e-Media and Paper - co-existing in a sustainable society

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We need both e-media and Paper…….. but we also need to get some

balance into this dialogue

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– Includes PCs, Monitors, Telecoms, Data centres, web servers

– Because it’s not just about the information but also about the equipment used to send and receive the information

‘e-Media’ is used to describe a much broader world of ‘e’ communication!

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Key points for comparison▪Paper

– Renewable resource• “Trees are sacred”

– High recycling rates

– Global warming• Mainly during production

▪e-Media

– Non-renewable resources

– Low recycling rates

– Global warming• Mainly during use

Global warming potential for paper and e-media applications are of similar magnitude

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Both paper and e-media emit carbon dioxide

Differ from each other but same order of magnitude Very dependent on the source of energy

“In Europe 20% less CO2 is used by a person reading a daily printed newspaper vs a person reading a web-based news

for 30 minutes a day” Europe

Ref: Moberg et al 2007

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We need to take a full ‘life cycle’ view of e-media – not just the ‘in-use’ part▪ Making electronic equipment requires:

– mining and refining of minerals and metals

– extensive use of plastics and hydrocarbon solvents

– high amounts of energy

▪ Many components cannot be recycled

▪ Recycling rates are low (~20%*)– Only 18% of U.S electronic devices are recycled (compared to 60% for

paper)*.

– 30-40 million PC’s have to be disposed of each year in the U.S.*

▪ Replacement is frequent

* Source: International paper, June 09

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“The CO2 emissions of a typical internet search are

7g/search.

The impact of ~15 internet searches is equivalent to one newspaper”

Source: Dr Alex Wissner-Gross, Harvard University, article at TimesOnline

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“On average it takes 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity to produce 200kg of paper, the typical amount of paper each one of us consumes annually. That’s the equivalent of powering one computer continuously for 5 months”

* Source: International paper, June 09

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“Computers left idle overnight in the US produce same amount of carbon (through energy usage), as 4 million cars on the road”

* Source: International paper, June 09

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– Larger format gives better overview– Extremely portable– Easy to read– High quality reproduction

– Breaking news on screen, in-depth articles on paper– Local newspapers give you local news, local

advertising– Magazines for special interests

Paper is still well suited for many people

and for many applications

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The forestry value chain is part of the climate change solution

▪ Renewable raw material ▪ Forests utilise and store CO2▪ Forest products are recyclable and

store carbon▪ At end of lifecycle wood fibres can

produce bio-energy▪ Biomass energy can replace fossil

energy▪ Sustainable forest management will

avoid deforestation in tropical areas

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Not only this:

  Please consider the environment

before printing this email.

 

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Not only this:

..but also this:

  Please consider the environment

before printing this email.

 

Think before you email!

Printing and sharing this newsletter uses less energy and

the paper can be recycled. Help the environment and only

forward this email if you really have to.