A lookacross theentire life cycle shows
that paper’s carbon footprint canbe
divided into threebasic elements:
greenhousegas emissions, carbon
sequestrationandavoidedemissions.
Eachof theseelements is influenced
by important characteristics thatmake
paper’s carbon footprint smaller than
might beexpected: it’smade from
a renewable resource that stores
carbon,manufacturedusingmostly
renewableenergyand is recyclable.
•
Wood stores carbon indefinitely,
evenasa finishedproduct, helping to
reduce theeffects of greenhousegas
emissions over the long term. Growing
treesalso releases oxygen into the
atmosphere, thereby supporting life
onour planet.
12
•
Since 1990, U.S. pulpandpapermill
purchasedenergy (from fossil fuels)
useper tonof productionhasbeen
reducedby 25.4%, and 14.6%
since2000.
12
•
Greenhousegas emissionsby the
Canadianpulpandpaper sector
havedropped 79% since 1990by
decreasing its relianceon fossil fuels,
increasingenergy efficiencyand
reducingenergy use.
13
•
InCanada, 98%ofwood residue
is nowbeingused for either energy
generationor composting.More
than66%ofmills’ wastewater
sediment isbeingused for either
energygeneration, compostingor
landapplication.
14
•
With 1%of theworld’sgreenhousegas
emissions, the value chainof pulp,
paper andprint is oneof the lowest
industrial emitters.
15
“In2011, U.S. forestsand
woodproducts captured
and stored roughly 16%of
all carbondioxideemitted
by fossil fuel consumption
in theUnitedStates.”
American Forest
&PaperAssociation
8
MORE THAN65%OF THE TOTAL
ENERGYUSEDBYNORTHAMERICAN
PULPANDPAPER FACILITIESCOMES
FROMRENEWABLE FOREST BIOMASS.
Visit
for the full fact sheet
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