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If not originating from destructive practices,  wood is an excellent and ecological material. Certification standards such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are a tool to promote responsible management of forests, both from the standpoint of social and environmental responsibility.


Wood is an ecological and natural material, when not coming from forest destruction. But how can be sure? There are two ways: buying responsible products and 100% recycled products (especially for paper).


Recycled products reduces the consumption of trees, and FSC recycled products are coming from responsibly  managed forests. Make sure to find the FSC label.

 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guarantees that the wood or paper from forest operations fully respectful of ecosystems and forest communities.


Choose the right logo
The differences between the FSC and other certification schemes less stringent:

 

Criteria

FSC

OTHERS

Independent, entirely free from the pressures of the forest industry

YES

NO

Solid environmental standards

YES

NO

Solid standards to protect of local communities rights

YES

NO

Rigorous monitoring on products throughout the supply chain

YES

NO

Robust accreditation process

YES

NO

Certify forest destructive operations or violate indigenous rights

NO

YES

 

 

Recycle

Recycle, buy recycled products and reduce paper consumption.
Recycling 1000 kg of newspapers ...

-> saves, on average, up to 17 trees
-> saves 3 cubic meters of landfill
-> saves 31.780 liters d'acqua
-> saves, on average, up to 17 trees
-> saves 3 cubic meters of landfill
-> saves 31.780 liters d'acqua
-> Saves 31,780 liters of water
-> Produces 75% less air pollution
-> Produces 35% less water pollution.
-> Save enough energy to supply a house for 6 months
-> Consumes half (57%) than the energy used to produce one ton of paper from virgin fiber


Recycled paper is usually bleached mechanically, without need of bleaching chemicals.


Also be FSC certified recycled paper (choose the 100% recycled), but the traditional certification for recycled paper is the Blue Angel.


Post-consumer recycled paper comes at the end of the entire life cycle (eg coming from the dumpster). Pre-consumer paper is produced by scraps which never reached the final consumer (eg newspapers, cuttings of typography, etc). Pre-consumer paper is basically recovery of raw materials).
Shrink
Use less paper! In the last 50 years, global paper consumption has quadrupled, while consumption of printing paper has increased six-fold. Half of the trees killed by commercial purposes ends up in paper-based products. Yet much of this paper is wasted, while its production is linked to the destruction of forests, violations of human rights, pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases.
The advent of computers lead to increase the consume of paper, despite technological solutions such as electronic mail represents an excellent alternative to paper consumption.
10 per cent of world population (Western Europe and North America) consumes more than half of the paper produced in the world. European and U.S. paper consume six times more than the average. A large proportion of paper ends up in advertising and packaging. Your commitment to reduce your consumption of paper, not only will reduce your impact, but we'll help convince companies and governments, large wasteful of paper, to also reduce their consumption and waste.
Shrink!


New WWF Guide for "Green" paper purchasing PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 27 January 2012 09:33
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WWF launches new online guidance for responsible paper buyers. The site checkyourpaper.panda.org/paperbuyingtips has been developed for purchasers of paper who want to get an overview of what they can do to help protect forest biodiversity, the natural environment and human rights.  The "6 steps to responsible purchasing"  summarize in one place all tips and tools developed by WWF on how buyers of paper can make "green" paper choices and work with their suppliers towards reducing the environmental footprint of paper production and consumption.

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Portugal: responsible forest management certification systems at stake PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 27 May 2011 09:59
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Portuguese environmental organization Quercus highland the serious environmental impact by Altri Florestal S.A. (former Silvicaima) forest management, namely soil erosion, lack of discontinuity on the eucalyptus monocultures and impact on protected species, illegal practices, and still it holds its certification for sustainable forest management.
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European environmentalists reject proposed weak Ecolabel standard PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 07 April 2011 08:31
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As noted on DG environment's website, "only the very best products, which are kindest to the environment, are entitled to carry the EU Ecolabel". Unfortunately, given the weak framework and standard being proposed, the EU Ecolabel for newsprint and printed paper would not provide assurances that the fibres do not come from the deforestation of endangered habitats. These criteria are being discussed in an Ad-hoc-Working Group meeting in Copenhagen today.
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SFI is mere industry-sponsored greenwashing, says ForestEthics PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 09:07
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Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a certification standard endorsed by PEFC. According by a new report released by ForestEthics, SFI is mere industry-sponsored greenwashing to market wood and paper products. Titled SFI: Certified Greenwash, the report highlights how the SFI serves the interests of the timber, paper, and forest products industries. Its centerpiece is a two-page infographic depicting the web of influence through which industry dominates SFI.
"Greenwash is deception pure and simple - said Aaron Sanger, of ForestEthics - Our report exposes SFI’s greenwash, an industry-sponsored scam that threatens our forests, communities, fresh water and wildlife."
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Indonesian paper giant APRIL's certification status suspended PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 07:25
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Allegations of rampant environmental damage and human rights violations were confirmed today as SmartWood, an independent forest management certifier, suspended the interim certification of Asia Paper Resources International Limited (APRIL) pulp products. The paper giant failed to meet the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)’s minimum standard for controlled wood certification. The disciplinary action came after APRIL was found to have violated FSC’s controlled wood standard, including prohibitions against conversion of rainforests to create paper plantations, destruction of High Conservation Value Forests, including peatlands, and conflicts with communities.
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