NO CO2
THE FACTS
THE MYTH
making paper destroys forests THE FACT
paper production supports sustainable forest management THE EVIDENCE Australia’s forestry plantations doubled in size from about one million hectares in 1994 to two million hectares in 2010. (1) European forests have expanded by over 30% since 1950 (2) and are increasing by 1.5 million football fields every year - an area almost three times the size of the Australian Capital Territory or four times the size of London! (3) 90% Of deforestation is caused by unsustainable agricultural practices.’ One of the many unique attributes of paper is that its main raw material is renewable and recyclable. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has stated that ‘forestry practice in Europe is developing in a way that can be considered good for biodiversity.’ (4) (1)
The Changing Face of Australia’s Forests - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Bureau of Rural Sciences) Australia’s Forests at a Glance - Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
(2)
Underlying causes of deforestation, World Rainforest Movement; UN FAO
(3)
CEPI, Forest Fact Sheet, July 2008
(4)
EEA, the European Environment, State and Outlook 2005, page 191 of full report
THE MYTH
making paper is bad for the environment THE FACT
paper is one of the few truly sustainable products THE EVIDENCE Paper is based on wood, a natural and renewable material and as trees grow, they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Furthermore, as a wood product, paper also continues to store carbon throughout its lifetime. Paper and paper products are effective carbon sinks. ‘The amount of carbon stored in forest products is about 540 million tons of CO2 every year.’ (5) (5)
NCASI Special Report 07-02
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
3
THE MYTH
making paper consumes a lot of energy THE FACT
but most of it is renewable energy THE EVIDENCE: The paper industry is one of the biggest users of renewable low carbon energy, and over half the energy used to make paper in Europe comes from renewable sources. (6) Does 400 kilowatt-hours, 160kg of paper, the average amount each of us use every year, sound a lot? It’s the equivalent to: • Powering one computer continuously for four months. • Burning a 60w light bulb continuously for more then nine months. • The energy consumed by a typical household leaving its electronic equipment on stand-by for almost a year. (7) (6)
CEPI, Forest Fact Sheet, 2008
(7)
Paper and The Environment, ATS Consulting August 2007
THE MYTH
paper has a high carbon footprint THE FACT
it’s not as high as you think THE EVIDENCE: Producing 160kg of paper, the average we each use every year, creates between 130 - 250kg of CO2 depending on the source of the energy. This is comparable to many other small scale domestic activities, and is roughly equivalent to the CO2 produced by an annual family car over a distance of 800 kilometres.(8) ‘Reading a newspaper can consume 20% less carbon than viewing news online.’ (9) ‘Globally, private forestry is estimated to result in the absorption of 1 billion tonnes of CO2 per annum.’ (10) (8)
Paper and the Environment, ATS Consulting, August 2007
(9)
Swedish Royal Institute for Technology
(10)
Australian Paper Industry Association (APIA)
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
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THE MYTH
harvesting new trees to make paper is bad THE FACT
sustainable forest management benefits people and the planet THE EVIDENCE: Without new fibres, from new trees, the paper cycle cannot begin. Recycled fibres degrade after several uses and new fibres are always needed. Forests consisting of young trees aged 10-30 years absorb more carbon dioxide than mature forests. Absorption rates slow gradually and flatten out at 8-100+ years as growth is balanced by decay. (11) (11)
Primefacts - Industry and Investment NSW Government Department of Primary Industries, 2010
THE MYTH
print and paper is a wasteful product THE FACT
paper is one of the most recycled products in the world THE EVIDENCE: 95% Of australian households recycle/reuse their paper products. Paper is recycled more than any other household item. (12) In Australia 78.7% of newspapers are recovered/recycled representing a world’s best outcome. (13) (12)
ABS Waste Management and Transport Use, 2009
(13)
Publishers National Environmental Bureau
Recovery of Australian print and paper waste products Recovered and recycled
66%
Nonrecoverable
22% 12%
ROBERT EASTMENT - INDUSTRYEDGE, 2012
Present potential for further recovery
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
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THE MYTH
electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than print and paper THE FACT
not necessarily. e-media also has environmental impacts. THE EVIDENCE:
‘With a reading time of 30 minutes per day the environmental impact of a web based newspaper is, in general, in the same range as a printed newspaper’s environmental impact.’ (14) (14)
Moberg, A., et al., 2007
KEY DEFINITIONS
carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly to support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of either carbon or carbon dioxide.
biofuel energy
Biofuel is any fuel derived from an organic material that is not fossilised like coal or petroleum. Common sources of biofuel grown for the US and European markets are corn, soybeans, flaxseed and rapeseed. Biofuel can appear in solid, liquid, or gas form.
carbon offset
The process of offsetting carbon-producing activities with those that either reduce or capture carbon, thus credibly neutralising the net amount of carbon released in the atmosphere from a particular activity.
Kyoto Protocol
An agreement developed by and for industrial nations in 1997 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 2005 without the US ratifying it.
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
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We don’t want to be ‘just your printer’. We want to be a partner in the growth and success of your business. It’s this approach that sets Worldwide apart from our competition.
We are an Australian owned company with a national network of over 50 design and print centres. For more information, find your local Worldwide Centre online at www.worldwide.com.au or call 1300 657 006 today.