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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

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
Unit 4, Woodview Office Park
1 Humber Road
Woodmead, Sandton

POSTAL ADDRESS:
PO Box 1553
Rivonia 2128

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Latest News & Features

We are printing less – why this isn’t a good thing

There’s long been a move towards less printing, a paperless society, and this is even more true in 2020. With many working from home, and schools closed for a large part of the year, there has been significantly less consumption of office paper. But that’s not necessarily as good as it sounds.

Imagine I suggested that you eat less cornflakes or popcorn so farmers don’t have to harvest all their mealie crops. This would be ludicrous. Similarly, in South Africa, paper products are produced from the wood pulp from sustainably managed plantations (not indigenous forests) and recycled paper fibre – which means that the less paper you use, the fewer trees are planted.

South Africa has 850 million trees planted over 676 000 hectares (0.5% of the country’s land area). These are dedicated for pulp and paper making*. Less than 10% of this plantation area is harvested each year. More importantly, an average of 320 000 new trees are planted every day** to replace those harvested, and then some!

Digitisation has had an irreversible impact on the global paper and printing sector over the past few decades, with many mills converting machines from printing to packaging grades where it made commercial sense to do so.

As with any commodity, if there is less consumption and demand of office paper, there is less local production. This impact will be felt along the value chain – from forestry (the tree growers) and paper mills to printing companies and media houses.

By planting more trees we are also taking more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Trees use the carbon to grow and the carbon gets locked up in wood and paper products – for their entire lifecycle.

Because the South African forestry sector only harvests a small percentage of timber each year, there are always trees growing – from those that have been newly planted to those nearing maturity, anywhere nine to 19 years depending on the tree type. This crop rotation practice is the heart of renewability and sustainability.

Another important factor is that as trees get older, they are less efficient in their carbon dioxide absorption, so harvesting them at maturity and planting new trees improves the carbon sequestration.

By using less paper – whether it’s white paper or cardboard boxes – we are reducing what is available for recovery and recycling. White paper is particularly important for the production of tissue and toilet paper. While tissue makers could use virgin wood fibre, it’s not economically viable. Recycling office paper provides them with an alternative fibre. And frankly, why would you want to use good quality virgin fibre for something that … um … gets flushed away?

In short, by printing, you are playing your part in ensuring there are more trees being planted and growing. And while of course you don’t have to go and print the whole Internet, you can print responsibly if you follow these guidelines:

  • Use locally made office paper – this is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and it supports the local forestry and paper industry and its employees.
    • Recycled office paper is imported, carrying a hidden carbon footprint.
  • Print activity sheets for your children, especially as exams loom. Paper has been shown to be best when it comes to studying and revision.
  • If you’re proofreading a report or article, print it.
  • If you refer to a certain document often, print it. Opening it up on your computer every time uses energy.
  • Print that email if it’s important and you need to refer to it again.
  • Print, read and recycle.

Oh, and clear out those 20 year-old documents that you really don’t need any more and recycle that paper. Your country needs it.

The words of Greenpeace co-founder Dr Patrick Moore are useful here: “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.”

*South Africa’s pulp and paper mills not only make paper for our printers. They make pulp for use in packaging (like your Friday pizza box) and hygiene products, as well as cellulose-based materials such as sponges, viscose fabrics and microcrystalline cellulose for foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals.

**This is based on 260 working days per year, according to Forestry South Africa.

Sustainable forestry means that after trees are harvested for their fibre - whether as paper or timber - new trees will be planted in their place.
Sustainable forestry means that after trees are harvested for their fibre – whether as paper or timber – new trees will be planted in their place.
Use locally made office paper – this is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and it supports the local forestry and paper industry and its employees.
Use locally made office paper – this is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and it supports the local forestry and paper industry and its employees.
By using less paper – whether it’s white paper or cardboard boxes – we are reducing what is available for recovery and recycling. Toilet paper makes use of recycled office paper.
By using less paper – whether it’s white paper or cardboard boxes – we are reducing what is available for recovery and recycling. Toilet paper makes use of recycled office paper.

This is an opinion piece by Samantha Choles, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa

Sappi lends a helping hand to assist communities during COVID-19: Video Wow, can wood really make that?
International-Day-of-Forests
Latest News & Features

Celebrating Forestry’s Role in Driving a Green Recovery

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World Water Day: What does water mean to you?

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Forest Restoration – everyone has a role to play

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  • Celebrating Forestry’s Role in Driving a Green Recovery

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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
3 days to go! You have three days left to share y 3 days to go!

You have three days left to share your inspiring, positive and action provoking vision board with us. 

Don't forget to follow these steps to be included in our selection process for a winner:
1. Follow us and @epsonsouthafrica.
2. Post a photo of your vision board comprising print and paper items, and tag us and @epsonsouthafrica.
3. Share it to your stories and tag us. 
4. Share your vision board with an accountability partner by tagging them.

T&Cs apply: http://ow.ly/7qkj50DyK5s

#In2021 #Inspired #paper #print #inspiredtoprint #visionboard #goals #colour #getcreative #PaperAndPrint #EpsonPrinter #thepaperstory #PositivityChallenge #2021PositivityChallenge #paper
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