Ecopaper shows that recycled paper is more ecological

Ecopaper is convinced that recycled paper is the environmentally friendly alternative to virgin fiber paper. In terms of printing properties, recycled papers are on a par with conventional papers and also score points with their visual and tactile properties. Thanks to the use of recycled paper as a raw material, these papers are significantly more ecological. This is also shown by the first Swiss online platform for calculating the environmental benefits of recycled paper compared to new fiber paper.

The sustainability calculator

Ecopaper's sustainability calculator is based on the latest available figures, those of the ecoinvent inventory (econinvent 3.3), where data from real existing papers are stored. Whether the consumption of wood, energy or water, recycled paper always performs better than virgin fiber paper. The sustainability calculator summarizes the environmental impact in a point system that has been well established in Switzerland for years in the communication of life cycle assessments, the so-called environmental impact points (UBP).

This aggregated form shows that the production of one pack of standard office paper with 500 sheets made from virgin fibers causes 9051 UBP. If recycled paper is chosen instead, it is only 2926 UBP - an environmental impact of only one third. The results are presented in attractive diagrams.

This straightforward tool will hopefully lead many procurers to choose recycled paper. Compare for yourself at www.papierrechner.ch.

Various accompanying texts comment on the result and provide tips on how to procure and use paper in an environmentally friendly way, over and above the choice of recycled paper. The paper calculator's website refers to other tools that the Ecopaper association has developed over the past few years, such as the Guide "Change trains, please!" and the Advisor "Paper - protecting the forest and the climate".

www.papierrechner.ch / www.ecopaper.ch