There are quite a few prejudices about paper and plastic. But which are truths, and which are myths? This blog will examine a number of them.
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Producing paper destroys forests -> Truth and myth!
You need wood to produce paper. This wood is usually sourced from production forests. Sometimes, natural forests have to make way for production forests. However, this does not mean that the number of forests on our planet is in constant decline. In Europe, the surface area dedicated to forests has even increased slightly: from 1990 to 2020 hectares. To make sure that production forests are managed properly, you can opt for paper that has been awarded a quality mark. Items bearing this quality mark are sourced from forests where the number of felled trees is equal to the number of new trees being planted in compensation. Well-known quality marks are the FSC and PEFC labels. If the wood has no label, it cannot be traced to its source. It may have been harvested illegally or in an environmentally unfriendly manner, which destroys forests in the long run.
Paper is the most sustainable solution -> Myth
In Germany, 81% of the paper used for packaging purposes is recycled. For percentages of other countries (in Europe and beyond), please check this blog. Because paper is made from wood, it’s impact on climate change is smaller than that of plastic. This is because trees store CO2 and the CO2 content is preserved when the paper is recycled. CO2 is only released into the atmosphere when the paper is incinerated. Petroleum is a basic ingredient in the production of plastic. Extracting petroleum and processing it into plastic releases CO2, which has a negative effect on climate change. A kilo of paper therefore produces fewer greenhouse gases than a kilo of plastic.
However, paper is not necessarily always the best solution. Paper is not as strong as plastic, so sometimes more paper than plastic is needed as packaging for the same product. Also, not all products can be packaged in paper, as paper is not resistant to liquids. In cases like that, plastic packaging is a better alternative. Another thing to think about is that new wood is always needed for the production of paper, because the paper fibres become too short to be used after having been recycled a number of times.
In short: the use of paper has both advantages and disadvantages for the environment. It is therefore not the most sustainable solution.
Plastic is hardly recycled -> Truth and Myth!
In Germany, 43% of plastic packaging is recycled. For percentages of other countries (in Europe and beyond), please check this blog. The recycling percentages vary greatly from country to country, as well as from one type of plastic to another. Some types of plastic can be recycled well in one country, while this is may not be the case somewhere else. It is too early, however, to draw the conclusion that all plastic is hardly recycled. The extent to which plastic is recycled depends very much on the circumstances in which it is disposed of.
Biodegradable or compostable plastic is the number one solution to combat litter. -> Myth
Biodegradable or compostable plastic is not a solution to our litter problem. This is because most compostable plastic only decomposes under specific conditions, such as a high temperature and a high humidity level. These conditions can only be achieved in industrial composting facilities and do not occur in nature. Biodegradable plastic also causes problems if it ends up in nature. It does break down in nature, but only very slowly, and can therefore pose a danger to animals and the environment.