A group of environmental organizations has joined together to form the Environmental Paper Network, which will support socially and environmentally sustainable changes in the pulp and paper industry. the group has issued a report, The State of the Paper Industry (exec summary, full report), which the new group says is the first comprehensive report addressing fiber sourcing, recycling, consumption, and paper production, as well as the industry’s impact on communities and climate change.
The new group’s steering committee includes: As You Sow, Borealis Centre, Conservatree, Co-Op America, Dogwood Alliance, Environmental Defense, ForestEthics, Green Press Initiative, Markets Initiative, and National Wildlife Federation.
The paper industry, which accounts for over 40 percent of the world’s industrial wood harvest, is the fourth largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions among U.S. manufacturing industries, according to the report.
The report calls on companies to minimize paper consumption, maximize recycled content, source fiber responsibly, and employ cleaner production methods to reduce their impact on climate change. Additional recommendations include, greater investment in recycling infrastructure, seeking FSC certification, and greater attention to supply chain in order to reduce overall consumption.