 2015

9. CEPI, 201510. CEPI, 201311. U.S. Environmental Protections Agency (EPA), 201312. Metafore, 2009. Recycled Content and Virgin Fiber: Environ-

mental, Economic and Technical Considerations for Maga-zine Publishers.

13. SAPPI, 2011. Vol 2. Sustainable use of recycled fibre

Print and Paper The Facts

Paper manufacturing is based largely on the use of renewable natural fibres. Until the mid to late 1800s, non-wood plant fibres, in the form of linen and cotton rags and hemp ropes, were the main raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. Increasing demand and developments in low cost wood pulping resulted in a large expansion of the wood-based pulp and paper industry during the early to mid-1900s. Today, wood is the dominant fibre resource for the pulp and paper industry accounting for 90% of the world’s fibre utilization.1

In Europe, the sustainable management of forests depends on a robust demand created by the forest products industry, including pulp and paper. However, in countries where wood resources are scarce, such as China and India, non-wood fibres, such as agricultural by-products and others, have been effectively used in paper-making.

Is tree-free paper really better for the environment? Are current environmental claims about tree-free paper accurate and substantiated? To answer these questions, we reviewed literature on the topic from experts in the field.

Here are some key questions to consider when requesting paper made from non-wood fibres:2

• Do the environmental advantages persist when the production expands to the necessary scale, or does it result in more negative environmental impacts (i.e., consider water use, chemical inputs, energy requirements, climate effects, etc.)?

• Does it remove incentives to keep the landscape forested?• What is the risk that forest land will be converted to

agriculture? • What effects, both positive and negative, would this have

on local communities and indigenous peoples?• Is independent, third-party certification available to

ensure environmental, social and economic baselines are being met?

Based on our review, paper made from either wood fibres or non-wood fibres can be sustainable. The overall environmental footprint of paper always depends on many factors in the product life cycle, such as responsible land and forest management, and environmental performance of pulp and paper mills. Although making paper from wood fibre has become an efficient and economical process, modern non-wood pulp and paper mills can offer a good raw material choice in certain conditions. One thing is certain—according to scientific research and global statistics on forests —the use of “tree-free” paper does not protect forests for the long-term.

While saving trees and protecting forests is a widely shared goal, avoiding the use of wood is not necessarily the way to get there. It is precisely the areas of the world that consume the least wood that continue to experience the greatest forest loss. Ince (2010) examined this issue by looking broadly at various global regions and the wood use and forest trends within them. His findings, summarized below, are consistent with earlier observations about a direct link between wood use and forest sustainability:

• Industrial round-wood harvest levels in North America and Europe are by far the highest among global regions.

• North America and Europe are the only global regions experiencing net sequestration of carbon in forests and in aggregate a positive net change in forest area.

• High levels of industrial timber harvest are coincident with fairly stable forest cover trends.

The very foundation of the tree-free movement is flawed. Counter intuitively, continued use of paper and other wood products may be a key factor in maintaining a forested landscape for future generations. This realization is reflected in today’s third-party forest certification systems that aim to offer a market-based system for supporting the sustainable growth, harvesting, and consumption of forest products.3

“Wood, agricultural crops, and crop residues are all important sources of paper-making fibre. Choices will be inherently driven by:

• Relative abundance [of the raw material] and delivered costs

• Compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure,

Wood-based paper and non-wood based paper

Print and Paper The Facts

• Contribution to product characteristics and manufacturing efficiencies

• Environmental objectives• Economic viability and success of products in the

marketplace.”4 “Forests cover almost half of Europe’s land surface and forest area continues to increase. There are 1.02 billion hectares of forest in Europe, which amount to 25 percent of the world total. Over the last 20 years, the forest area has expanded in all European regions and has gained 0.8 million hectares each year… European forests sequester increasing amounts of carbon in tree biomass. Between 2005 and 2010, about 870 million tonnes of CO2 have been removed annually from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and tree biomass growth in the European countries. This corresponds to about 10 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in 2008.”5

“The scope of a recent LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) included all processes needed to produce pulp from the various sources, including forestry or agricultural processes, transport from field or

forest to the mill, pulping, and end-of-life. Assessment of recycled fibre began at the point of paper collection and extended to end-of-life. Study results showed that while pulping processes differ by fibre, environmental impacts are broadly similar across fibre types.”6

While non-wood typically requires less overall manufacturing energy, wood has a significant renewable fuel advantage when chemically pulped. Unlike agrifibre, wood is capable of providing not only fibre for the manufacture of wood pulps, but also the bulk of the energy required to sustain the process.7

[Two Sides Summary] Most non-woods are annual crops which must be harvested in a six to eight week period and then stored for an entire year8 in dedicated places with conditions to avoid rot, fermentation, etc. Wood can be harvested almost year-round and stored in mill yards for immediate use or within one year.

1. Hurter, R., 19982. World Resources Institute and World Business Council for

Sustainable Development, 20143. Dovetail Partners, 20144. NCASI, 2013

5. Forest Europe, 20116. Dovetail Partners, 20147. NCASI, 20138. Hurter, 1998

Print and Paper The Facts

Like all major manufacturing, paper-making is an energy-intensive endeavour. However, it is also Europe’s biggest industrial user and producer of renewable energy and sustained efforts have reduced CO2 emissions by 20% in a decade.

• “Energy consumption of our mills has decreased by 5.2% in the last two years (2013 over 2011).”1

• “The forest products industry is a leader in the production of renewable energy, with more than 56% of the on-site energy needed to produce paper products derived from carbon-neutral biomass.”2

• The print and paper industry accounts for only 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.3

• We have used biomass energy – the energy from plants and plant-derived materials – since people began burning wood to cook food and keep warm, and wood is still the largest biomass energy resource today. Biomass can be used for power production that would otherwise require fossil fuels. In such scenarios, biomass can provide an array of benefits, including the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.4

• Our sector is the largest industrial producer of bioenergy, generating 20% of the biomass based energy in Europe.5

• “Today 96.4% of electricity is produced on-site of paper mills in Europe using the energy efficient combined heat and power method.”6

• “It is the new carbon from fossil fuels that is primarily responsible for the increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide that have occurred in the last 100 years.”7

• “Biomass fuels contain carbon that was recently removed from the atmosphere, and this inherent property exists whether or not trees are regrown. Therefore, all biomass is carbon neutral. The overall benefits of biomass fuels depend on how efficiently we use it to displace fossil fuels. The benefits are reduced if biomass is used faster than it is regrown since this shrinks future supplies of carbon-neutral fuel and can reduce the amounts of carbon sequestered in the forest. Fortunately, it is widely understood that using biomass faster than it’s replaced is neither responsible nor sustainable. Sustainable forest management practices, which are strongly supported by the paper industry, not only ensure growth of fibre to meet future needs, they also ensure attention to environmental and biodiversity objectives for the ecosystems in which we operate.”8

• “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that forest biomass-derived energy could reduce

global emissions by between 400 million and 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, a goal that the forest products industry can help society to reach through its forest biotechnology research and forest biomass infrastructure… IPCC has stated that “In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit.” The analysis contained in the present report gives strong support to IPCC’s assertion that sustainable management of production forests represents an important mitigation option over the long term.”9

• “The biomass emissions from paper-making are part of the natural carbon balance and do not add to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, unlike emissions from fossil fuel. The forests that provide that biomass support key climate change mitigation technologies and practices currently commercially available including, afforestation; reforestation; forest management; reduced deforestation; harvested wood product management; use of forestry products for bioenergy to replace fossil fuel use; tree species improvement to increase biomass productivity and carbon

The paper industry uses a lot of renewable energy

Print and Paper The Facts

sequestration; improved remote sensing technologies for analysis of vegetation/soil carbon sequestration potential and mapping land-use change.”10

• “At a global level, the greenhouse gas emissions from the forest products industry value chain are largely offset by sequestration in forests and forest products.”11

• “The carbon removed from the forest by the paper and forest products industry represents only about 0.7% of the carbon that is recycled between the forest and the atmosphere annually, and less than 0.14% of the carbon stored in the world’s forests.”12

1. CEPI, 20142. CEPI, 20133. World Resources Institute (WRI), 20054. US Department of Energy5. CEPI, 20136. CEPI, 20147. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 20078. Miner, R. 2007

9. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010

10. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 200711. World Business Council for Sustainable Development

(WBCSD) and NCASI, 201112. World Business Council for Sustainable Development

(WBCSD) and NCASI, 2011

Print and Paper The Facts

The paper industry promotes sustainable forestry and depends on sustainable forest growth to provide a reliable supply of wood fibre. Europe’s paper manufacturers do this by encouraging forest sustainability through their purchase and use of certified wood fibre and by promoting sustainable forest management policies and practices at home and around the globe. And by providing a dependable market for responsibly grown fibre, the paper industry encourages landowners to continue managing their forestland.

• “When landowners receive income for products grown on their land [including wood for paper-making], they are encouraged to maintain, renew and manage this valuable resource sustainably. This is an especially important consideration in places facing economic pressures to convert forestland to non-forest uses”1

• Contrary to public opinion Europe’s forests are increasing not decreasing– by an area equivalent to 1.5 million football pitches every year - and responsible forest management is helping to drive this.2

• The area of protected forests is expanding, and forest management practices increasingly promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Most forests have management plans and the net annual increment in forest volume is higher than annual felling in almost all countries. Across Europe as a whole, only about 40% of the increment is felled, and the total growing stock of forests increased by nearly 9 billion cubic metres between 1990 and 2010.3

• In Europe, most of the wood fibre used for paper-making comes from well-managed European forests. Of the total raw materials consumed by the European paper industry, paper for recycling represented 45.6% and wood pulp 39.2%; non-fibrous materials made up most of the rest. 64.6% of wood, chips and sawmilling by-products delivered to European mills are forest management certified by independent forest certification schemes. 84% of fibre comes from Europe.4

• According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, the overwhelming direct cause of deforestation is agriculture. Subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation; commercial agriculture is responsible for 32% of deforestation; logging (legal and illegal) is responsible for 14% of deforestation and fuel wood removals make up 5% of deforestation.5

• Sustainable forest management is commonly viewed as one of the most important contributions that the forestry sector can make to sustainable development. [The future of a thriving print and paper industry, and all its economic spin-offs, also depends on well-managed and healthy forests]. 

• Responsibly managed forests are necessary for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystems services, both on individual sites and within the wider landscape. Forest management, including intensive commercial management, can be a critical and cost-effective conservation tool within larger-scale conservation strategies. Well-managed commercial or community forests can for example provide vital buffers for and links between protected areas. Forest management should therefore seek to maintain forest quality and not degrade either the timber resource or the range of associated goods and services (non-timber forest products, environmental services, biodiversity, spiritual values, recreational uses, etc.).6

• At least 82% of raw materials are sourced in Europe from responsibly managed forests which are more abundant and healthier now than they were 40 years ago.7

• Using wood and recovered paper for manufacturing purposes does not only add value and create jobs, it does so in a resource efficient manner. A study named “Wood flows in Europe (EU27)” shows that due to recycling and the use of

Paper production supports sustainable forest management

Print and Paper The Facts

waste and by-products in the forest-based industries, 1 m3 of wood creates products worth 2.38 m3 of wood [3.5m3 for the paper industry alone in 2013]. This is resource efficiency at its best.8

• Forests and sustainable forest management are essential in the transition to a green economy that would improve human well-being and social equity, while significantly reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In Europe,

thanks to sustainable forest management, the forest sector already displays many of the characteristics of a green economy and has the potential to play a major role in the emerging sustainable economy, like contributing to a low-carbon green economy, or increasing provision of wood, non-wood products and ecosystem services in a sustainable way.9

1. WBCSD, 20112. CEPI, 20153. Forest Europe, 20114. CEPI, 20135. UNFCCC, 2007

6. WWF, 20107. CEPI, Sustainability Report, 2013, p 128. CEPI, 20129. Forest Europe, 2015

Print and Paper The Facts

Paper is made from a natural resource that is renewable, recyclable and compostable. These features, combined with the paper industry’s advocacy of responsible forestry practices and certification, use of renewable, carbon -neutral biofuels and advances in efficient paper-making technology, make paper a product with inherent and unique sustainable features.

“Paper has been an integral part of our cultural development and is essential for modern life. Paper helps to increase levels of literacy and democracy worldwide and plays an important role in protecting goods and foodstuffs during transit. Paper is made from renewable resources, and responsibly produced and used paper has many advantages over other, non-renewable alternative materials...”1

• Paper is recyclable and one of the most recycled commodities in Europe. The benefits of paper recycling include: extending the supply of wood fibre; reducing greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change by avoiding methane emissions (which are released when paper decomposes in landfills or is incinerated); contributing to carbon sequestration; reducing the amount of energy needed to produce some paper products; and saving considerable landfill space.2

• “Forest certification is widely seen as the most important initiative of the last decade to promote better forest management. [It] is a mechanism for forest monitoring, tracing and labelling timber, wood and pulp products and non-timber forest products [like paper], where the quality

of management from environmental, social, and economic perspectives is judged against a series of agreed standards. The key to forest certification is the development of a system that combines auditing forest practices with tracing forest products.”3

• The growing demand for sustainably produced wood and paper-based goods can lead to improved forest management. Sustainably managed forests are a renewable source of raw materials; these forests also provide services such as clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and sometimes recreation opportunities.4

• “I think it’s now increasingly apparent to pretty much everybody who is involved in the world of paper that it is a raw material of enormous value both economically and from an ecological point of view. It is true that there is an assumption that using paper is wasteful and irresponsible. That, to me, is completely crazy”5

• “The biomass emissions from paper-making are part of the natural carbon balance and do not add to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, unlike emissions from fossil fuel. The forests that provide that biomass support key climate change mitigation technologies and practices currently commercially available including, afforestation; reforestation; forest management; reduced deforestation; harvested wood product management; use of forestry products for bioenergy to replace fossil fuel use; tree species improvement to increase biomass productivity and carbon sequestration; improved remote sensing technologies for analysis of vegetation/soil carbon sequestration potential and mapping land-use change.”6

• Bioenergy accounts for 58% of our energy use.7 Our sector is the largest industrial producer of bioenergy, generating 20% of the biomass based energy in Europe.8

• Today, 95.2% of electricity is produced on-site in paper mills using the energy-efficient combined heat and power method9 [which recycles exhaust steam for use as manufacturing process heat or space heating]. CHP systems are highly efficient (up to 80% efficiency compared to about 50% for traditional

Paper is one of the few truly sustainable products

Print and Paper The Facts

fossil-fuel powered systems) and have lower emissions than separate heat and power generation.10

• 88% of production capacity is certified or registered according to internationally recognised environmental management standards ISO14001 and EMAS.11

• The print and paper industry accounts for only 1.1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.12 ”In 2007, the net sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere into the forest products industry

value chain was 424 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, enough to offset 86% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing forest products, and almost half of the value chain’s total emissions”13

1. WWF, 20102. US EPA, 20133. WWF, 20104. WBCSD/WRI, 2014.5. Sir Jonathan Porritt / Printmonthly.com, 20146. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 20077. CEPI,Sustainability Report, 2013, p 36

8. CEPI,Sustainability Report, 2013, p 369. CEPI,Sustainability Report, 2013, p3610. Association for Decentralised Energy, 201511. CEPI,Sustainability Report, 2013, p4012. World Resources Institute (WRI), 200513. FAO, 2010