New study commissioned by Two Sides explains why the popular “go paperless – save trees” slogans are misleading and false.

The post Going Paperless Does Not Save Trees first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

7th March 2013, London, UK – A resolution placed before the US Senate seeks to reverse recent federal initiatives to eliminate paper-based information

‘Consumers for Paper Options’, a US group set up to challenge the drive towards a digital only society, applauds the resolution

Originally reported by Industry Intelligence, 5th March 2013

The resolution, introduced by U.S. Reps. Duffy & Michaud, says Agencies Should Continue to Provide Americans with Paper Options for Social Security Benefits, Savings Bonds, Tax Forms & Other Services

‘Consumers for Paper Options’, a coalition of individuals and organizations advocating for the right to paper-based communications, today applauded a new Congressional resolution to protect access to paper-based options for government services and information. This bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 97), introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) and Mike Michaud (D-Maine), seeks to reverse recent federal initiatives to completely eliminate paper-based information and services, such as Social Security checks and earnings statements, savings bonds and income tax forms.

Federal agencies have been forcing Americans to go “paperless” without public comment or Congressional oversight, despite the fact that millions of Americans cannot access information in electronic formats and cybersecurity threats are on the rise. The Duffy-Michaud resolution seeks to bring these agency decisions under Congressional review, while directing the federal government to ensure that Americans receive paper information and services, unless they specifically choose electronic-only.

“Federal efforts to eliminate paper-based services and information are disenfranchising millions of Americans, including senior citizens, lower income Americans and those who are concerned about cyber-threats,” said John Runyan, executive director of Consumers for Paper Options. “More than 30 million American households lack Internet access both at home and at work, and yet our government expects all citizens to e-file tax forms, manage their finances online and purchase savings bonds electronically.“

Runyan continued, “It’s time for Congress to step in and protect equal and appropriate information access for all Americans. We are pleased to see Reps. Duffy and Michaud leading the charge to make federal agencies accountable for their decisions, and to defend the right for Americans to receive government information in whatever means they choose. The federal government has a duty to serve every citizen, regardless of which side of the digital divide they inhabit.”

Martyn Eustace, Director of Two Sides, comments, ‘Consumers for Paper Options’ has done a great job in the US to highlight the growing tendency of Government departments and large organisations to drive unwilling consumers down a digital path whereas, in reality, research shows that consumers prefer to read from paper and value paper based communication above digital.

We also know that many consumers print out their bills for security so the term ‘going paperless’ is totally misleading. E billing and other digital communications are often promoted as environmentally friendly. There is significant evidence that this is just not true.

There is clearly a need to present the facts to large UK organisations, including Government, and discussions are continuing about launching a similar UK initiative in the very near future”.

ENDS

About Consumers for Paper Options

Consumers for Paper Options is a coalition of individuals and organizations who believe paper-based communications are critically important for millions of Americans, especially seniors and the 30 percent of Americans without Internet access. While regulated entities and governments at every level need to streamline services, cut costs and improve efficiencies, preserving paper-based options for information and essential services for those who need or want them should remain a crucial priority. The goal of Consumers for Paper Options is to preserve access to information in a way that neither hinders the natural evolution of technology nor discriminates against those who may not, or cannot, use it. For more information, visit www.paperoptions.org.

About Two Sides

Two Sides is an initiative by companies from the Graphic Communication Value Chain including forestry, pulp, paper, inks and chemicals, pre press, press, finishing, publishing and printing. Membership spans Europe, the United States and Australia. Our common goal is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and dispel common environmental misconceptions by providing users with verifiable information on why print and paper is an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium. www.twosides.info

Contacts:
Two Sides

Martyn Eustace     e: mje@twosides.info
Sonya Sanghera    e: sks@twosides.info
Sarah Collins    e: sjc@twosides.info
t: 00 44 1327 262920

The post US senate to reconsider the elimination of paper based communication first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

The goal of the campaign is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and dispel common environmental misconceptions by providing users with verifiable information on why print and paper is an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium.

Canon brings to the campaign its unique commercial perspective, wide experience and insight into the role of modern print media.  This is supported by the findings from Canon’s fourth Insight Report, ‘The Bigger Picture’, which followed a comprehensive research study of business professionals with responsibility for procuring print.  The research was first published at drupa 2012 and now forms an important part of Canon’s marketing strategy.

Mark Lawn, UK and European Marketing Director, Canon Europe, states; “Our research has given us a real in-depth understanding of customers’ views on the value of print and the role of digital print within a multi-channel communications mix and how print can enhance the value and returns of marketing campaigns. We continue to explore how end users perceive print providers now and how the needs of buyers will evolve in the next few years. We must all understand what print providers can do to encourage greater use of print and how printers can help brand and marketing professionals ‘do more with less’. We see the Two Sides and Print Power campaigns complementing our strategy and are pleased to support the aims of the campaigns which we see delivering tangible results.

Martyn Eustace, Director of Two Sides and UK Country Manager for Print Power, responds; “It’s great to see Canon, an organisation very much at the forefront of printing technology, supporting our campaigns. We’re currently having great success, supported by magazine and newspaper publishers, with our £2.5 million ‘No wonder You Love Paper’ campaign, aimed at changing consumer perceptions about print and paper’s sustainability. The Print Power magazine, which promotes print’s unique effectiveness as part of multi-media campaigns, is now established as a must-have magazine for Brand Owners and Media Decision Makers. Canon’s support for these campaigns, and our ability to collaborate with them, will be invaluable.”

The post Canon declares support for the Two Sides and Print Power campaigns first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

A little more than two weeks later, after an uproar from the American and global paper and printing industries, Toshiba pulled the plug on the campaign.

Ignorant statements such as ‘We know that approximately 336 million sheets of paper are wasted daily’, ‘more than 40,000 trees are discarded every day in America’ and ‘we as individuals and companies are failing to make the link between printing waste and its negative impacts on our landfills, natural resources and the environment’ was just the stuff that organisations such as Printing Industries of America and Two Sides have to challenge on a regular basis.

“Toshiba seems to have ignored the environmental impact of electronic communications. Just saying you are eliminating print and paper really does not mean you are necessarily helping the planet,” wrote Two Sides member Vince Collins in a June 13 response to NNPD. “It’s a lot more complex than that. If the alternative is, for example, electronic communication, then what is the environmental impact of this?”

The National Association for Printing Leadership also had its say: “The real waste problem is the rapidly escalating number of discarded computers and other electronic components, which are not biodegradable and will sit in landfills for generations, taking up increasing amounts of space and ultimately leaching lead, mercury, and other toxic metals, hazardous chemicals, and plastic residue into the soil.”

Greenpeace has identified electronic waste as the fastest growing component of the municipal waste steam[i].

In an article published by Graphic Repro On-line, Two Sides challenges the campaign as ‘greenwashing’, with the following:

• “Toshiba has linked paper use to deforestation (or killing trees and destroying forests) when, in fact, responsibly made paper can be a sustainable way to communicate. Paper is a highly recycled commodity in Europe, with a recycling rate approaching 70%. [ii] Does Toshiba recycle its products so effectively? We think not.”
• “Paper is based on wood, a natural and renewable material. Electronic equipment, ink and toner cartridges, including those with the Toshiba brand, are made mostly from non-renewable resources and are not so easily recycled. Has Toshiba considered the life cycle of all of its own products before professing expertise on others?”
• “What do the thousands of men and women employed by Toshiba to manufacture, sell and distribute copiers, printers and toner cartridges worldwide think about this campaign?”

Much more has been written about the failed campaign.  Simply pour yourself a big mug of your favourite beverage and Google ‘Toshiba No Print Day’. Much of it is constructive; some simply laughable.

As the industry, we need to stand together against the promulgation of ‘anti-paper’ ignorance.  Arm yourself with the facts and enlighten colleagues, family and friends (download our paper fact sheet) and ask them to remove footers from their emails such as ‘Consider the environment before you print this’ (download some alternative footers).

While PAMSA certainly does not advocate wasteful printing, we ask that paper and printing be treated with respect:

• Buy locally manufactured paper that is FSC-certified. This way you can be assured that the paper is produced from sustainably managed plantations.
• Reuse your paper – print draft documents on the reverse side.
• Recycle your paper, keeping it dry and away from other waste.

Lastly, be responsible with your electronic waste. Do your research and find reputable electronic waste recycling companies that you know will handle your old computers and printers with the environment in mind.

The post Toshiba’s National No-Print Day causes paper jam first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

The post Toshiba pulls National No Print Day first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

On this day Toshiba proposes to ‘raise awareness of the impact printing has on our planet’ and of ‘the role of paper in the workplace’, They are asking people and companies not to print or copy anything that day. This campaign is backed up by a number of contentious and unsourced claims designed to support this ill-conceived initiative.

There are many flaws surrounding Toshiba’s campaign including:

 • Toshiba seems to have ignored the environmental impact of electronic communications. Just saying you are eliminating print and paper really does not mean you are necessarily helping the planet. It’s a lot more complex than that. If the alternative is, for example, electronic communication, then what is the environmental impact of this? Greenpeace have identified electronic waste as the fastest growing component of the municipal waste steam. (1)
• Toshiba has linked paper use to deforestation (or killing trees and destroying forests) when, in fact, responsibly made paper can be a sustainable way to communicate. Paper is a highly recycled commodity in Europe, with a recycling rate approaching 70 per cent. (2) Does Toshiba recycle its products so effectively? We think not.
• Paper is based on wood, a natural and renewable material. Electronic equipment, ink and toner cartridges, including those with the Toshiba brand, are made mostly from non-renewable resources and are not so easily recycled. Has Toshiba considered the life cycle of all of its own products before professing expertise on others?
• What do the thousands of men and women employed by Toshiba to manufacture, sell and distribute copiers, printers and toner cartridges world-wide think about this campaign?

Two Sides openly challenges Toshiba’s claims and would like to understand if Toshiba have taken into account verifiable and accurate environmental facts about print and paper in a multi-media world.

Before withdrawing this flawed campaign Toshiba should consider the plethora of accredited facts on the Two Sides Website: www.twosides.info including:
• Since 1950 Forests in Western Europe have increased by 30 per cent. (3)
• European forests are increasing by 1.5 million football pitches every year – an area four times the size of London. (4)

Two Sides promotes print and paper as a versatile, sustainable communications medium. We do not usually comment on the comparative environmental performance of other industries but we cannot let this unwarranted attack on our industry go unanswered.

We look forward to Toshiba’s response.

(1)Greenpeace, The E-waste Problem 2009
(2) The European Declaration on Paper Recycling 2006 – 2010 Monitoring Report 2010
(3) UNECE, FAO, The Development of Forest Resources, 1950 to 2000
(4) CEPI, Forest Fact Sheet, July 2008

Two Sides is a worldwide initiative by companies from the Graphic Communication Value Chain including forestry, pulp, paper, inks and chemicals, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing and printing. Our common goal is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and dispel common environmental misconceptions by providing users with verifiable information on why print and paper is an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium.

Visit: www.twosides.info to learn lots more.

Source:  http://www.graphicrepro.co.za/asp/news_long.asp?nid=20041

The post Two Sides challenges Toshiba’s ‘No Print Day’ as Greenwash first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).