What role does responsible use of paper products contribute to the future of forest survival? In today’s world the forests are being depleted at a faster rate than any other time in our past. The cost of wood to build American homes is at an all time high.
The world has lost about one-third of its forests since the last ice age, with deforestation accelerating dramatically in the past century. Why? Agriculture is responsible for 31% of Earth’s habitable land being converted for grazing livestock. Logging, roads, settlements, and industrial activities also contribute significantly to forest degradation. Mining & energy development drive permanent land-use changes as well as, wildfires, droughts, and storms that further threaten forests.
We also need to consider that over 86 million jobs depend on forests, along with billions relying on them for food and lumber, and fuel. Tropical rainforests are home to much of the world’s biodiversity and are particularly vulnerable to deforestation. In addition, forests act as carbon sinks, since trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and their destruction releases massive amounts of CO₂.
Efforts to combat deforestation include afforestation projects, sustainable land management, and conservation policies. Some countries are making progress in reforestation, but global forest loss remains a pressing issue.
For decades, recycling paper has been an environmental goal in the effort to reduce deforestation. Worldwide, the average person uses 121 pounds of paper per year, but that number is four times higher in North America. About 1/3 of the global timber harvest is used to make paper.
Eco-friendly paper products are designed to minimize environmental impact by using sustainable materials and responsible production methods. These efforts generally fall into four key categories:
• Tree-Free Paper: Made from alternative fibers like bamboo, hemp, sugarcane, or agricultural byproducts, reducing reliance on traditional wood pulp.
• Recycled Paper: Produced from post-consumer waste, helping to reduce landfill waste and conserve resources.
• Compostable & Biodegradable Options: Products like plates and towels, made from sugarcane pulp or bamboo, which break down naturally without harming the environment4.
• Chlorine-Free & Chemical-Free Paper: Some brands avoid harsh bleaching processes, making their paper safer for ecosystems.
If you’re looking for specific products, check out Ecozoi Reusable Bamboo Paper Towels, which are washable and tree-free, or JOLLY CHEF Compostable Heavy-Duty Plates, made from sugarcane pulp. You may also do an internet search for “Grove”, then click on “tree-free paper products.” From there, you can choose which paper products are your priorities. Your choices are toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, and napkins. Other websites that sell ecofriendly paper products are Amazon, Seventh Generation, Green Caboo, Save Trees, and Tree Free Green. If you want to shop locally, please note that no tree-free paper products are sold in Macomb. (The only exception is recycled printer paper.) Lowe’s, Target, and other big box stores also sell tree-free paper products.
These products are only slightly more expensive. For example, if you consider that the average person uses 141 rolls of toilet paper a year, a few cents more for the product can save many trees. Charmin and Northern manufacture their product using trees from the Boreal Forest in Canada, cutting approximately 1 million acres of trees per year. You can make a difference!
