Submitted: The Two Sides Team April 4, 2013

Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced the release of eQ Journal 005: Rethinking Recycling, distinguishing between the facts and general misconceptions surrounding recycling and the paper life cycle. In this fifth edition of the company’s eQ series, the Journal sheds light on the benefits of recycling while challenging the common assumption that paper produced with a high percentage of recycled fiber is always better for the environment.

BOSTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced the release of eQ Journal 005: Rethinking Recycling, distinguishing between the facts and general misconceptions surrounding recycling and the paper life cycle. In this fifth edition of the company’s eQ series, the Journal sheds light on the benefits of recycling while challenging the common assumption that paper produced with a high percentage of recycled fiber is always better for the environment.

“The use of recycled fiber is not a one size fits all solution. We should examine not just what’s in our paper, but take into consideration the sourcing of materials, the environmental impact of manufacturing, and understand what happens to paper as it moves through the life cycle,” said Laura Thompson , Ph.D., director of sustainable development and technical marketing, Sappi Fine Paper North America. “With this latest eQ Journal, we invite our community to look at the bigger picture of recycling – the way we do at Sappi – to ensure our industry is putting recycled fiber to its best use, finding the most appropriate options that produce lower emissions and higher yield.”

In fact, a study of our Somerset Mill included in the Journal revealed that adding 10 percent recycled content increases the product’s carbon footprint by 16 percent, compared to the same product made with 100 percent virgin fiber. More details on the study findings, as well as other industry statistics comparing the carbon footprints of different pulp sources using a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) can be found in the Journal.

In addition to revealing the trade-offs associated with recycled fiber, this fact-based publication also promotes best practices of recycling, raising awareness of practical ways consumers can reduce their environmental impact of using printed materials. As part of this edition, Sappi provides a series of custom-designed recycling logos available for download on our eQ microsite, inviting everyone–especially corporate marketers and graphic designers–to get creative about promoting the initiative to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

To download a PDF version of Sappi’s latest eQ Journal 005: Rethinking Recycling, or access Sappi’s new library of recycling logos, please visit Sappi’s eQ microsite, home to the latest and most trusted information regarding sustainability in our industry. To request a printed copy of eQ Journal 005, visit sappi@shore.net or call 800-882-4332.

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