At Capital Press, we use FSC Approved paper and recycled paper sourced ethically through sustainable forest management. Some misconceptions about the paper industry include:
1

MAKING PAPER DESTROYS FORESTS

FACT: Paper production supports sustainable forest management.

The New Zealand paper industry promotes sustainable forestry and depends on sustainable forest growth to provide a reliable supply of wood fiber.

90% of deforestation is caused by unsustainable agricultural practices.

Underlying causes of deforestation, World Rainforest Movement; UN FAO, 2013; FAOSTAT, 2011.

2

PAPER IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

FACT: Paper is one of the few truly sustainable products.

Paper is made from wood, a natural and renewable material. As young trees grow they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. As a wood product, paper also continues to store carbon throughout its lifetime, making them effective carbon sinks. For every tonne of wood a forest produces, it removes 1.47 tonnes of CO2 from the air and replaces it with 1.07 tonnes of oxygen.

- Society of American Foresters: Managed Forests in Climate Change Policy, 2010 Arnfalk, 2010.

FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is a stakeholder owned system for promoting responsible management of the world’s forests, with 182 million hectares of forest certified and over 27,500 Chain of Custody certificates worldwide as of April 2014.

- www.ic.fsc.org/index.htm

3

PAPER IS ENERGY INTENSIVE AND HAS A HIGH CARBON FOOTPRINT

FACT: Paper has one of the lowest carbon footprints.

Pulp Paper & Print is one of the smallest emitters of the major industry sectors on the planet, responsible for just 1.1% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

- Australasian Industry Paper Industry Association Ltd.

In a multimedia world, responsibly sourced paper and print may be the most sustainable way to communicate. Alternative media has its own impact too: One email with a 400k attachment sent to 20 people, is equivalent to burning 100w light bulb for 20 minutes.

- BBC Costing The Earth, Global Warming, 2009

4

PEOPLE WANT TO SWITCH TO DIGITAL

FACT: Many consumers value paper based communications.

Many organisations, banks, utilities, telecoms and governments are now increasingly going online or making charges if consumers wish to receive paper-based communication. Switching to digital is not always welcome by consumers.

87% of consumers agree that the main reasons companies want to shift to electronic delivery is to save money not to be environmentally responsible.

- Two Sides and Toluna, 2013.

71% of consumers understand that paper is a renewable and recyclable product that, if responsibly produced and consumed, can be the sustainable way to communicate.

- Two Sides and Toluna, 2011 and 2013.

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