For important communications

Paper has been an essential communication medium for over 2000 years. Even in today’s digital world, paper continues to be the preferred format for many readers of books, magazines and newspapers.

The power of print on paper is becoming more apparent than ever. Readers love reading in print, with studies showing that printed media is read more often, remembered better and has greater credibility. Many also understand the importance of switching off.  32% of respondents to a 2023 survey feel they are suffering from a digital overload and 49% agreed that they spent too long on digital devices.  

Digital has impacts

There is a widespread misconception that digital communication has no environmental impact. The ICT industry accounted for 4-6% of global electricity use in 2020, which is more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With increasing demand, this is expected to increase hugely over the next decade.

The electronic waste problem is also colossal and growing. In 2019, the industry was responsible for a gigantic 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of e-waste across the world. That’s equivalent to the weight of 350 cruise ships. In addition, the raw materials required for digital equipment, servers and power generators are often finite, precious and non-renewable, as well as being notoriously difficult to recycle.

A renewable resource

Environmental myths around paper still exist. A 2023 survey revealed 60% of European consumers believe European forests are shrinking, when in fact they have been growing by an area equivalent to 1,500 football pitches every day. 

In fact, paper is a uniquely renewable and sustainable product. In 2022, the European recycling rate for paper was 71% and this is expected to increase to 76% by 2030.

61% of European pulp and paper mills’ energy consumption comes from renewable sources making the European pulp and paper industry the biggest single user and producer of renewable energy in Europe. 

The paper cycle

In Europe, paper is recycled on average 3.5 times although it cannot be recycled indefinitely due to natural losses through the recycling process. This means that fresh fibre from sustainably managed forests is needed to keep the renewable cycle going.  The main raw material, trees, are grown and harvested in a carefully controlled and sustainable way.

European forests - which provide 90% of the wood fibre used by the European pulp and paper industry - have grown by an area the size of Switzerland in just 15 years. These forests act as a major carbon sink and between 2010 and 2020, the average annual sequestration of carbon in forest biomass reached 155 million tonnes in the European region.

Why not take a look at our complete range of paper, find out more about our Paper Trail call off service or discover more about the story of paper at www.lovepaper.org