Have you ever seen something like “Save a tree — think before you print” tucked at the bottom of a printable PDF or an email signature?
That instinct comes from a good place. But it doesn’t match reality. In fact, the careful way the industry plants and manages its resources means paper use actually helps protect forested land.
But here’s the real surprise: that email encouraging you not to print? It has its own carbon footprint.
The Road Ahead from E-Waste
Despite all the good things the digital revolution has brought, it has also created an entirely new problem. Globally, 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated in 2019, and only 17.4% of it was documented as recycled. Americans and Canadians alone generate roughly 46 pounds (nearly 21 kg) of e-waste per person every year. And because this waste is usually invisible — happening in factories and facilities — the public tends to underestimate the problem.
The electronics industry is working to figure out how to better manage its waste, but the damage is still being felt. Research shows that e-waste, which exposes people to heavy metals, is linked to negative health effects such as weaker learning outcomes and damage to the immune system.
Paper and Sustainable Forestry: The Truth About Hitting Print
When you print your email or something else, you’re contributing to forest growth through sustainable forestry practices. Most paper is made from trees planted specifically for that purpose — whether explicitly for paper, or from wood scraps recovered by the paper industry from other industries (furniture, construction) that would otherwise go to waste.
When people think of the forest products industry, they often picture their local park or public forest being cut down. In reality, most paper is made from recycled materials and from wood harvested from small, private landowners largely dedicated to being careful stewards of the land. When they harvest a section of trees, they do so knowing it will be reforested; young trees capture more carbon than old-growth trees, making the new forested area a bigger carbon sink than the old forest was.
So people who want to be caretakers of the planet in their everyday choices should know this: choosing paper means embracing sustainable practices. That’s true whether it’s “virgin” paper made from newly planted trees, or choosing recycled products (paper is among the most recycled materials). It’s made from a renewable resource; it can be recycled and turned into new paper products; and it supports cleaner air and diverse wildlife habitats across the land.
Paper and Digital Play Well Together
The fact that paper is a sustainable resource doesn’t mean digital tools have no place.
Paper has been shown to have benefits for memory retention and productivity; digital tools are highly effective for collaboration and data collection. Looking for ways to use the two together can boost both productivity and enjoyment while balancing your environmental footprint.
For example: turning to paper for deep, focused work can help you concentrate on the task at hand; using digital tools to share your output can facilitate collaboration. Buying a book from a digital retailer lets you read what you want, when you want, while still enjoying the benefits of paper. A digital calendar can send you reminders before important events; a paper calendar serves as a household hub. (And don’t underestimate the collaborative power of keeping a calendar on paper — the kitchen calendar is the original group-planning device.)
In other words, you don’t have to give up your digital tools to be a champion of the environment — as long as you let paper lead the way.