Why paper does not have a heavy impact on the environment

seo 19/06/2026 0

Paper has been one of the inventions that significantly changed human history. It replaced parchment and other supports used for writing, making the flow of information global and playing a fundamental role in the ability to pass down documents through time.

Even after 2000 years, paper is still indispensable in our daily lives. Surely, the approach to this element has changed, and strategies have been designed to recover used paper and cardboard, which would otherwise end up increasing the volume of waste sent to landfills.

At the same time, the production and sourcing system has changed, thanks also to the use of renewable energy and the careful management of forest heritage.

Paper: a precious commodity to produce and recycle

According to past methodologies, paper required a significant production effort, both regarding raw material sourcing and the energy used for production.

Thanks to environmental policies implemented over the years, the spread of greater sensitivity towards environmental issues, and, last but not least, the dissemination of the concept of circular economy, the approach to paper and cardboard production has changed considerably.

The widespread adoption of separate waste collection has allowed the recovery of raw materials, so even industries within the paper supply chain have launched strategies to recover production waste—just like CART-ONE—in order to convert reel waste as well.

Thanks to paper recycling, we can obtain sheets of different weights and, at the same time, many types of colors. The packaging sector has also undergone a radical change by selecting eco-sustainable and recyclable solutions: in this case, a prominent place belongs to corrugated cardboard packaging, the main players in the e-commerce era.

The importance of certifications in paper production

“The area of forests in Europe has grown by nearly 3 million hectares (an area roughly the size of Greece) in the last 15 years, mainly due to the planting of new forests and the natural expansion of existing ones to encompass what was once agricultural land.” MCPFE, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. 2007.

If we look back, this is the snapshot we recorded a few years ago. To this data, we can add that between 1990 and 2010, the forest area increased by about 11 million hectares. The increase is due to natural expansion and reforestation efforts. (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/it/sheet/105/l-unione-europea-e-le-foreste)

Forest exploitation is subject to regulations, which also include the reforestation of areas exploited for wood and paper production.

Paper production is subject to certifications attesting its origin from sustainably managed sources. Among the certification systems, the main ones are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

This certification indicates that global standards for forest management are respected, maintaining the balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects. These standards are based on 10 Principles and 70 Criteria (Principles & Criteria, P&C).

We can find FSC trademarks applied to products in the following ways:

FSC 100%

The FSC 100% label accompanies products made exclusively from inputs originating from FSC-certified forests.

FSC Recycled

This label bearing the wording FSC Recycled indicates that the wood or paper used to make the product comes from recycled and recovered material.

FSC Mix

The last label is named FSC Mix. It can be used when FSC-certified paper or wood, recycled material, and/or controlled wood have been used to create a product.

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)

PEFC is a certification scheme that examines forest management from a sustainability perspective. To achieve certification, the Criteria and indicators defined in the Ministerial Conferences on the protection of forests must be respected.

These guidelines are created to protect biodiversity and the very life of forests.

Advantages of recycled paper and myths to debunk

The use of recycled paper brings several benefits to the environment:

  • It does not require cutting down new trees.
  • Waste sent to landfills is minimized.
  • The production process requires less energy.
  • The production process with recycled paper requires less use of chemicals.

The spread of recycled paper, however, has been hindered by the circulation of false myths such as:

Recycled paper is more expensive: false

Recycled paper is not more expensive than white paper; in the long run, it turns out to be more cost-effective.

From a qualitative standpoint, it is inferior to white paper: false

The processing techniques of recycled material allow us to obtain an aesthetically and qualitatively excellent product.

Recycled paper is unhygienic: false

The paper undergoes a treatment that reaches temperatures up to 150°C, which destroys pathogens and microorganisms.

Recycled paper is now a fundamental resource to be cared for and managed to safeguard the environment and for a more sustainable and green life.

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