Paper, Pulp & Board

Sustainable industry dispels misconceptions.

- Tasneem Bulbulia

Contrary to the misconceptions about the paper industry being detrimental to the environment, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony posits that the sector is “incredibly sustainable” and shows a circular economy in action.

Whether made from virgin or recovered fibre, Molony maintains paper products offer renewability and sustainability.

“In South Africa, we farm trees for their fibre, replanting within the same year of harvesting. At the other end of the value chain, the recovery of recyclable paper diverts raw material from landfill. This makes paper an environ mentally competitive substrate.”

Molony explains that the paper industry practices sustainable forestry. Sustainable forestry is in direct contrast to deforestation – deforestation entails the clearing of forests, or intentional destruction or removal of trees and other vegetation for agricultural, commercial, housing, or firewood use without replanting (reforesting). “People are unaware of this, owing to a lack of understanding, which stems from the misconception that trees are simply cut down to make paper products,” she says.

She mentions that 80% of Pamsa members’ plantations are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure plantations are carefully and responsibly managed. “We do not make paper out of indigenous trees, so we need to plant eucalyptus and pine trees, depending on the required product. The South African forest products sector has helped conserve indigenous forests by providing a managed source of renewable raw materials for wood and paper products that we use or rely on daily.”