I came across an interesting article and received permission to share it with my readers. It is by Phil Riebel. Phil is the president of Two Sides North America, Inc. Two sides is a non-profit organization
aspiring to ensure that print and paper’s unique recyclable and renewable
qualities can be enjoyed for generations to come. Two Sides is also committed to ensuring that
print and paper remains a versatile means of marketing and communication. They span several countries and are present
in Europe, North America, Australia, South Africa, and South America.
Let me know what you think, are we going to see a paper movement? I sure hope so.
Paper and the Circular Economy
Make way for the “paper movement”!
On a recent holiday to Prince Edward Island, I
was served a drink with a paper straw…the first paper straw I have seen in a
long time! I could hardly contain my
excitement and began talking to the waitress about my “paper” life. She
responded by saying “yes, there is a paper movement underway”....Wow! Interesting that someone outside the paper
industry is saying this.
Recent stories about the impact of materials
in our waste streams – like plastic in our oceans, or the increasing amounts of
electronic waste – have changed how companies think about the materials used in
their manufacturing process. There is a
movement to get away from the ‘one-and-done’ model of the linear economy, toward
a more “circular economy,” where the reuse, refurbishment, recycling,
and end-of-life disposal of a product factors into the manufacturing
design. In a circular economy, manufacturing
is done in a way that builds the overall health of the process – financially, environmentally
and socially.
Large corporations like Starbucks and McDonald’s are looking for ways to minimize plastic
packaging with their straws and cups. Packaging suppliers are investing in
research to develop coatings that make
paper as convenient and practical as plastic, but also biodegradable and recyclable. From gift
cards to Apple
iPhone packaging,
companies are evaluating and often redesigning their process to incorporate
more sustainable materials.
Paper is a natural fit for the circular
economy model. Paper-based materials are
becoming the go-to replacement as companies look for more sustainable ways to
produce their products. Wood, paper, and
paper-based products, in many circumstances, tie into the circular economy
model because of the following facts:
• Paper is one of the few truly sustainable
products. Each year, forests in North America grow
significantly more wood than is harvested.
North American forests are a renewable resource that is continuously
replenished using sustainable forest management.
• Paper
is highly recyclable. Paper is
recycled more than any other commodity in the solid waste stream and is often
the dominant raw material used in paper production. A combination of fresh wood
supply and recycled paper allows printing and writing paper to be down-cycled
to other products like corrugated boxes, tissue, and other packaging.
•
Much of the energy used for papermaking is renewable. Roughly two-thirds of the energy used by
North American pulp and paper mills is self-generated using renewable biomass
in combination with heat and power (CHP) systems. The
paper industry uses more renewable energy than any other industrial sector.
There is still a significant amount of
work needed to measure the overall life cycle benefits of making these manufacturing
shifts, but companies are reviewing the environmental impact of their processes
and products in a more complete way. The
sustainability of wood and paper continues to play an important role in the
move from a linear to a circular economy.
By Phil Riebel
President - Two Sides North America, Inc.
https://www.facebook.com/TwoSidesNorthAmerica
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