We look at every decision we make as a company through a variety of lenses. One important lens is the sustainability lens.
We are always asking ourselves: What do we put out into the world?
From the beginning to the end, we consider the lifecycle of a product. We believe the carbon footprint of a product’s lifecycle, from its conception to its end. A circular product is the goal. It is circular if it has a second life after use.
We are always looking for better alternatives to paper, as it is our most commonly used material.
So far, we have only used 100% recycled paper for our printing. The paper is EU Ecolabel-certified, uses a non-bleach process, and is milled in Austria.
We decided to examine the pros and cons associated with Stone Paper.
Stone Paper is better for the environment.
Stone Paper is gaining in popularity as a ‘green alternative’ to traditional paper made from trees.
We did a thorough analysis to determine whether the paper was a better sustainable option than our current one.
We know that not all claims about ‘green’ products are true. Stone Paper, despite what is widely reported, may not be as it appears.
What is stone paper made of?
According to its makers, stone paper is better for the environment, as it does not require the cutting down of trees, the use of tons and tons of water, or the chemicals and petroleum that are typically used in the paper-making process.
Mineral paper is made of leftovers from construction sites in Taiwan, such as limestone and marble.
Calcium carbonate is found in seashells and pearls. It’s also a by-product of quarries.
Calcium carbonate has been used to smoothen paper for centuries. Stone paper is made entirely of stone, replacing the wood.
But (and this is a BIG BUT) Stone Paper doesn’t consist of “stone.” It is usually made up of around 80% calcium carbide and 20% high-density plastic (HDPE), i.e. plastic.
Does Stone Paper contain plastic?
Stone paper’s composition can vary depending on the manufacturer. It is usually composed of 80% calcium carbonate, 20% HDPE, and up to 40% HDPE. Some manufacturers add talc or other additives to the paper to improve its properties.
HDPE is made from petroleum. Many everyday products are made from HDPE, including plastic bottles and jugs.
It is not renewable. HDPE isn’t biodegradable and can take up to hundreds of years in landfills before it decomposes. The material can be recycled multiple times if it is done correctly.
Is Stone Paper recyclable?
It is recyclable, but NOT in every curbside program. It’s usually classified as Type 2, which is only accepted by certain recycling centres. Check with your local recycler to find out if it agrees to stone paper.
Stone paper may be added to the paper recycling stream by mistakenly thinking it is regular paper. Stone paper added to paper recycling can cause contamination and make it more difficult to recycle other paper products.
Stone paper is easily broken down into small fragments during recycling, which can make it hard to separate from other paper fibres.
The entire batch can be rejected, or a lower-quality recycled paper product can be produced.
Therefore, it is important that stone paper does not enter the paper recycling stream. This is why we do not use Stone Paper for our stationery.
Stone Paper can currently only be recycled using a closed-loop system. The production facility (primarily in Taiwan and Japan) where the paper is produced.
Is Stone Paper Compostable?
Stone material will photodegrade after 14-18 months in sunlight. What happens to HDPE Plastic after such a significant amount of sunlight exposure?
Stone paper, like all plastics, will not degrade if it is buried in darkness.
What is the truth about Stone Paper’s eco claims?
Many Stone Paper companies have adopted an aggressive anti-paper stance in order to market their brand. There is a lot of greenwashing around this subject. This article examines the validity of every common claim.
Does Good Friday use Stone Paper?
We now know how Stone Paper is made and that it has a major impact on the environment.
Stone paper is water-resistant and durable, suitable for many applications. It’s also smooth and lovely to write on. However, it contains at least 20 per cent plastic, which can ruin entire batches of recycled paper.
At this time, it is not the best choice of stationery because of its environmental limitations.
We consider recycled paper to be a better option for the environment than either virgin paper or stone paper.
It reduces the need for trees, helps conserve natural resources, and reduces the amount thrown away in landfills.
Conclusion
We will use 100% recycled paper for the time being, but we are always open to exploring new options.
It’s important that we all do our part to reduce our use. Recycling, reusing, and avoiding waste can extend the life of any product.
We are not perfect, and there is always room for improvement. But we will keep trying.
Leave a Reply