Electronic communication

The world is changing, and companies are trying to reduce their paper usage by using forms of electronic communication, but is it really better for the environment, or will it have lasting effects?

We’ve talked about greenwashing and the effects it can have on the paper industry before; Phrases such as “Go Green” and “Go paperless to save trees” are common messages from companies trying to encourage their customers to switch to electronic transactions but are these statements really based on facts?

The short answer is no. Many of these organisations are encouraging their customers to “Go Green” just to save themselves money, which is reasonable especially given the current climate, but misleading consumers into thinking it’s purely for the benefit of the environment is not. Research conducted by Two Sides found that 60% of European consumers believe electronic communications are better for the environment than paper-based communications but this is far from the truth of the matter.

The truth

Paper is sustainable and renewable; the main material is wood, and it’s grown and harvested in a carefully controlled and sustainable way. In 2020, a total of 56 million tonnes of paper was collected and recycled in Europe – a recycling rate of 74%. This is approaching the estimated practical maximum of 78%.

However, the effects of digital communication have been forgotten or intentionally minimised. The electronic waste problem is constantly growing. In 2019, the industry was responsible for a gigantic 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste across the world which is equivalent to the weight of 350 cruise ships.

In 2019, just 17.4% of global e-waste was collected for recycling. Non-environmentally sound disposal and treatment of this waste stream pose significant risks to the environment and to human health. Raw materials from digital equipment are often finite, precious, and non-renewable, as well as being notoriously difficult to recycle.

Taking into account all of the above, Digital communication can be just as and oftentimes is more harmful to the environment than it is to continue using paper. When using forms of digital communication, it is important to continue to use recycling activities and keep in mind the waste produced from the entire digital communication process, rather than your end-user interaction. For more information check out the Two Sides website, or if you’re interested in communicating your message through a sustainable paper medium, get in touch with us today.