Buy Paper, Save the Planet?

Have you bought into the idea that using paper is bad for the environment?
If so, here are some data that might surprise you.

Over the last six decades, the net volume of trees on U.S. timberland increased by 58%. Did you read that right? Yes, increased by 58%! If you’re in Canada, the forest cover has remained stable over the last two decades.

Our country’s forests aren’t in danger of disappearing anytime soon. They are actually growing!

By investing in paper-based communications, you are helping America’s timberland continue to flourish. Did you know that most pulpwood harvested in the United States (89%) comes from private land? (Here’s a quick fact: Most harvested trees are used to make lumber, not pulp and paper. In the U.S., only 36% of the annual timber harvest is used for paper and paperboard. In Canada, it is only 13%.)

The income landowners receive from selling timber encourages them to maintain and renew this valuable resource. If forests weren’t creating income for landowners, what would happen to them? History shows that this land would be at high risk for development for agriculture or real estate. So the more paper you buy, the more you support the preservation of our nation’s timberland.

It gets better. When you invest in paper-based communications, you are not only preserving our nation’s forests, but when you choose paper certified by one of the industry’s certifying organizations, you can also be sure that the pulp is being harvested in a sustainably managed way.

Among those to watch for?

• Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

These organizations are set up using standards and guidelines that ensure that the pulp and paper industry benefits local economies and forests. When buying paper, look for stock that carries the logo of one of these organizations.

The takeaway? Continued use of paper and other wood products may be a key factor to maintaining a healthy forested landscape for future generations.