Papers and Boards and Sustainability

Sustainability in Paper and Boards Production

Sustainable forest management involves cultivating trees in a manner that allows forests to regenerate and maintain their biodiversity. This approach ensures the continual supply of raw materials for paper and board production, and encourages forests’ role in carbon sequestration and oxygen production.
Using recycled paper and board reduces demand for virgin pulp, conserves resources, and lessens the strain on landfill sites. Recycled paper production consumes less energy, releases fewer greenhouse gases, and requires less water than manufacturing new paper from trees.
Biodegradable papers and boards can break down naturally after use, causing minimal harm to the environment. This is a preferable alternative to non-biodegradable materials, which persist in the environment longer and may cause damage.

Selecting paper and board products with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) logos ensures that the materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests. This encourages sustainable practices and discourages deforestation.
Choosing recycled or partially-recycled paper products helps save natural resources and reduces environmental impact. It also supports the recycling industry, which in turn promotes further recycling and waste reduction.

Effective manufacturing processes can minimize waste, use less water and energy, and reduce emission of harmful greenhouse gases. Adoption of more efficient processing can be beneficial to the environment and can also reduce costs in the long run.
Efficient distribution management, like streamlined transportation routes and fuel-efficient vehicles, reduces the carbon emissions associated with delivering products to market, thus making the whole supply chain more environmentally friendly.

Recycling papers and boards is the most sustainable end-of-life option. Used paper and board can be pulped back into raw materials and reformed into new products, thereby keeping the material in the production cycle and diminishing the need for new raw material.
Disposing of paper and board products by composting can also be a sustainable option, especially for soiled or contaminated pieces that can’t normally be recycled. These materials decompose naturally and can contribute valuable nutrients to the soil.
Energy recovery, or burning the paper and board products to generate heat or electricity, can be another end-of-life option. It must be noted that this may release greenhouse gases and should only be considered as a last resort when recycling or composting aren’t viable.