Paper: new or recycled? Recycled!
It is true that paper recycling requires a lot of water and other resources. However, in the end, it has still only about half as much impact on environment as producing new paper.
Here you may check the impact of the pulp production - once the pulp is obtained, the rest of paper-making is the same in both cases:
If you check the bottom line for the two materials, you will see that the biggest part of the impact of paper recycling is the use of water and discharge of liquid waste, while for the new paper the top contributors to the environment impact index are: cutting down the forest and the waste produced.
So, if you are concerned with the environment, pick recycled paper if possible.
| Paper pulp, from recycled paper Impact: 215.07 | Paper pulp, from wood Impact: 716.55 |
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1 comment postedContainer deposit legislation involves offering a refund for the return of certain containers, typically glass, plastic, and metal. When a product in such a container is purchased, a small surcharge is added to the price. This surcharge can be reclaimed by the consumer if the container is returned to a collection point. These programs have been very successful, often resulting in an 80% recycling rate. Despite such good results, the shift in collection costs from local government to industry and consumers has created strong opposition to the creation of such programs in some area