The Confederation of Paper Industries and PaperChain have jointly released a new fact sheet, entitled ‘Paper and Cardboard Recycling – Greenhouse Gas Benefits Explained’.

The fact sheet discusses the pros and cons of recycling compared with alternative UK methods of disposal (such as incineration or landfill), and highlights the carbon benefits available from efficient paper and cardboard recycling. 

Also discussed is the difficulty associated with calculating an industry-wide carbon footprint of such a diverse material sector, in which manufacturing processes vary widely in terms of production processes, raw material inputs, energy sources, output products and locations.

It is hoped the fact sheet will provide a simple but valuable insight into what is a complex topic, highlighting the reality that there are real carbon savings to be had through efficient paper and cardboard recycling. The fact sheet should also serve to further the debate on the impact that quality recyclables can have on carbon savings available through the paper recycling process.

ENDS
CPI and PaperChain’s selection of fact sheets, including ‘Paper and Cardboard Recycling – Greenhouse Gas Benefits Explained’. are available from their websites at http://www.paper.org.uk/info/factsheets/factsheets.htm and http://www.paperchain-recycling.org.uk/publications.html.

Notes to Editors

• For additional information on the UK paper industry, in the first instance, please contact Catherine Waterfield, External Affairs Coordinator, on 01793 889612 or email cwaterfield@paper.org.uk.
  
  Alternatively, please visit: http://www.paperchain-recycling.org or http://www.paper.org.uk.
  
  
• CPI is the voice of the paper industry in the UK, representing papermakers, tissue manufacturers, corrugated packaging producers, and recovered paper merchants.
  
  
• PaperChain Members used around 3.2 million tonnes of recovered paper and board in 2007, representing 78% of recovered paper and board used in the UK.
  
  
• PaperChain supports the “Campaign for Real Recycling”. Please visit: http://www.realrecycling.org.uk