Paper and Forest Products Industry

Today, the forest products industry is focused on much more than simply meeting the paper and wood needs of the business and home consumer.  It is focused on regenerating sustainable forest. “One of the best-kept secrets is that forests are renewable, and if managed properly they can provide a sustainable flow of paper, packaging, and building products while retaining the many other environmental and social benefits” says Karen Brandt, a spokesperson for SFI.

Recycled Paper is no longer the only eco-friendly option for environmentally conscious consumers. Recycled paper is good for the environment because it makes the best use of the tree by extending the life span of its fibers. However, paper fiber cannot be recycled endlessly. After paper is recycled 5-7 times the fiber becomes too short for paper-making. Reducing the amount of paper that goes to landfills is the main benefit of using recycled paper. In addition, buying paper that is either FSI or FSC certified contributes to a sustainability North America by ensuring that it came from a responsibly managed forest.

Quick Industry facts:

• There are 12 million more acres of forestland today than there was 20 years ago

• 1.7 million tree seedlings are planted by the forest products industry every day
  (more than 600 million each year)

• There are 513 million acres of forest lands in the United States which is equivalent to the number of forest acres 100 years ago.

• On average, 2 trees are planted for every 1 tree harvested
  
  

Click on the links below to find out more about the Forest Products Industry.

International Paper: www.internationalpaper.com
Weyerhaeuser: www.weyerhaeuser.com/Sustainability/ForestManagement
Domtar: www.domtar.com/en/sustainability/index.asp
American Forest and Paper Association: www.afandpa.org 
Abundant Forest Alliance (AFA): www.abundantforests.org
Arbor Day info: www.arbor-day.net/index.htm
Forest Trends: www.forest-trends.org/resources/briefs.htm
Sustainable Business: www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/resources.list/categoryid/8
Earth 911: www.earth911.org/product-stewardship/