Month: September 2023

By: Giorgia Giove, Marketing Manager – Away from Home, Sofidel 

Americans use an average of 141 rolls of toilet paper per person annually, more than citizens of any other country.1 As climate change continues to drive businesses to consider ways to reduce carbon emissions, a debate has ensued over whether using recycled or non-recycled (virgin) fibers is a more environmentally friendly means of producing the large volume of toilet paper Americans consume.

The word “recycled” often evokes a sense of caring for the earth, efforts to conserve natural resources and consciousness of climate change. This makes sense since recycling, in general, can be an effective method of reducing landfill waste (especially single-use plastic), which contributes to global warming.2

However, when it comes to selecting paper products like toilet paper and paper towels, organizations should carefully consider the environmental impact of the product’s entire life cycle, not just whether it is made from recycled or virgin fibers. In many cases, this decision-making can reveal potential pitfalls of recycled paper and show how virgin fibers can be a superior option in terms of both sustainability3 and quality.

Potential Pitfalls of Recycled Paper

Examining the potential drawbacks of using recycled fibers, which may not be obvious at first, can help facility managers make more informed decisions. These include a finite life cycle, low quality and misleading branding.

Paper can’t be recycled infinitely: Paper fibers shorten each time they are recycled. For this reason, paper products can only reasonably be reused five to seven times.4 In addition, it is not possible for buyers to know how many times fibers have been recycled, making it difficult to gauge the effectiveness of some recycled products.There are quality concerns with recycled fibers: Overused fibers can result in inconsistencies, low quality and poor performance. This can create an unpleasant restroom experience that may damage brand reputation.5 Toilet paper and paper towels made from recycled fibers also provide less absorbency and softness than virgin fibers. Since research shows that strength, absorbency and softness are the three attributes Americans value in public restroom toilet paper,6 facility managers should prioritize these qualities as well as environmental impact when selecting paper products.The real meaning of ‘recycled’ is fluid: Companies often boldly claim that their products are “green,” “sustainable,” or “recycled.” However, if a brand’s packaging does not identify the paper product as “100% recycled,” it may have been recovered using energy generated from coal. Because it is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and using excess energy, recycled paper that does not meet the 100% mark may as well have not been recycled at all. Finally, 30-35% of the fibers used to make tissue paper and pulp are lost during the recycling process. A better use for recycled fibers is for producing materials like packaging paper and cardboard, which generate less than 20% of the waste compared to recycled tissue paper.7

The Lowdown on Virgin Fibers

It is important to examine the source with paper made from virgin fibers. Some producers have innovative, sustainable strategies and new technologies that enable virgin paper production to be an environmentally responsible solution. Look for products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)8, a non-profit that makes sure products originate from “responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.” After finding a paper producer that uses virgin fibers responsibly, suppliers may find that virgin fibers actually offer a variety of benefits, including minimizing environmental impact, increasing the quality of the products in their inventory and improving the hygiene of their paper products.

In terms of sustainability, recent research sheds light on the environmental impact of virgin fibers compared to recycled fibers. In studies comparing toilet tissue made from virgin fibers to recycled fibers, researchers found that even though it contained twice as much fiber, the virgin product released fewer greenhouse gases, generated less waste and required less water than the recycled fiber product. The studies accounted for the entire lifecycle of the products, including the environmental harm inflicted during the production process of recycled products. The researchers also found that the “global warming potential,” or the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents released during the product’s lifecycle, was greater in the recycled option.9

On the subject of quality, virgin fibers create paper that has higher absorbency rates and better ink color and retention, and is softer and more durable. Because they are stronger and more reliable, virgin fiber products give customers an enhanced experience, an invaluable asset in an age when negative restroom experiences can quickly go viral.

In addition to environmental and quality advantages, the right virgin paper products also provide better hygiene than recycled products. The modern production process of virgin fibers is much more hygienic than recycled paper mills and generates energy needed by burning waste wood rather than relying on electricity or fossil fuels like recycled mills. The virgin production process creates no bacteria-harboring starches and leaves behind no slime found in some recycled products.10

Overcoming Paper Product Misconceptions

When it comes to purchasing paper products like toilet paper and paper towels, facility managers should be wary of declarations like “green,” “sustainable” or “recycled.” Taking a closer look at the differences between virgin and recycled fibers can help uncover the hidden pitfalls of recycled paper. Products made from virgin fibers are, in fact, ideal for businesses looking to minimize their carbon footprint, boost the quality of their paper products and deliver a pleasant restroom experience for guests.

Giorgia Giove is Marketing Manager for the Away from Home business at Sofidel, a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use, including its Papernet brand. For more information, visit www.papernet.com/americas. 

1 https://www.statista.com/chart/15676/cmo-toilet-paper-consumption/

2 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/15/single-use-plastics-a-serious-climate-change-hazard-study-warns

3 https://www.domtar.com/en/resources/paper-information/paper-insights-library/certified-virgin-paper-plays-important-role

4 https://earth911.com/business-policy/how-many-times-recycled/

5 https://www.qsrweb.com/blogs/qsr-restrooms-small-space-big-brand-impact/

6 https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/consultants/press-release/21088896/sofidel-toilet-paper-trifecta-new-survey-reveals-americans-prefer-strength-absorbency-and-softness

7 Giner-Santonja, Germán & Suhr, Michael & Klein, Gabriele & Kourti, Ioanna & Gonzalo, Miguel & Roudier, Serge & Sancho, Luis. “Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Pulp, Paper and Board.” (2015).

8 https://us.fsc.org/en-us/who-we-are

9 The International Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) System. “Life Cycle Assessment of Products: Toilet Paper: Lucart Strong and Lucart Eco.” (2019). Life Cycle Assessment of Products: Bath Tissue Lucart Strong 10 Rolls and Bath Tissue Lucart Eco 10 Rolls by Lucart Group.” Italy. (2018).

The International Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) System. “Life Cycle Assessment of Products: Toilet Paper Aloutte 10 Rolls 3 Plies, Kitchen Towel Aloutte 4 Rolls and Handkerchief Aloutte 30×10 Produced by Sofidel Group.” Germany. (2019).

10 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544256

About The Sofidel Group    

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.         

Media Contact:    

Brianna Fitzpatrick 

Mulberry Marketing Communications 

bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com 

HOUSTON, September 18, 2023 /3BL/ – The Baker Hughes Foundation announced Monday a third grant to One Tree Planted that enables the nonprofit organization to achieve a total of 1 million trees planted across 17 countries as a result of the Foundation’s contributions.

The grants, which support One Tree Planted’s environmental and social impact efforts across the globe, now total $1 million over three years. In 2021, the grant helped plant 268,000 trees, and in 2022, 350,000 trees were planted. The 2023 award will fuel global reforestation efforts, in the amount of 382,000 trees, in several areas where Baker Hughes conducts business: the Andes region of South America; British Columbia, Canada; China; France; Germany; Scotland; and Texas, U.S.

“This milestone speaks to our commitment to environmental sustainability, and I want to recognize the contributions of our employees, who last year came together across the world to plant trees in the areas where we work and live,” said Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. “I am grateful for their continued dedication to our sustainability goals and am inspired by what we and One Tree Planted can accomplish together.”

One Tree Planted is a nonprofit organization focused on global reforestation. Their mission is to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees to restore forests, create habitats for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact around the world. With an emphasis on vulnerable areas that need support, One Tree Planted also provides an opportunity for organizations to impact communities through education and awareness of tree-planting projects.

“We all have a role to play in protecting the environment and combating climate change, and we admire the Baker Hughes Foundation’s continued dedication to being a force for good,” said Matt Hill, founder of One Tree Planted. “With the Baker Hughes Foundation’s impressive commitment to giving back to the environment by planting 1 million trees to date, we are making a powerful impact for nature and communities in 17 countries around the world.”

This grant aligns with the Baker Hughes Foundation’s mission of promoting environmental outcomes such as nature-based climate solutions and biodiversity. This donation also supports Baker Hughes’ commitment to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically SDG 12 to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

To learn more about Baker Hughes’ work in supporting its communities, visit our Corporate Responsibility website.

About the Baker Hughes Foundation: 

For 25 years, the Baker Hughes Foundation has been a steward of charitable resources for meaningful community impact. The Foundation seeks to advance environmental quality, education, health, safety, and wellness around the world by supporting organizations with shared values, demonstrated leadership, evidence of impact, financial soundness, and the capacity to implement initiatives and evaluate their success. The Baker Hughes Foundation makes strategic philanthropic contributions, matches Baker Hughes employee contributions, and awards volunteer recognition grants for outstanding employee community service.

About Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations 

Adrienne M. Lynch 
+1 713-906-8407 
adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com

Ceres President and CEO Mindy Lubber issued the following statement following remarks by Gov. Gavin Newsom of California today at the start of Climate Week NYC 2023.

“In so many ways, California has been a leader in the nation and around the world by pioneering the bold climate and energy policies necessary to confront the climate crisis and capitalize on the massive economic opportunity in the clean energy transition. Now, the state is poised to set another leading standard to increase corporate transparency and help to mitigate financial and climate risk.

“These two first-in-the-nation bills will provide unprecedented insight into corporate climate emissions and financial climate risk. This is exactly the kind of policy framework that investors have long sought to better understand how companies are working to manage and mitigate the immense financial impacts of the climate crisis. Notably, the package also has the support from more dozens of leading businesses that recognize the massive opportunity of the shift to a low-carbon economy and deserve a standardized and consistent platform to showcase their efforts.

“We commend State Senators Scott Wiener and Henry Stern for the leadership on this issue and applaud Gov. Newsom’s commitment to cement California’s position as a climate leader by signing these bills into law.”

A longtime supporter of corporate climate disclosure requirements, Ceres, is a co-sponsor of SB 253 and SB 261, which both passed in the California State Assembly last week. SB 253 will require companies that do business in California and earn at least $1 billion annually to report climate pollution across their supply and value chains. SB 261 will require companies with revenue over $500 million to report on their climate-related risks.

Ceres has rallied company and investor support for SB 253 and SB 261 throughout 2023. More than 30 companies, institutions, and industry groups support one or both bills, demonstrating significant corporate support for the reporting requirements; companies including Microsoft, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Adobe, Atlassian, IKEA USA, Palo Alto Networks, and REI Co-op each signed at least one letter. Salesforce, Apple, and Google also issued their own statements in support of SB 253, as did clothing industry groups including the American Apparel & Footwear Association.

The bills complement the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule requiring climate disclosure for public companies, as well as the global standards expected to be finalized this year by the International Sustainability Standards Board. Because the California bills apply to both public and private companies over certain revenue thresholds, they will broaden the coverage of companies required to provide information beyond the SEC’s proposed disclosure standards. SB 253 will apply to more than 5,300 companies and SB 261 will cover more than 10,000 companies.

Ceres, businesses, and co-sponsors will hold a media availability at Climate Week Hub Live to discuss the significance of California’s nation-leading climate transparency legislation. Hear from Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber, California State Senators Scott Wiener and Henry Stern, and business representatives discuss this historic legislation. See details here. RSVP to mediainquiries@ceres.org if you’d like to attend.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.