An Access Economics report commissioned by Double A (the manufacturer of Advance Laser), has analysed the environmental impact of major paper manufacturers around the world. It found that paper produced by the Double A mill, made from farmed trees was the most environmentally sound paper production method globally.
The report found that other forms of paper manufacturing are more harmful and environmentally damaging due to their high consumption of resources, including energy and bleach, and they negatively impact the land's natural biodiversity due to logging and land clearing. The Double A mill uses none of these methods.
Seventeen per cent of the world's paper is made from logging natural forest and left to regenerate without human assistance, 37 per cent of paper is made from natural forest that is logged and then re-generated via seeding, 29 per cent of paper is sourced from managed plantations, while one per cent of paper is still sourced from tropical rain forest.
"The report demonstrates that some mills are still sourcing their wood from environmentally damaging sources, like natural forest. The Double A mill takes its mandate to be environmentally responsible very seriously," said Double A senior executive vice president, Thirawit Leetavorn.
"There are a myriad of ways for paper producers to responsibly manage their environmental impact. It is important that paper is sourced from environmentally sustainable sources, but manufacturers have to also manage their resource consumption and carbon emissions more carefully.
"Climate change is a serious global concern, so it is time for paper manufacturers to measure their environmental impact against their bottom line."
The Access Economics report used an environmental cost model to compare eight leading paper manufacturers' environmental impact.
The Double A mill, making its paper from farmed eucalyptus trees which originated from Australia, was found to be the most environmentally sound of all, with an environmental price of AUD $0.04 per ream. The leading Australian paper manufacturer's environmental impact was priced at AUD $0.20 per ream. The worst environmental performer, in Indonesia, was priced at AUD$0.39 per ream.
Farmed trees
Farmed trees are different from plantation trees or old growth forests as absolutely no land clearing takes place to plant the trees, maintaining the natural environment's biodiversity.
The Double A mill's farmed Australian eucalyptus trees are planted in the gaps between farmers' rice, cassava and corn crops. Over one million Thai contract farmers take part in the Double A farmed trees program. These trees are then used in the production of quality uncoated products, including Advance Laser.
Access Economics developed its environmental cost model based on a range of benchmarks including deforestation, water consumption, effluents, contribution to landfill and carbons emissions.
"The environmental impact of paper production has been largely ignored over the years in countries all over the world, especially when paper manufacturers set their product price," said Steve Brown, director, Access Economics.
"This failure to account financially for their environmental impact has allowed paper manufacturers to implement the most cost efficient production processes, but these processes are not the most environmentally friendly. It was a pleasant surprise to see the results, where a company produces a product from natural resources that has such a low environmental impact."
The Access Economics report considered a variety of environmental impacts in the production of paper while putting together this report. An equally important aspect was water usage and energy consumption.
The Double A mill sources its water from a purpose-built reservoir, so it places no strain on the local public water resources. Moreover, Double A's water consumption is 90 per cent less than the industry average.
The Double A mill uses tree waste (such as bark and lignin) to generate energy to run the mill. This generates more energy than the mill can use, so the Double A mill feeds the energy it does not need back to the local grid.
CPI is the exclusive New Zealand distributor of Advance Laser, an uncoated woodfree paper manufactured by the Double A mill. For more information on Advance Laser or the Double A (Advance Agro) mill, samples or mock-ups please contact your nearest CPI branch on 0800 275 274.
