The environmental impact of paper production is significant, as the industry is one of the largest polluters of air, water, and land. Increased use of disposable paper led to high levels of consumption and waste. There is now a trend toward sustainability in the pulp and paper industry through reducing pollution, emissions, and impacts on local water and air quality. Paper production generates substantial emissions and pollution, and is a major contributor to deforestation and climate change through methane emissions from decomposing paper. Recycling and reducing paper use can help address these environmental impacts.

1.  The environmental impact of paper is significant, which has led to changes
in industry and behaviour at both business and personal levels.With the use of
modern technology such as the printing press and the highly
mechanized harvesting of wood, disposable paper became a relatively cheap
commodity, which led to a high level of consumption and waste.The rise in global
environmental issues such as air and water pollution, climate change, overflowing
landfills and clearcutting have all lead to increased government regulations.There
is now a trend towards sustainability in the pulp and paper industry as it moves to
reduce clear cutting, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption
and clean up its impacts on local water supplies and air pollution.
 According to a Canadian citizen's organization, "People need paper products and
we need sustainable, environmentally safe production."[1]
 Environmental product declarations or product scorecards are available to collect
and evaluate the environmental and social performance of paper products, such as
the Paper Calculator,[2] Environmental Paper AssessmentTool (EPAT),[3] or Paper
Profile.[4]
 Both the U.S. and Canada generate interactive maps of environmental indicators
which show pollution emissions of individual facilities.[


2.  Pulp and paper generates the third largest amount of
industrial air, water, and land emissions in Canada and
the sixth largest in the United States.[8][9] In 2015, the
industry released 174,000 tonnes of emissions to air,
water and land (or 5.3%) out of a total of 3.3 million
tonnes of emissions released by all industries in
Canada.[8] In the United States the pulp and paper
industry released about 79, 000 tonnes or about 5% of
all industrial pollutant releases in 2015[10][9] Of this
total waste released by the pulp and paper industry in
the U.S., 66% was released into the air, 10% into
water and 24% onto land whereas in Canada, most of
the waste (96%) was released into the air.

3.  Deforestation is the primary effect of our mindless use of paper.
Conservation groups have made an admirable headway in
protecting ecologically rich forests and limiting commercial
access.This is great progress for mankind! Just imagine how long a
tree will grow to its full size…. We are only just realizing the
wasted use of our trees - trees that give off oxygen and protect the
planet from further Global Warming.
 Paper pollution is another effect of paper waste and it’s a serious
problem. It is estimated that by 2020, paper mills will be producing
500,000,000 tons of paper and paperboard each year!We
obviously need this product and a reduction of use is not in the
horizon. Pulp and paper is the 3rd largest industrial polluter of air,
water and soil. Chlorine-based bleaches are used during
production which results in toxic materials being released into our
water, air and soil. When paper rots, it emits methane gas which is
25 times more toxic than CO2.

4.  What can you do from your end to reduce paper pollution and waste?
 Recycle all your paper waste.
 Be a conscious consumer and buy “100% post-consumer waste recycled”. Buy recycled
paper materials or materials that came from sustainable managed forests.
 In the office, reuse paper. If you’ve only used one side for example, collect them instead of
throwing them away.You can bind these sheets and make a notebook using the other side.
This small effort reduces paper waste by 50%
 If you already have a scanned copy of a file, don’t print it anymore unless really needed.
 Use email instead of paper when communicating with clients and customers.
 Reduce the use of paper cups and disposable paper plates by keeping reusable items in the
office pantry.
 Encourage your officemates and friends to recycle their paper by putting them in recycling
bins.
 Insist on “Process Chlorine Free” paper materials.
 Buy products with the least paper packaging. Encourage businesses that follow
environment friendly practices.
 Take advantage of the latest technologies like tablets, computers and smart phones to
keep your files and notes.

5.  As we speak, more than 199 tons of paper has already been produced
(paper production in 15 seconds).
 324 liters of water is used to make 1 kilogram of paper.
 10 liters of water is needed to make one piece of A4 paper.
 93% of paper comes from trees.
 50% of the waste of businesses is composed of paper.
 To print a Sunday edition of the NewYorkTimes requires 75,000 trees!
 Recycling 1 ton of paper saves around 682.5 gallons of oil, 26,500 liters of
water and 17 trees.
 Packaging makes up 1/3 or more of our trash.
 U.S offices use 12.1 trillion sheets of paper a year.
 Paper accounts for 25% of landfill waste and 33% of municipal waste.
 With all the paper we waste each year, we can build a 12 foot high wall of
paper from NewYork to California!
 Lessening of paper usage was predicted due to the electronic revolution.
It didn’t happen. Demand for paper is expected to double before 2030.
 Every tree produces enough oxygen for 3 people to breathe.