Recycled paper with clear environmental benefits
Switching from new-fiber to recycled paper makes a lot of ecological sense: the updated paper calculator from the Ecopaper association shows that recycled paper halves the environmental impact of new-fiber paper.
The Ecopaper association has been campaigning for the sustainable use of paper for over 40 years. In addition to avoiding paper, this also includes the use of recycled paper. But how great is the ecological benefit if recycled fiber paper is used instead of virgin fiber paper in the printer? Or if recycled toilet paper is used instead of bright white virgin fibers?
Eight years ago, Ecopaper presented its first paper calculator, which allowed users to compare the two types of paper with just a few clicks. The organization has now launched an updated version of the paper calculator. The tool, including explanatory texts, is available in three languages. It now also takes hygiene paper into account. The paper calculator shows: Here too, recycled paper has a clear advantage when it comes to the environment.
Current data as a basis
In addition to the overall environmental impact, the assessment tool shows in detail where each environmental impact comes from. This is because the paper calculator records the areas of fibers, chemicals and auxiliary materials, energy, waste water and waste and combines these into an overall assessment with the help of the so-called environmental impact points.
The service was made possible thanks to the support of various sponsors, in particular the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The FOEN also commissioned the data collection. The basic data was requested from the various paper manufacturers and, where necessary, supplemented with existing inventory data and literature references. The environmental impact was then determined using the ecological scarcity method (eco-factors 2021). Ecopaper's sustainability calculator is based on averaged FOEN inventory data from 2024 and thus corresponds to the current state of knowledge.
Climate protection through recycled paper
The updated paper calculator shows that switching from virgin fiber to recycled paper is a simple measure to reduce personal or company climate emissions. The Ecopaper association also provides advice on reducing paper consumption and has published a brochure on this subject, for example "Recycled paper: protecting forests and the climate". It is also available online. In addition, several hundred municipalities and parishes have committed to reducing their paper consumption and using recycled paper as part of Ecopaper's urwaldfreundlich.ch campaign.
Source: www.ecopaper.ch
