About Paper Use
Find out more about the environmental impacts of the pulp and paper industry
The production, printing and distribution of paper-based financial communications causes environmental impacts from the trees, water and energy used, as well as the solid waste and greenhouse gases generated in the process.
Looking at the big picture - the impact of paper and the paper industry can be viewed as significant along a spectrum from habitat change/loss through to its impact on greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to climate change.
The pulp and paper industry’s impacts on the environment have been notable not only for their magnitude but also for their breadth, ranging from damage to forests, pollution of air and water, creation of solid waste and emissions of greenhouse gases. These impacts can occur at all phases of the paper lifecycle, from fibre acquisition, through manufacturing to disposal.
Paper and the world's forests
Even with advances in recycling over the past two decades, the primary fibre input into papermaking is still unsustainably harvested trees.
Environmental Impact
Historically pulp and paper production has ranked among the most resource-intensive and highly polluting of all manufacturing industries.
How we calculate
Find out how we calculate the environmental cost of paper savings.
An Australian Perspective
The Australian Paper Industry