Two Sides Reference Sheet on The Paper Life Cycle. Many elements of paper and printed products need to be considered to evaluate their environmental footprint. These include, but are not limited to fiber and raw material sourcing, including sustainable forest management; pulp and paper manufacturing; transportation; printing and converting; use; and recovery and recycling. Key environmental indicators related to these various activities can be measured and used in product environmental evaluations. Recognized science-based tools and standards are available to conduct product life-cycle assessments (LCA).