Submitted: The Two Sides Team February 19, 2013

The Sustainability Speaker Series, a program sponsored by the Drexel Green initiative, sponsored a lecture titled “The Evolution of Paper in the 21st Century” Feb. 12 at Drexel’s James E. Marks Intercultural Center.
February 15 2013

by Nora Goldberg, via thetriangle.org

The Sustainability Speaker Series, a program sponsored by the Drexel
Green initiative, sponsored a lecture titled “The Evolution of Paper in
the 21st Century” Feb. 12 at Drexel’s James E. Marks Intercultural
Center.

Drexel Printing & Mailing Services invited Joe Terry of Neenah
Paper to tackle the question “Is paper sustainable?” Neenah Paper is one
of the country’s oldest and largest paper manufacturers. Terry was the
first lecturer of this year’s Green Council Speaker Series.

Terry provided a brief overview of the papermaking process. He
explained that water is reused in the process and that the vast majority
of paper that is manufactured in North America and Europe is made using
sustainable forestry, water and labor practices. Terry said that using
paper wisely and making sustainable paper choices can mitigate our
footprint.

He then urged the audience to “never ask for the cheapest paper
because where you get your paper from matters,” implying that the
cheapest paper is produced using unsound practices. Terry also mentioned
numerous times that the water used in the papermaking process is
cleaner after they are done with it than it is when they receive it.

The latter half of Terry’s lecture focused on the intersection of
paper’s future and sustainable practices. The crux of the lecture lay in
Terry’s belief that we are the caretakers of our land, and he was
humorously quick to mention that he was indeed not a scientist although
he has worked in the paper industry for over two decades. Furthermore,
Terry believes that being “green” is not just an idea, slogan or media
creation; rather, it is a lifestyle for those who are committed to
making the world a better place.

There is no regulation for the universal recycling symbol, the three
mutually chasing arrows. Generally, the world-famous arrows mean that at
least 30 percent of the paper was made from recycled goods. One ton of
recycled paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of space in landfills.

“There is a place for paper when it is used properly,” Terry said to
the crowd. Several audience members simultaneously let out a sigh and
remarked that they felt validated to be printing when doing heavy
reading.

After explaining several environmental certifications and their
respective meanings, Terry pointed out that some certifications were
given by third-party groups and were difficult to attain while others
did not hold such weight. He pointed out which certifications were most
meaningful and which companies are most responsible and safely
manufacture products that support sustainability. Some certifications
that Terry explained included the Forestry Sustainability Council, The
Green Seal Certification, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Green-e
and Processed Chlorine Free. Terry then touched on the future of print
and attempted to map out where it is going. He pointed out that
currently, a large amount of paper is used for what many would consider
“junk mail.”

The future of paper, the way it is commonly thought of, may be
shrinking, but Neenah Paper also manufactures other technical products
such as blue painter’s tape, paper that is specially designed for oil
filters in cars and airplanes, and specialty paper made from premium
cotton blends. Terry explained that the trees, water and energy that are
required to manufacture a newspaper impact a person’s carbon footprint
less than reading the same newspaper online.

“The presentation was factual, objective and captivating, and the
underlying message was simple: Protect the earth’s resources, make an
informed choice,” Anoo Sukhia, executive director of Drexel’s Printing
& Mailing Services, said.

According to its website, Drexel Green offers programs to the entire
Drexel community as a way to promote sustainable practices on campus, at
home and in the community. Created in 2008 by students, faculty and
staff, Drexel Green is dedicated to transforming Drexel’s campus into a
sustainability leader. The initiative covers all aspects of operations,
buildings, academic initiatives, and student life and is responsible for
the strategic planning toward further sustainable practices and
policies.

For more information about the Sustainability Speaker Series or
Drexel Green, please visit www.drexel.edu/green/programs. Additionally,
the next Sustainability Council Meeting will take place Feb. 22 at noon
in the Liberty View Room on the top floor of MacAlister Hall.

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