Are you making your decisions
based on facts?

Many myths and misconceptions exist about how paper
impacts the environment. Here are facts to consider
when you think about paper and make your decisions.

Paper destroys
forests.

The use of paper actually helps to keep U.S. forests
growing and managed for better sustainability.

• In the U.S., private landowners plant about 4 million trees every day. That's 3-4 times more than they harvest.
• The great thing about using wood fiber to make paper is that it is infinitely renewable. We can keep planting trees forever, even in places where no trees were planted before, making new forests to serve as good ecosystems while providing the resources we need for products we use every day, such as paper.

Paper uses
too much energy.

The U.S. pulp and paper industry generates more
than 60% of its energy from carbon-neutral biofuels.

• Although the pulp and paper industry is very energy intensive, it meets a large share of its energy demand by recovery and consumption of waste pulping fibers and wood waste, which are called biofuels.
• In the U.S., the pulp and paper industry is the largest producer and consumer of renewable energy.

Electronic communications
are always
better for the
environment than
using paper.

As new research emerges, it is clear
that "either/or" is not the answer.

• One must consider all the inputs and outputs before making a decision about which communications are better delivered electronically or on paper.
• By linking the power of paper with the efficiency of electronics, we can streamline our communications and help maintain the best environmental balance possible.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2009, 63.4% of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. That's 325 pounds for every man, woman and child in the U.S