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PAPER MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 (0) 11 803 5063
Fax: +27 (0) 11 803 6708
Email: Info

PAMSA DOES NOT SELL, SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTE PAPER PRODUCTS. PLEASE CONTACT OUR MEMBERS DIRECTLY FOR SUPPLY, QUOTATIONS OR SALES ENQUIRIES BY CLICKING HERE: Members

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Unit 4, Woodview Office Park
1 Humber Road
Woodmead, Sandton

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PO Box 1553
Rivonia 2128

PAMSA-StoryTeller
carbon dioxide, emissions, environment, forests, Greenpeace, Paper, plantation forestry, print, pulp and paper industry, renewable, sustainability, trees
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Latest News & Features, Sustainability Resources

Using paper saves trees – a South African perspective

We can all agree that “digital is not going away” – it is very much a part of our world. I’m using it to publish this post. But even in this multimedia, multiplatform world, paper is not going away either. And that’s a good thing. Especially for trees.

The words of Greenpeace co-founder Dr Patrick Moore are a good point of departure: “We should be growing more trees and using more wood. If [those] land owners had no market for wood, they would clear the forest away and grow something else they could make money from instead. When you go into a lumber (wood) yard, you are given the impression that by buying wood you are causing the forest to be lost, when in fact what you are doing is sending a signal into the market to plant more trees.”

Given that in South Africa, paper is made from farmed trees, we can easily replace the word ‘wood’ above with paper.

Paper goes beyond common A4 printer paper from which the flawed antidote of “paperless” has emerged.

Paper includes packaging – from the boxes in which computer equipment is protected during shipment to the box that teabags come in; from your morning cereal, to the label on the coffee jar, to the bag of sugar and to the milk carton; from the tissue box to the bag and box that contained your takeaway lunch. It also includes books, magazines and newspapers. And then the important things like toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towel, feminine hygiene and diapers.

I won’t even go into the number of fibre-based, cellulosic innovations that are set to rival fossil-based materials.

Paper saves forests

South African paper products are produced from a renewable resource, in the form of:

  • Wood pulp from trees farmed sustainably managed timber plantations (not from the wood of indigenous trees)
  • Recycled paper fibre
  • Bagasse (byproduct from sugar cane processing)

Just like most industries, paper manufacturing has an impact on the environment, but this is mitigated through the carbon sequestration by plantations, and the release of oxygen; the use of biomass-based renewable energy (derived from by-products of the papermaking process), emission reduction and water recycling initiatives, biodiversity conservation at plantation level as well as the promotion of paper recovery and recycling.

Carbon capture

In papermaking, the timber is chipped, pulped and paper is made and converted into countless products that we connect with all day, every day – in the kitchen and bathroom, at the office, at the supermarket and while travelling.

Through the papermaking process, carbon (from the CO2 absorbed by the trees) remains locked up and out of the atmosphere. And by recycling paper, we keep this carbon locked up. Destined for landfill – a compact, anaerobic environment – paper (mixed with other waste) will degrade and release gases such as methane which is 25 times more potent than CO2.

While there is no doubt that digital technologies offer security, integration, immediacy and convenience, using the mantra of “saving forests” to promote digital means needs to stop. Because it is simply untrue.

Low-cost timber winch wins two KZN student engineers the inaugural Agristars Forestry Award How to build a printing business in a digital world
International-Day-of-Forests
Latest News & Features

Celebrating Forestry’s Role in Driving a Green Recovery

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Latest News & Features

World Water Day: What does water mean to you?

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Latest News & Features

Forest Restoration – everyone has a role to play

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  • If you’re looking for renewables, look no further than wood
  • Celebrating Forestry’s Role in Driving a Green Recovery

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WORLD ART DAY | @tomasqmorin, in his article 'How WORLD ART DAY | @tomasqmorin, in his article 'How I Learned to Love Cardboard During the Pandemic', shares how he made a championship belt out of cardboard as a wrestling-loving young kid. 

"I dug through neighboUrhood dumpsters, looking for a cardboard box that seemed clean, bendable and easy to cut with scissors." The pandemic saw him making up toys for his toddler. 

Cardboard toys rock. For young and old.

Photo illustration by Derek Brahney from @nytmag 

#cardboard #cardboardmakesthebesttoys #paperart #worldartday
Happy Unicorn Day 🦄. This day was created to ce Happy Unicorn Day 🦄. This day was created to celebrate these mythical and majestic creatures and help adults remember how much more fun life can be when we let a little magic in sometimes. 

#unicorn #unicornday #origami #thepaperstory #paper
#WorldHealthDay is a time for us to give thanks fo #WorldHealthDay is a time for us to give thanks for our health, while also paying tribute to the millions of health workers around the globe. Thank you for your service.

#thepaperstory #health #hygiene #healthcareworker #healthcare #southafrica
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Maya Angelou

#mayangelou #hope #change #easter #paper
#paper

Photo by @devinlesterstudios
Beverage cartons are recyclable! A special pulping Beverage cartons are recyclable! A special pulping process is used to separate the paper fibres from the plastic and foil layers.

#recycle #recycleyourcartons #juice #milk #recycling #packaging #thepaperstory #paper #paperrecycling 
#renewable #sustainable

Pic by @devinlesterstudios
Weekend plans? We hope it involves lots of downtim Weekend plans? We hope it involves lots of downtime! 💛

#paper #selfcare #thepaperstory #books #booklove #autumn #unplug  #readingtime  #slowdown #escape #southafrica 

Pic @[17841409080079263:@devinlesterstudios]
Captain Infinity takes his energy from sustainably Captain Infinity takes his energy from sustainably grown trees that soak up that extra evil carbon dioxide that is causing global warming. 

Ts&cs Apply. 

#supercartons #recycleyourcartons #thepaperstory #paperpackaging #sustainablepackaging
Levi’s have chosen paperboard liquid cartons to Levi’s have chosen paperboard liquid cartons to promote their good water journey because they are 100% recyclable in South Africa and 73% renewable. 

👖 You can enjoy a free eco-friendly boxed water in-store and learn about their Water<Less™ wins. 

👖 Available at the following @Levis_southafrica stores from 16 March: Canal Walk; Cavendish; Clearwater; Eastgate; Gateway; Mall of Africa; Menlyn; Sandton; Tyger Valley and the V&A Waterfront. While stocks last. 
 
#worldwaterday💧 #worldwaterday #cartons #recycle #sustainablefashion #sustainablepackaging #paperpackaging #water
Are you worried about wood and paper products caus Are you worried about wood and paper products causing deforestation? Well, be assured that trees in commercial forestry are much like any other crop – specific species are planted, harvested and replanted in sustainable rotation, so that there are always trees at various stages of growth and maturity, ready to harvest for generations to come. The sector is even responsible for maintaining and protecting some of South Africa’s indigenous forests.

#IntlForestDay #intlforestday2021 #renewable #renewability #restoringforests #trees #forestrylife #forests 

Credit: Sappi
This #internationaldayofforests, look up. Whether This #internationaldayofforests, look up. Whether you find yourself in an indigenous forest or a timber plantation, thank these giants for everything they do. They give us oxygen, store carbon and cool our planet. Farmed trees provide us with everyday products. By replanting harvested trees, wood and paper are renewable, enriching our lives, making our jobs easier and our world more sustainable.

#trees #wood #forestry #intlforestday2021 #forestrestoration #renewable #sustainable
Who remembers learning about photosynthesis 🌞 i Who remembers learning about photosynthesis 🌞 in primary school? 

Just like other plants, trees absorb carbon dioxide. The entire wood and wood products cycle stores carbon. While they’re growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They’re so efficient at this that about half the dry weight of wood is carbon. And that carbon stays locked up in the wood – even when it’s turned into construction materials, furniture or even paper.

#intlforestday #intlforestday2021 #forests #forestry #carbon #climatechange #sustainability #trees 

Photo credit: Mondi
Did you know that only 70% of forestry-owned land Did you know that only 70% of forestry-owned land is managed for production? 

South African forestry companies leave a large proportion in its natural state, helping to form ecological networks of wetlands, grasslands and indigenous flora throughout the forestry landscape, providing habitat for countless animal, bird and fish species.

It's what makes our sector remarkable. 

Renewable. Recyclable. Remarkable

#IntlForestDay #forestry #forestryexplained #forests #sustainableforestry #paper #thepaperstory

Photo credit: Mondi South Africa
By separating your paper recyclables from your was By separating your paper recyclables from your waste, you can ensure that they get a second life - a cardboard box, an egg box, or even toilet paper. 

#globalrecyclingday #globalrecyclingday2021 #paper #paperrecycling #sustainablity #cardboardbox 

Photo by @devinlesterstudios
Did you know that all of these paper products are Did you know that all of these paper products are recyclable in South Africa? Which of these are you not recycling at the moment? 

#globalrecyclingday #globalrecyclingday2021 #paperrecycling #recycle #paperpackaging #sustainableliving #waste #wastestopswithme
It's Global Recycling Day today, 18 March. Do you It's Global Recycling Day today, 18 March. Do you recycle? If you do, comment with a ♻️, and maybe tag a friend who you think should be recycling. 

If you don't and need help, check out recyclepaper.co.za or drop us a question in the comments section.
Meet our planet-saving Super Carton friends! Learn Meet our planet-saving Super Carton friends! Learn more about Captain Infinity, Dr Renewable and Super Transformer, answer an easy question and stand in line to win one of 10 cash prizes worth R1 000! 
{Link in bio}

Ts&cs Apply. 

#supercartons #recycleyourcartons #thepaperstory #paper #packaging
Today, in partnership with Fibre Circle, we launch Today, in partnership with Fibre Circle, we launched the Super Cartons campaign to raise awareness that food and beverage cartons are recyclable in South Africa. {Link in bio}

#supercartons #recycleyourcartons #thepaperstory #sustainability #packaging #recyclablepackaging #paper #paperboard #paperrecycling
Here's to women around the world, wherever you are Here's to women around the world, wherever you are and whatever you do. You're awesome. #InternationalWomensDay
It’s official. You’ve inspired us, inspired ot It’s official. You’ve inspired us, inspired others, and shared  positivity with our fellow South Africans. Thank you, your contributions have been truly inspirational!

We have selected a winner. If you entered our #2021PositivityChallenge, check your inbox! You could just be the lucky winner.
Did you feel the chill in the air this morning? Did you feel the chill in the air this morning? 

Well, March 1 typically signifies the start of Autumn in South Africa, and other southern hemisphere countries. Take time to admire and observe the changing colours around you.

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” Jim Bishop

#autumn
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