Two Sides UK celebrated Earth Day (22 April, 2022) by sharing facts that show why paper products are a good choice when considering the environment.
- The CO2 emissions of the European pulp and paper industry reduced by 26% between 2005 and 2015 (CEPI Key Statistics, 2020)
- Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and wood and paper products store that CO2 throughout their lifetimes.
- 62% of the energy used to produce paper and paper packaging in Europe comes from renewable sources. (CEPI Statistics, 2020)
- 75% of the pulp delivered to paper mills in Europe comes from independently certified forests (CEPI Sustainability Report, 2013)
- Between 2005 and 2020, European forests grew by 58,390 KM2 - that’s over 1500 football pitches everyday (FAO, 2005-2020)
- The paper recycling rate is now 74%…the highest in the world (CEPI, 2020)
To mark Earth Day 2022, Two Sides has also shared that Ipsos has conducted a poll designed to assess global attitudes to climate change. The survey assessed the opinions of 23,577 adults aged 16-74 in 31 countries, and found that climate change is a regular concern for half of people across the world. Going into more detail, 68% think government and businesses need to act now or risk failing future generations, while just 39% think their government has a clear plan in place to tackle climate change.
Looking at individual country data, it emerges that concern about climate change is higher in South American countries, with Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Argentina in the top five of countries who think about the effects of climate change most frequently. Meanwhile, the UK is in the bottom five for the same question, just above Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and China.
The public believe there is a shared responsibility among government (77%), businesses (76%) and individuals (74%) to tackle climate change. But while the responsibility of governments is recognised by many, few are aware of any actions being taken.
“There are real opportunities for businesses and governments to provide additional incentives and messaging that will encourage change amongst consumers, but they must also recognise the need for change themselves,” said Dr. Pippa Bailey, head of UK climate change and sustainability practice, Ipsos. “With 77% of people globally holding Government to account for the issue and 76% saying the same about businesses, it is clear that people expect to see real change, both in public policy and the private sectors.”