Paper today

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ layout=”3_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” class=”” id=””]Despite the move to emails, e-books, e-billing and other electronic forms of communication, paper continues to occupy a very big part of our households. Magazines, newspapers, books, bills, notebooks, calendars, plus all types of paper boxes that most products come in, paper is still widely used, and will continue to be around for many years to come. In fact, the global paper consumption has risen by 400% over the last 40 years![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ layout=”2_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1522″ max_width=”” style_type=”glow” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”zoomin” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]http://www.earthsquad.global/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/recycling-24.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”http://www.earthsquad.global/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/recycling-257.jpg” background_position=”left bottom” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”fixed” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”25px” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ layout=”2_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”0px” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ layout=”3_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.85)” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”40px” padding_right=”25px” padding_bottom=”25px” padding_left=”25px” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”0px” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]

So What?

Paper is made from natural plant fibers and is typically harvested from wood, originating from tree logs, and is therefore biodegradable. This sounds like wonderful news, but it’s not that simple!

Paper production alone, negatively impacts the environment in a number of ways, polluting the water, air and land.

[/fusion_text][fusion_accordion type=”” boxed_mode=”” border_size=”1″ border_color=”” background_color=”” hover_color=”” divider_line=”” title_font_size=”20px” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_boxed_mode=”” icon_box_color=”#25b4ce” icon_alignment=”” toggle_hover_accent_color=”#5bb45a” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”paparposttoggle” id=””][fusion_toggle title=”Deforestation” open=”no”]

More than a third (35%) of all harvested trees are used to manufacture paper. While these commercial plantation forests typically consist of fast growing species, they contribute to a loss of biodiversity:

indigenous forest vegetation (natural habitat) would have been lost to deforestation to make way for the plantation;
as they are a monoculture, they do not support a diverse range of species;
cutting down trees can cause environmental disturbances that can impact soil and water quality, as well as wildlife.

[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”Water Consumption” open=”no”]

Pulp and paper production is one of the heaviest industrial water consumers — it takes more water to produce a ton of paper than it does to produce any other product.

[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”Water Pollution” open=”no”]

Wastewater discharged from pulp and paper mills contains high levels of organic and inorganic contaminants, including nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that can contribute to eutrophication and algal blooms in aquatic systems. The wastewater also contains chemicals such as chlorates that arise from chlorine used during the bleaching process, as well as heavy metals that can harm aquatic life and contaminate drinking water sources.

[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”Atmospheric Emissions” open=”no”]The pulp and paper industry releases several important air pollutants into the atmosphere, including fine particulate matter (PM), consisting of particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter which can adversely affect respiratory health; nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), which contribute to acid rain; and carbon dioxide (CO2) an important greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to global warming. Pulp and paper mills emit several PBTs at detectable levels, including, hexachlorobenzene (HBC), lead, furans, dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.1[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=” Energy Consumption” open=”no”]

The pulp and paper industry accounts for 4% of energy used worldwide and is the 5th largest energy consumer globally.

[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=” Paper Waste” open=”no”]

In 2014, more than 26% of solid municipal waste generated consisted of waste paper and cardboard, 14% of which was sent to landfills. Discarded paper often contains toxic dyes, inks and polymers that can pose a public health risk if these leach into groundwater or are incinerated, as pollutants may be ingested with drinking water or air-borne pollutants may be inhaled.

[/fusion_toggle][/fusion_accordion][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”45px” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”0px” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]

So Recycle

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ layout=”3_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” class=”” id=””]Recycling paper helps reduce the environmental impact and contributes to a more sustainable product. We can all be a part of that!

Paper can be recycled multiple times but there is a limit, which according to the Bureau of International Recycling is on average between 4-6 times. Each time paper is recycled, the fibers become shorter and are weakened, and therefore virgin pulp needs to be added during the production process to improve the quality and strength of the fiber. Mixing forest-based paper with recovered paper helps achieve a product that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

The question then arises: “Is it ok to put already recycled paper into the paper recycling bin?”. Good news, you don’t have to bother with the quality of paper you give for recycling. The recycling plant will do the sorting and take care of that![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ layout=”2_5″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1319″ max_width=”” style_type=”glow” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”zoomin” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]http://www.earthsquad.global/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/recycling-382.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”http://www.earthsquad.global/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/recycling-19.jpg” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”25px” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”60px” padding_right=”40px” padding_bottom=”40px” padding_left=”40px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.86)” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”40px” padding_right=”25px” padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”25px” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_content_boxes layout=”timeline-vertical” columns=”1″ title_size=”” heading_size=”3″ title_color=”#25b4ce” body_color=”” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”fa-recycle fas” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” circlecolor=”#e91e63″ circlebordersize=”0″ circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”1″ outercirclebordercolor=”#cccccc” icon_size=”” icon_hover_type=”” hover_accent_color=”” image=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link_type=”” button_span=”” link_area=”” link_target=”” icon_align=”left” animation_type=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”0px” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””][fusion_content_box title=”Does size matter? ” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” image=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link=”” linktext=”Read More” link_target=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]In rare cases, some recycling companies ask that you don’t throw paper smaller than A4 size in the recycling bin; what is the deal with that?
Small scraps of paper may be difficult for the recycling plant to sort. So in this case instead of ripping paper with sensitive information on into tiny pieces to protect your privacy, rather just tear off the potentially compromising section or mark through it with a marker pen. The same applies to shredded paper. Most curbside recyclers don’t want this mixed with your other recycling as it is difficult to separate. Shredded paper can be taken directly to the recycling depot or a drop-off site at a landfill. It should be placed in loose (rather than bagged) with office paper, and will be put through a baler.[/fusion_content_box][fusion_content_box title=”Is there paper that cannot be recycled?” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”” iconcolor=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” image=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link=”” linktext=”” link_target=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Most of the paper generated by a household can be recovered and recycled, including newspapers, magazines, stationery, greeting cards, wrapping paper, office paper, direct mail, catalogues, packaging and cardboard. Just make sure to keep it separate from other types of waste so it doesn’t get contaminated with food or other waste. Some types of paper are not suitable for recycling. For example, the fibers in tissue paper are too weak to be reused and therefore items such as facial tissues, coffee filters, paper towels and cannot be recycled; they however may be delicious food for your worm farm. If you don’t have one of those yet, send them to the landfill.
(Adhesive papers can also be a problem — check whether your recycling company accepts these, as many don’t)[/fusion_content_box][/fusion_content_boxes][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”45px” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” class=”” id=””]In any case, the more paper we recycle the more trees will be grateful, the less water and energy will be consumed; so keep up the good work!

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistent,_bioaccumulative_and_toxic_substances[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_global id=”11018″]