Sustainable, eco-friendly and recyclable. Definitions that underline the same broad concept, the preservation of our environment and resources for the future.
Many of us are told that ‘paper is bad for the environment’ and that moving to online communications will help save the planet by reducing our carbon footprint. However, neither of these points are factual. Two Sides are an NFP organisation aiming to promote sustainability within the industry and eliminate misconceptions about paper and print.
Paper is the one of the truly sustainable products being made from wood, a natural and renewable material. In fact, paper is so sustainable that European forests have grown by an area the size of Switzerland in just 10 years.
Forest Stewardship Council and the programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification are 2 respected certification schemes helping to ensure the paper you use has come from a sustainable forest source.
A common fallacy is that e-communications are better for the environment, as ICT has its own environmental impacts.
The ICT industry accounts for 2.5-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions which is set to rise to 14% over the next 20 years. It was also responsible for 44.7 million tons of e-waste generated in 2016 which consisted of 435 thousand tons’ worth of mobile phones. Based on the myths busted by Two Sides, the answer to sustainability isn’t necessarily to move to digital media for things such as billing, bank statements and marketing materials.
Kern are committed to minimising any negative environmental impacts by continually striving to improve our environmental performance, investing in a broad range of projects such as Reforestation and Carbon Offsetting Projects, and promoting print and paper as a highly sustainable form of communication in today’s digital society.
To read more about paper and print myths go to https://www.twosides.info/graphics-papers
To find out more about Kern click here or call us on 0845 680 60 60