CLEAN CHOICE
Designers should avoid specifying use of materials that are hazardous or that can generate hazardous waste at any stage of their life cycle. This includes materials that are toxic to humans or other living organisms; that are flammable, explosive or corrosive; ozone depleting; and that contribute to global warming.*1
*1Lewis, Hellen and Gertsakis, John with Grant, Tim; Morreli, Nicola; Sweatman, Andrew; DESIGN + ENVIRONMENT: A global guide to designing greener goods; Sustainable Materials; Greenleaf Publishing Ltd, 2001 (Pg. 66 – 76)
Paper is renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. However, the production and use of paper have significant impacts on the environment. 54% of the wood fiber is derived from natural regeneration forests and the global trend is towards an increasing reliance on plantations of intensively managed natural regeneration forests. Non-wood fibers can also be used for paper products and they may offer environmental benefits. Alternative fibers like kenaf, hemp, reclaimed fabric, and agricultural residues, help the rapid growth of the tree-free paper industry. Kenaf has been used in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia for thousands of years for products like clothing, sacking, and rugs. It also makes good paper. Kenaf grows rapidly and can reach its harvest stage in 5 months; compared to the southern pine, which takes up to 20 or 25 years. Hemp-based paper also offers advantages. It competes well with weeds, and is resistant to most pests. As a result, few pesticides are required for cultivation. Approximately 90% of all non-wood pulp is produced in Asia. The pulping of no-wood fibers uses less energy than the pulping of wood fibers, but it may be more polluting with the current technology.
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