Myths about the sustainability of the North American paper industry and its products are common media fodder in today’s world of sensationalized, headline-driven journalism. This time it was the turn of Popular Science to weave together a collection of standard anti-paper tropes into your “Modern paper use is wildly unsustainable” article.
Shouldn’t a publication dedicated to reporting on science resist the easy narrative, hold up a submission to the illuminating glow of real authoritative data and pick up the phone to ask industry scientists or a school of forestry if any of what the authors claim makes sense?
After all, paper is not only the most recycled material in North America. It is a material whose industry grows and regrows its own feedstock (wood fiber), derives most of the power to drive its processes from carbon neutral biofuel, and recycles more than 95% of the chemicals it uses to turn trees into pulp. This is not “wildly unsustainable.” This is a description of some of the world’s most sustainable products.
much more at source: https://twosidesna.org/US/two-sides-responds-to-misleading-claims-about-the-sustainability-of-paper-products-in-popular-science/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TSNA%20Two%20Sides%20Responds%20to%20Misleading%20Claims%20about%20the%20Sustainability%20of%20Paper%20Products%20in%20Popular%20Science&utm_content=TSNA%20Two%20Sides%20Responds%20to%20Misleading%20Claims%20about%20the%20Sustainability%20of%20Paper%20Products%20in%20Popular%20Science+CID_0914a023d420fff2fd6f95100d31dcc4&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=READ%20MORE
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The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has released the results of its Sustainability Transparency Toolkit, or SPOTT Assessment, that independently gauges the progress of 24 global timber, pulp and paper companies against a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators. APRIL ranked second of 24 companies, behind Switzerland’s Interholco A.G., with a score of 67.1%, well above the average score for the sector of 37.1%. APRIL’s highest scores were for Sustainability Policy and Leadership, and Deforestation and Biodiversity. Just three of the 24 companies received a ‘Green’ rating, awarded to companies scoring above 66%. Click Read More below for additional information.