Incentives for sustainable forest management and recycling are urgently needed to mitigate the biodiversity impact of paper production, as forest ecosystems have come under increasing pressure due to logging and the industry’s extensive use of chemicals, a study has said.
A paper published by researchers at Turkey’s Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University called on governments and international organisations to step up and deploy policies aimed at establishing biodiversity conservation standards for the paper sector.
“The development of effective policies and guidelines for biodiversity conservation within the paper industry is inevitable,” the researchers said.
“Forests are vital areas that support biodiversity worldwide and provide essential ecosystem services. However, as the paper industry expands and demand increases, the sustainable use of forest resources and the conservation of biodiversity have become a challenging balance.”
The market is projected to grow to $372 billion by 2029 from $354 bln in 2022, a separate study estimated.
Researchers emphasised that the industry’s impact on nature is not limited to logging, but also involves waste management, the use of chemicals in stages such as processing wood pulp and bleaching paper, and the expansion of monoculture forests.
By hinging on intensively cultivated, fast-growing tree species to meet the wood demand, the increased production of pulp and paper could hinder the survival of endemic species.
“Forests with different tree species and plant covers allow the existence of various species, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and contributing to the maintenance of rich, healthy forest ecosystems in terms of biodiversity,” the study said.
“The replacement of complex forest ecosystems that can sustain natural balance and support various species makes it challenging for diverse organisms to thrive in the long term.”
ALTERNATIVE RAW MATERIALS
To address this threat, governments and international bodies should develop biodiversity conservation standards for the paper industry, and provide incentives to compliant businesses, according to the researchers.
Policies promoting paper recycling could also play a critical role, they added.
“Paper recycling makes a substantial contribution to conserving forest ecosystems by minimising the use of raw materials obtained from nature. Innovations in the paper industry may involve the exploration and use of alternative raw materials.”
As well, the study urged companies to disclose their impacts on nature, and join certified forest management frameworks to mitigate them.
“Certified forest management practices include various factors that need consideration in the use of forest resources, including logging restrictions, ecosystem protection, and the use of renewable sources to meet energy needs” said the study.
Over the last few years, certification schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have emerged as a go-to solution for many companies to address environmental risks.
In November, a series of studies released by the US arm of the FSC showed that forests certified by the international non-profit hold more carbon compared to commonly managed forests.
However, some of these schemes have been widely criticised by environmental organisations.
Greenpeace accused FSC and other certifiers of “effectively greenwashing destruction of ecosystems and violations of Indigenous and labour rights”, as they “failed to tackle the core issues they claim to address”.
By Sergio Colombo – sergio@carbon-pulse.com
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