People are increasingly aware of the impact of consumption habits on the environment. Most British consumers think that the recycling rate of paper is not very high. This recognition is worrying. In fact, paper is one of the most recycled materials in the world, with a recovery rate of 74%.

Paper recovery is underestimated

In 2020, the amount of waste paper recovered in Europe will reach 56million tons, with a waste paper recovery rate of 74%, of which the paper packaging recovery rate is higher, reaching 85%. However, a study conducted by two sides, a non-profit organization, and Toluna, an independent research company, shows that 46% of British consumers believe that paper and paper packaging are wasteful and lack understanding of the high recovery rate of paper. Only 17% of British consumers think that the recovery rate will exceed 60%; 15% thought that the recovery rate of waste paper might be lower than 20%, 34% thought that it might be between 20% and 39%, and 34% thought that it might be between 40% and 59%. People aged 18 to 24 have the most misunderstanding about recycling, and only 12% of them think that the recycling rate of waste paper will exceed 60%. In fact, the recovery rate of paper is higher than that of other materials (for example, the recovery rate of glass is 74%, metal is 80%, plastic is 42%, and electronic products are 42%).

Recycled paper is as important as original paper (fiber) and can be reused sustainably

The study found that 66% of British consumers believe that only recycled paper can be used. It can be seen that most people understand the necessity and sustainability of recycled paper. In 2020, the amount of recycled fiber will account for 56% of the total paper fiber. In Europe, the average reuse times of papermaking fiber is 3.8 times. After repeated use, the recycled fiber will degrade. Therefore, native fibers from sustainably managed forests are always needed to supplement and maintain the paper cycle.

More misunderstandings about paper

There are still many misconceptions about papermaking and printing, many of which originate from the historical belief that papermaking production will have a negative impact on the forest industry. Over the years, these misconceptions have been reinforced by the efforts of the electronic media to shift consumers to the field of digital communications. How to eliminate these misunderstandings and improve people’s understanding of paper sustainability is now more important than ever.

The study found that only 9% of British consumers knew that Europe’s forests were growing, and between 2005 and 2020, Europe’s forests increased by 58400 km2 – an area larger than Switzerland’s territory.

Another misunderstanding related to the paper industry is that a large amount of energy is consumed in the paper making process. In fact, the pulp and paper industry is one of the leading industries in renewable energy and carbon emission reduction. The paper industry is a relatively energy intensive industry, but it is also the largest renewable energy industrial user in Europe. Its greenhouse gas emissions are relatively low, accounting for only 0.8% of the total in Europe.

Only by eliminating these misunderstandings and explaining the facts can people understand the true sustainability of paper as the raw material of circular economy.