print Works !
In Praise of Paper
By Jim Leute the National Paper Trade association
P
aper is the vehicle for these words . But paper is just one form of a diverse , versatile range of products made from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances .
Paper products are renewable , recyclable and sustainable , and they ’ re meeting a global demand in all aspects of everyday life .
Paper is fundamental to education , communication and information . It promotes reading comprehension , spreads the word to large audiences and is the carrier of some of our most personal and vital information .
In one form , it packages everything from food to big-screen televisions . In another – tissues , diapers , hospital gowns – it ’ s vital to hygiene .
While innovative paper products are developed every day , paper and its production continue to be labeled an environmental threat , a charge the industry says is inaccurate .
“ We live in a digital world , and some people think everything digital is the solution ,” said Mark Pitts , executive director of printing-writing for the American Forest & Paper Association . “ Paper is good , and we want people to feel good about using it .”
The AF & PA is the association of the forest products industry , which in the United States accounts for about 4 percent of the total manufacturing GDP . Industry companies make about
Mark Pitts , American Forest & Paper Association
$ 210 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 people , many of whom live and work in rural counties that value well-paying jobs .
“ When you add up the value of print and paper , it ’ s a huge force in our economy ,” Pitts said . “ We ’ re in the top 10 of manufacturing sectors in 47 states , with a payroll of $ 50 billion a year .”
AF & PA represents a unique industry , one characterized by its production of essential bio-based products that support and protect everyday life .
The industry has increased production efficiencies , reduced its energy use , decreased its carbon footprint and significantly cut its release of pollutants , according to the association ’ s 2014 sustainability report .
Essential products Forest products are critical components of modern life . They ’ re made from a renewable resource – trees .
Printing and writing papers include paper for books , magazines , office and home printers , birthday cards , wedding invitations , printed photos and vital documents .
Paper-based packaging is a versatile and cost-efficient way to transport , protect and preserve a wide variety of materials .
Wood provides shelter , furniture , flooring and cabinetry , as well as smaller items that range from bowls to chopsticks .
Critical to all are trees , a renewable resource that can be planted , grown , harvested and replanted .
Photosynthesis with tree growth captures and converts carbon dioxide into fiber and other wood components , which over time reduces the effects of greenhouse gas emissions . In turn , trees release oxygen .
Forest Products industry capital Expenditures
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