Some interesting facts regarding Paper, Print and Sustainability

By Peter Harrison | Published January 13, 2011

Every year 1.5 billion seedlings are planted in the US for the paper making industry, that’s an average of 4 million planted every day.

More than 5 new trees are planted each year for every person in the US and millions more grow naturally from seeds and sprouts.

There are more trees in America now that there were 70 years ago.

Remember – trees are a renewable resource that will keep growing and growing, unlike non renewable resources like minerals. Forests regenerate naturally and good forest management increases their abundance.
How much paper can you get from one tree?
Good question but difficult answer. Lets assume that you can get an amount of wood from one tree that’s 8 feet wide x 4 feet deep and 4 feet high (this is known in papermaking circles as a ‘cord’) you could produce enough paper to manufacture the following printed items.

942 copies of 100 page hard backed book
4,384,000 commemorative sized postage stamps
460,000 personal cheques
1200 copies of National Geographic Magazine
2700 copies of an average daily newspaper

What bits of the tree are used for papermaking?
The tree is felled and the limbs and branches removed. The bark is stripped away and either burned as fuel or sent to the horticulture industry to be used as garden mulch. The wood is then chipped into small pieces and then broken down further into individual fibres in the pulping process.

Our policy at The Printing House and Print Buying Direct is to always use paper and other raw materials from sustainable or renewable sources wherever possible – see our Green Environmental Policy for more details.

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.