The paper industry is a leading recycler, and with local collecting systems improving, it is anticipated that it will increase its recycling rates further. It is estimated that, with improved recovery, reduction in landfill can be achieved. In fact, paper is recycled more than any other household item.

- ABS Waste Management and Transport Use, 2009

Australian Paper's construction of their $90 million waste paper recycling plant at the Maryvale Mill in Victoria's LaTrobe Valley will generate 50,000 tonnes of premium recycled pulp each year, diverting up to 80,000 tonnes of waste paper from Australian landfills. Australian Paper, 2012

74% of all paper and paperboard in Australia is recycled.
76% of newspapers, catalogues and magazines in Australia are recycled.
National Pulp & Paper Sustainability Report, 2016

"Two Sides members support the implementation of effective recycling schemes and the minimisation and eventual elimination, of print and paper waste in landfill." Two Sides Membership Charter, 2016

Two Sides encourages responsible consumption. Doubled sided printing in the office and segregated recycling schemes to save cost and improve sustainability.

CONTACT US about our double-sided printing.

Source: Two Sides

The Paper Cycle cannot begin without new fibre from trees. Recycled fibres degrade after several uses and the paper industry needs fresh fibre from responsibly managed forests to keep the renewable cycle going.

Here are the facts to be considered:

In choosing your paper you must consider its full life cycle and not just the fibre source. It's important to remember that virgin fibre is always required to make recycled paper possible in the first place.

'47 percent of new wood fibre input is always needed to keep the global fibre cycle going.' - Hawkins Wright, 2013

'Maximising the use of recovered fibre versus virgin fibre in appropriate paper grades and under appropriate circumstances can be economically beneficial and specifically reduce environmental impacts. Maximising recycled content for its own sake without regard for product type, mill performance or mill location may produce much more serious if unintended negative environmental impacts and no economic rationale.' Recycled Content and Virgin Fibre: Environmental Economic and Technical Considerations for Magazine Publishers Metafore Inc, June 2009.

'Total global fibre consumption is approximately 384 million tonnes, of which virgin fibre is 180 million tonnes.' - Hawkins Wright, 2013

It is very difficult to directly compare the environmental impact of recycled and virgin fibre paper. Both are important and can have an equally strong environmental argument.

Sustainably managed planted forests are part of the cycle that helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere. This extends from trees to wood and paper products, which continue to store the carbon through their lifetime and help to reduce climate change.

Like so many stories, there are two sides to the story of paper, but the more you know, the better placed you are to make the right decision.

What you can do:

• Keep waste paper in the loop to ensure fibres remain available for re-manufacture this is the key to sustainability.
• Specify papers that can be recycled, such as grades made from recycled fibres, or from virgin fibres that originate from certified forests. Virgin fibre grades are needed to continue the cycle. Recycled fibres degrade after several uses.
• CONTACT US about our paper and your printing needs.

While some marketers believe spending their advertising dollars on digital platforms is the Holy Grail, social media giant Facebook has launched a number of print campaigns. Apple, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Airbnb, Uber plus a host of other tech brands have built their huge businesses using digital marketing. So why are they turning to print to grow even bigger?

Google and Facebook have been busy telling brands that the most effective way to reach consumers is through digital communications. Yet, by Google's own admission, 56% of digital advertisements aren't seen. So to engage wider audiences these tech giants have learnt that they cannot do without print advertising. Whether through direct mail or running inspiring poster campaigns, they know how to capture our attention.

CREATING NEW CONNECTIONS WITH PRINT

Over the years, Facebook has been busy commissioning a number of print projects to show off its creative side to its employees, advertising agencies and the public. They include:

Posters

Facebook launched a branding campaign in 2015 promoting the power of friendship, using a number of channels including posters, press and TV ads in the US, Canada and UK. According to Nielsen, between February and April, Facebook spent $1M on press ads and $2.5M on outdoor media in the UK to promote the campaign, which appeared on roadside posters and across the London Underground.

Playing Cards

To showcase its marketing insights to creatives and agency heads, Facebook created a beautiful deck of 52 illustrated playing cards. Each card offered a unique and engaging marketing insights about Facebook and its users. Over 1,000 decks were distributed to agencies, with the packaging personalised to the recipient.

Books

Facebook was experiencing challenges when communicating its company mission, history and values to new employees online group chats, emails or conversations were not able to clearly communication the culture. So they decided utilise print and put together a 'little red book' full of captivating images and ideas to help tell the Facebook story.

Source: Value Of Paper And Print

It's myth that paper production is energy intensive and has a high carbon footprint, in fact, paper has one of the lowest carbon footprints

According to the Australasian Industry Paper Industry Association Ltd, Pulp Paper & Print is one of the smallest emitters of the major industry sectors on the planet, responsible for just 1.1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and in Australia, 31% of energy used by the pulp and paper sector comes from renewable sources, mostly biomass and hydro. In fact, paper is made from wood, a renewable carbon storing resource. Take a look at these supporting facts:

1. Reading a newspaper can consume 20 percent less carbon than viewing news online.' The Swedish Royal Institute for Technology, 2012.
    
2. 'Industry research indicates that printed mail comprises of 0.1 percent of total household CO2 emissions in Europe. This equates to 14kg of CO2 emissions and is equivalent to:
   - One 70km car journey
   - Five cheeseburgers
   - Nine litres of milk
   - 6.6 minutes of transatlantic flight'
   - EMIP, The Facts of Our Value Chain, 2008
    
3. 'At current growth rates data centres and telecommunication networks will consume about 1,963 billion killowatt-hours of electricity in 2020.' Make IT Green, Greenpeace International, 2010
    
4. 'In a multimedia world, responsibly sourced paper and print may be the most sustainable way to communicate. Alternative media has its own impact too: One email with a 400k attachment sent to 20 people, is equivalent to burning 100w light bulb for 20 minutes.' -BBC Costing The Earth, Global Warming, 2009
    
5. '100 Google searches is equivalent to burning a 60w light bulb for 28 minutes.' Google Associated Press, 2011.
    
6. 'One hour per day on a 32-inch LCD comes to 35kg CO2 per year equivalent to a 6.3km drive in an average powered car M. Berners-Lee, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything, 2011. Australian Paper Industry Association, Paper Part of Everyday, 2010.

Need more information?

CONTACT US to discuss all your sustainable paper and printing needs!

Source: Two Sides