10 IMPACTS OF THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY AND PAPER MILLS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

10 IMPACTS OF THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY AND PAPER MILLS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

1. The publishing industry is #3 in the world to leave the largest footprint (loss of carbon dioxide storage) on the environment from pollution and deforestation.

2. Water is the main ingredient used in the process of making paper. 
So much is used, that it is the largest consumer of water and is also the #1 polluter of water.

3. The paper industry is one of the most brutalest industries on our environment: cutting down trees, polluting the waterways, and eliminating wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

4. Paper and packaging are the #1 contributors to landfills. 26% of landfills is paper.

5. The US publishing industry alone emits 12.5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. (8.85 pounds per book)

6. Deforestation is 25% of human caused CO2 emissions.

7. More than 20 million trees per year are cut down for books and more than 95 million trees per year are cut down for newsprint in the US alone. 

8. Worldwide: over 400 billion trees are cut for paper consumption per year! That's over 40% of global industrial wood harvested for paper making.

9. An average paper mill uses enough energy to satisfy a town of 30,000 people.  Think about that!

10. When paper degrades in landfills it emits methane gas, a greenhouse gas emission, which is 23 times more potent and harmful than carbon dioxide.