How important is paper for you? The answer to this question is both difficult and easy. Paper has intruded our lives so much that even we find it difficult to analyze it. But do you know that the paper production industry is considered harmful to the environment? Many among us will support the idea.
The one prominent reason to support the idea is that we know paper comes from trees. So, for the production of paper, trees need to be cut down. Since we are living in a time where environmental degradation is rising every single day, this is a common misconception.
Two Slides researched on the perception gap and named the research “The Great Paper Perception Gap”. It was very clear from their research that whatever idea we have about the paper industry and its hazards, it is not true.
Few factors that the research has pointed out are as follows:
1. The survey showed that a major number of consumers are concerned about the environment, but some obvious gaps dwell between consumer environmental perceptions and real facts.
a) 58% of U.S. consumers surveyed believe U.S. forests have been decreasing in size since the year 2000. In fact, U.S. forests had a net growth of over 1,500 NFL football fields per day since 2000.
b) Only 15% of Americans and 21% of Canadians think the paper recovery rate exceeds 60% when it is over 68% in the U.S and 70% in Canada.
2. Americans and Canadians rank – Urban Development, Construction and Pulp and Paper simultaneously as the prime factors of global deforestation. Agriculture is believed to have the least impact. However, agriculture is the top cause of global deforestation. Interestingly, the pulp and paper is not a cause of forest loss due to government regulations, sustainable forestry practices and forest certification programs.
3. When it comes to paper purchasing behaviour, 70% of Americans and Canadians believe paper products from sustainably managed forests should be used. However, when purchasing paper only 22-27% pay attention to forest certification labels.
Key findings of the Report
Reading Preferences:
Consumer Choice:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
We are a printing press in India and believe in the sustainability of the environment can be maintained by using paper. We make sure the best quality paper is used. To know more, contact us.
P.S. The above information is part of the research by TwoSides.