The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 1
Paper is one of the most environmentally friendly products in the world. The advantages of using recycled products are genuinely world saving.
Although it is fair to say that nowadays the vast majority of virgin paper that is produced is done so with care for the environment, making it one of the greenest products available, and making the industry that produces it, if not the most environmentally friendly, then certainly numbered among the top few, there is still a very real market for recycled papers.
Virgin fibre will always be needed, as recycled fibres eventually become too brittle, short and weak to hold together. Virgin fibre is grown in a sustainable manner, much like any other vegetable crop. In fact, according to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) ‘Contrary to popular opinion, Europe’s forests are increasing by an area the size of 1.5 million football pitches every year’. So, there will always be a call for virgin substrates, but what do you with that virgin paper once it is on longer needed?
According to the report ‘Wastes –Resource Conservation – Common Wastes & Materials – Paper Recycling’ from the US Environmental Protection Agency, ‘Recycling one tonne of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, two barrels of oil, and 4100 kilowatt hours of electricity’.
To be continued…
Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.
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