Introduction:
While technological advancements have resulted in rapid digitization across the world, paper is going nowhere. Paper is still heavily used for writing, printing, paper boarding, packaging, and several other needs by schools, universities, hospitals, pharmacies, the finance and real estate industries, among other enterprises and institutions. Most paper, however, comes from sources that use way too much energy, water, and are environmentally unsustainable and toxic.
Paper and its environmental impact:
The pulp and paper industry is among the top 5 largest emitters of greenhouse gases among manufacturing industries, and is among the top culprits for wastage of water too. Paper mills generally rely on a mix of toxic chemicals for reducing wood to pulp and bleaching paper. Mercury, water effluents such as absorbable organic halides and total suspended solids, and solid waste such as boiler ash and effluent sludge are all potential byproducts from this industry that are an obvious environmental hazard. Let’s look at the direct impacts of paper-making on the environment:
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Deforestation: About 15% of all deforestation is done to satisfy our paper goods’ needs. This means that a whopping 4.1 million hectares of forest is destroyed each year for our paper. It is common knowledge that forests soak carbon dioxide and trees are of paramount importance for the planet’s longevity, and yet, we are often blind-sided by institutions and corporations.
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Water pollution: Chemical reagents widely used in several industries and especially the paper industry, when released into water bodies are hugely toxic when not properly treated. Minimization efforts, while worthy of appreciation, still don’t mean that we have eliminated all water pollution by paper-making. Air pollution: Apart from carbon dioxide, gases such as hydrogen sulfide, Sulphur dioxide, and chloroform are major polluters through the paper-making process that increase toxicity of the air.
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Air pollution: Apart from carbon dioxide, gases such as hydrogen sulfide, Sulphur dioxide, and chloroform are major polluters through the paper-making process that increase toxicity of the air.
Further, indirect impacts of paper production include lowering of the water table, water wastage, and creation of large amounts of paper waste post-use. Additionally, the industry is guilty of being inefficient in its energy usage.
The need for an alternative:
The long-term effects of current methods of paper production and the overutilization of paper is underestimated and deserves serious attention. Each citizen and/or organization must think twice about where they source their paper from. With countries across the world committing to acting towards climate change and reduction in emissions and carbon footprints, it is imperative to be more environmentally conscious in our paper needs, and minimizing our paper-induced carbon footprint. This could mean not wasting an unnecessary page of your book in school or university as a student, or printing on both sides of a sheet of paper when possible as an organization, and trying to reuse paper as far as possible, individually and collectively.
Further, despite the adverse effects of paper-making and wastage on the environment, several producers and buyers of paper still overlook sustainable alternatives. The total market size of only the copier paper market in India is estimated at 5.5 lakh tones per annum, and yet, recycled sources are an alternative that provide for less than 10% of today's overall printing and office papers. It involves between 50% lesser energy consumption on average; lesser water consumption; and lesser overall environmental degradation. Recycled paper, therefore, is an alternative that is far more sustainable alternative and is begging for more attention.
Paper that comes with a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification authenticates their origin from well-managed and sustainable forests, not carelessly felled trees. When it comes to FSC labels, each tell their own story.
‘FSC’ means the product has been manufactured with 100% FSC-certified virgin fibre from FSC- certified forests. ‘FSC MIX’ means the products has been manufactured with a combination of FSC-certified virgin fibre, controlled sources and/or recycled wood or fibre. ‘FSC Recycled’ means products manufactured with 100% recycled fibre of which at least 85% is postconsumer (PCW) recycled material.
Printer manufacturers are also constantly becoming more environmentally conscientious and want to educate their users to go recycled. Brands such as Lexmark found that 80% of a device’s lifetime carbon-footprint is due to paper printing(!) and are promoting the idea of recycled paper to be fed into their printers. While not all recycled paper prints well and can be fed into printers, 100% Recycled paper by Rescript prints extremely well, and leaves you satisfied with the end- product.
Go ‘100% Recycled’ and make a positive impact
As a consumer of paper, when shopping for your paper the next time, take a look at its FSC certification (often at the back side of the product) and how consciously it is sourced. Rescript commits to 4 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, and uses only FSC ‘100% Recycled’ paper in all its products. Make the choice to go 100% recycled today. The number of trees that you end up saving for your kids will satisfy you immensely.
Additionally, challenge yourself to go single-use paper free. This means refusing unnecessary packaging, leaflets and paper tickets whenever possible. And remember, being environmentally conscious is not a choice, but a responsibility.
Pratik Dawda,
Team Rescript.
