Busting More Myths about Print and Paper

E-commerce in the United States grew by 44 percent in 2020, and with that growth came a rise in package deliveries — and the use of paper packaging materials. While the pandemic certainly spurred the increase seen last year, online shopping was already on the rise, meaning demand for paper packaging likely will continue to grow. This is especially true as consumers learn more about the environmental cost of consumption. In a study of U.S. packaging preferences, former Two Sides North America, Inc. President Phil Reibel said, “Consumers are becoming more aware of available packaging choices for the items they buy, which in turn is influencing packaging decisions by businesses, particularly in the retail sector.” The 2020 report showed that among the consumers surveyed: *57 percent are trying to reduce their use of plastic packaging. *57 percent prefer online orders to be delivered in paper packaging instead of plastic. *70 percent want online orders to be delivered in right-sized packages that don’t waste empty space. *66 percent believe paper or corrugated is better for the environment than other packaging materials. *69 percent choose paper or corrugated because it is compostable at home. *More than 50 percent think paper is easier to recycle, less expensive, and lighter weight than other packaging materials. *38 percent would even be willing to spend more on a product if it were packaged sustainably.

The American recycling industry is in crisis — and cities are on the front lines. The big picture: The economics undergirding the U.S. recycling system have fallen apart. Unable to absorb the extra cost, some cities are opting to kill recycling programs altogether — just as public concerns about climate change are ratcheting up. China, the biggest buyer of U.S. recycled materials, has closed its doors. Before the ban, the U.S. was exporting around 70% of its waste to China. Changing consumer behaviors have made the trash-sorting process more complex and expensive. "The market for recycling has had a lot of shock," says Marian Chertow, a professor at Yale's School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. "Cities are thinking, 'Hm, is this really worth it?'"

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management and Trees Outside Forests. Deadline for comments is 6 October. Give your feedback. PEFC UK revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The revised system is among the first submitted to PEFC for endorsement to include a Trees Outside Forests (TOF) standard. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.