Eco Paper 101
This Eco Paper 101 is intended to explain what to look for in environmental and Ancient Forest Friendly papers.
Enormous demand for paper is driving the rapid deletion of the world’s forests.
This Eco Paper 101 is intended to explain the issues as well as what to look for in environmental and Ancient Forest Friendly papers.
Pulp Fiction and the World's Ancient and Endangered
Forests:
It’s no secret that in most cases paper comes from trees and trees come from Ancient Forests. In fact:
Globally, 71% of the world’s paper supply is derived from ecologically valuable, biologically diverse forests rather than from tree farms. (Toward a Sustainable Paper Cycle: An Independent Study on the Sustainability of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 1996)
Approximately 40% of the trees logged in Canada’s ancient rainforests (trees up to 1,400 years old)* and 65% of those logged in Canada’s boreal forests are used to produce pulp and paper.**
Global paper consumption has increased by a factor of 20 this century and has more than tripled over the past 30 years. (NO END TO PAPERWORK: World Resources 1998-1999, by staff of World Resources Program, 1998 updated June 2001. Can be accessed at www.earthtrends.wri.org)
Global paper consumption is projected to grow roughly 77% by 2020. (OECD Environmental Outlook, p. 218, 2001)
* Cheri Burda & Fred P. Gale. (1996). Trading in the Future: An Examination of BC’s Commodity Export Strategy in Forest Products.
** Book Business Magazine. (February 2006). “Can’t See the Forests for the Tree Farms.”
Ancient Forests and the Paper Chase
Ancient (or old growth) forests refer to forest areas that are primarily undisturbed by human activity. Industrial logging - for lumber and wood pulp to make books, magazines, newsprint and toilet paper - poses the greatest threat to ancient forests both here in North America and world-wide.
Please refer to the Protecting Ancient Forests
section of this web site for more information on ancient and endangered forests and to the Definitions
section for definitions of forests and paper related terminology.
Is There a Solution?
The best solution is a 3-fold approach:
1. Increase your paper efficiencies – that is, use less paper. Analyze your paper use and eliminate unnecessary use. Increasing online options, decreasing print waste and use intelligent design and layout, saves forests and money. Want to learn more?
2. Recycle the paper you do use
3. Buy the most environmentally friendly paper available
Refer to our Definitions section for definitions of Ancient and Endangered forests, recycled products, tree free products, agricultural fibres, chlorine free products and persistent organic pollutants.