The UK is the world's third largest importer of illegal timber and pulp.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6316419.stm

The pulp and paper industry consumes 42 percent of all wood harvested for industrial uses. (Source: National Resources Defense Council)  

Of course, using recycled paper saves trees, and lots of them. It’s difficult to give exact figures as it depends upon the type of paper being made and the trees that it’s being made from (ie. what type of tree, how old it is, if it’s hardwood or softwood etc.), but Conservatree estimates that 1 tonne of 50% post-consumer content copier paper saves 12 trees.
http://www.conservatree.com/learn/EnviroIssues/TreeStats.shtml

To be absolutely sure that your paper has not had a detrimental effect on any forest environment, use 100% recycled paper. If this is not possible, a mixture or, as a last resort, FSC certified paper is the best way to ensure your paper doesn’t come from illegal sources.

The pulp and paper industry is the third largest emitter of global warming pollution in industrialized nations. (Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations)

In general, recycled paper production uses less energy than virgin paper production.
http://www.napm.org.uk/recycled_paper.htm

On a positive note, the paper industry is now also the biggest user and producer of renewable energy sources. (Source: Worldwatch Institute). Some producers use the by-products of the pulp production process as bio-fuel, virtually eliminating their carbon dioxide emissions.

Water conservation is essential - ‘Climate change and poor resource management is leading to water shortages in even the most developed countries.’ (Source: WWF)
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=77900

The UN predicts that by 2025 1.8bn people will be affected by water scarcity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7056601.stm

Whilst waste treatment, especially in European mills, has improved in recent years, many mills still release a variety of pollutants into the surrounding air and water. Some of these are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. Others can affect the more immediate surroundings that local people and wildlife rely on and contribute to air pollution, acid rain and the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems.
See WWF Paper Buyer’s Guide for more information.

The paper making process also generates large amounts of solid waste which must be disposed of, most notably the sludge from the fillers, coatings, wood fibres etc.

Most paper produced in the EU and the US is now produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) processes. However, there are several types of ECF processes and most still release pollutants, so try to use Process Chlorine Free (PCF), Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) or unbleached paper. Look for natural white rather than brilliant white papers.

An area the size of Warwick is already being used to dump Britain's rubbish and unless the ways of people and business change then the UK will run out of landfill space in less than nine years time. Reducing waste will also help cut carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
(Source: Local Government Authority)
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=41558

Landfills are being replaced by incinerators whose toxic fall-out has been proven to be harmful to human health. (Source: Friends of the Earth) http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/waste/issues/incineration_and_landfill_index.html

As paper biodegrades it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is said to be approximately 20 times more powerful than CO2.
(Source: Recycle Now)
http://www.recyclenow.com/why_recycling_matters/how_is_it_recycled/paper/paper_the_bigger.html

Specifying recycled paper is a good way to ease these problems.

Choosing paper
http://www.lovelyasatree.com/choose_paper.htm

Paperfinder
http://www.lovelyasatree.com/paperfinder.htm

Please email info@three-trees.org

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