The Environmental Paper Network has released a new version of the Paper Calculator

We received some exciting news from our friends at the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) last week. They have just released a new version of their Paper Calculator to better assist paper buyers with measuring the environmental impact of their paper usage and shifting to paper that supports climate and endangered forest protection.

The Paper Calculator is a very important tool. It helps individuals and businesses make better and smarter decisions that are based on facts and figures rather than just on guestimations and intuitions. EPN's Paper Calculator is the original and most independent paper life-cycle impact estimator available, helping you to compare factors such as wood use, net energy use, GHG emissions, water consumption and so on.

What I really like about the Paper Calculator is that it is a very user-friendly tool. Now the improvements are supposed to make it even more easier to use. In addition, the new calculator includes updated industry data and technical input from diverse stakeholders. The Paper Calculator is made available to users for free by the Environmental Paper Network thanks to its coalition members, its supporters, and through Power User premium sponsorships.

The key improvements in version 3.2 include:

• More completely capturing the life cycle water use of both recycled and virgin fiber based on consultation with industry associations and life cycle experts
• Updated national average data on mill performance
• Calculates the environmental savings of both post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content
• Updated decomposition rates for each of the paper grades based on new data

The Paper Calculator is committed to independence and transparency and a detailed documentation of the Paper Calculator version 3.2 methodology can be found at http://calculator.environmentalpaper.org/resources_and_tools.

You can check it out and try it for yourself at www.papercalculator.org.

Finally, one more word about the EPN - the Environmental Paper Network is a coalition of non-profit organizations working together to protect the earth’s climate and endangered forests by transforming the production and consumption of paper products. The Steering Committee of the Environmental Paper Network is Canopy, Climate for Ideas, Conservatree, Dogwood Alliance, ForestEthics, Green America, Green Press Initiative, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Rainforest Action Network. Learn more about the Environmental Paper Network at www.environmentalpaper.org.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

Everything you always wanted to know about the Paper Industry (or at least 15 facts)

Is there anything we don't know yet about the paper industry and its environmental impacts?

Well, I always find new facts that amaze me. This time it's a link I received on Green Line Paper Company's newsletter (thanks to Steve Baker!) - 15 Facts About the Paper Industry, Global Warming and the Environment.

It's from 2007 but still very relevant. It was published on the daily green and these facts are courtesy of The State of the Paper Industry, a report (very recommended!) published online by the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) that lately launched a great new website entitles 'What's In Your Paper'.

So did you know that the paper industry is the 4th largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions among United States manufacturing industries (fact no.6) or that printing and writing papers use the least amount of recycled content -- just 6%. Tissues use the most, at 45%, and newsprint is not far behind, at 32% (fact no. 11)?

I'm sure you will find at least one fact that you didn't know about, and unfortunately it will probably won't be a positive one, but in order to change reality we must know the facts first!

You can find the full list of facts at http://www.thedailygreen.com/print-this/environmental-news/latest/7447

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

What's in your paper? a new website gives your the answers you're looking for!

The Environmental Paper Network launched a great new website entitles 'What's In Your Paper' (thanks to the Green Press Initiative's newsletter for the info!), where you can learn not only what's in your paper, but also how your paper can go green.

Firstly, a little bit about EPN: The Environmental Paper Network (EPN) was founded in 2002 to bring together conservation organizations to draft a Common Vision for the Transformation of the Pulp and Paper Industry. The consensus platform of the Common Vision has been the primary basis for citizen and NGO advocacy and institutional policy development which is driving the rapid growth of environmentally responsible paper markets.

The new website is full with informative and user-friendly information, including Paper Steps - a guide for making your office or company paper more environmentally responsible, glossary with all the definitions you need to know about, toolkit for the eco-friendly paper purchaser, a guide on how to save paper and much more.

Is paper that important? does your paper usage really matter? for those who still ask it, the website gives a very clear explanation:

What’s In Your Paper matters because the impacts of paper production result in one of the world’s most significant environmental challenges. Our daily choices about paper use and what paper we buy is one of the easiest, and most significant choices we can make to make a difference.

Paper’s life-cycle is often a trail of greenhouse gas emissions, fresh water consumption and pollution, and the loss of native forests and biodiversity. It also brings us many benefits, from great literature to personal hygiene, and it is inevitable that paper will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. So, our choices matter. We must all do our part to take the Steps to Responsible Paper Purchasing.

Not convinced yet? here's a reminder from a video we showed a while ago from The Secret Life of Paper's website, which is also presented on the website's What's Hot section:

And don't forget to check out their blog - The Paper Planet

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net