When comparing paper to electronic communication, it is important to consider all of the facts before assuming one form of communication is environmentally preferable to another. People often compare the entire footprint of paper with only the energy it takes to send or receive digital communication, but they forget about the data centers, networks and the resources (like nonrenewable metals and fossil fuels) it takes to complete the exchange.

Now compare this to the paper industry. History and science demonstrate that an efficient forest products industry can (and does) coexist with a healthy environment. In fact, trees are planted, harvested and replanted because of the market to manufacture paper products, and sustainable forestry practices ensure that this is done in a responsible manner. There is very little waste from our raw materials, as many mills use bark, limbs and other material not suitable for paper production for carbon-neutral onsite energy production using innovative, highly efficient combined heat and power technology.

While the paper industry also has a well-established market-based system to recover used paper, recycling still poses a significant challenge to the electronics industry. In 2011, we recovered nearly 67 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. for recycling – double the rate of 20 years ago and among the highest of any recoverable commodity. And what does make it into landfills decomposes years before any electronic device.

Paper and e-mail each offer their own benefits, but no one should assume that e-mail is environmentally preferable when considering the bigger picture.