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Features Business Sustainability
Paper calculator aims to drive awareness in paper use and purchasing

July 14, 2018  By PrintAction Staff



An improved web-based paper calculator from the Environmental Paper Network-North America aims to provide its users with new information and features to help them measure the impacts of their paper and reduce that impact through better choices.

Paper calculator version 4 is the most comprehensive update of this tool to be released, says Environmental Paper Network-North America, noting it delivers more expansive environmental impact categories including additional pollutants and new biodiversity and ecosystem impacts, for a total of 24 indicators in all. The alliance says the calculator provides more accurate climate change reporting and has been updated with the latest paper industry and lifecycle assessment data. As well, it covers an expanded range of paper grades, and now includes the growing sector of tissue products. In addition to generating custom reports, version 4 also provides users with new resources, such as detailed descriptions and common product examples of the paper grades included, a feature to calculate the weight of a user’s copy paper using the number of reams or sheets, and improved transparency via a new resource document that details the calculator’s methods.

These updates reflect a multi-year effort by experts from various environmental groups, such as Canopy, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and Conservatree, as well as representatives from academia and business, including the University of Southern California and Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The process was facilitated by SCS Global Services, a third-party certifier and standards developer.

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