[mou] Reducing Paper Consumption

[Jim Barrett]

Thanks Julian; great info.

Also, you can contact senders of catalogs directly and either have your name 
removed from their mailing lists or, in many cases, have your mailing 
schedule customized.  For example, I used to get 12 catalogs/year from Lands 
End.  Now, I receive only 2 (Spring, Fall).  LLBean?  Now, only the 
FlyFishing catalog.  Vermont Country Store?  Spring, Fall.  Give a call to 
your catalog senders and set up a mailing plan that works for you and for 
the environment.  They are happy to work with you (since it also reduces 
their costs).

By all means, contact the Direct Marketing Association and have your name 
added to the block list.  They have separate lists for mail (i.e., "snail 
mail"), email, and telephone.  I recommend all three.


From: "Julian Sellers" <JulianSellers@msn.com>
To: "MOU-NET" <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>
Subject: [mou] Reducing Paper Consumption
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 16:21:27 -0600

Following up on Shawn Conrad's message, the following facts are mostly from 
web pages of Environmental Defense and the Natural Resources Defense 
Council.  I can send a version with footnotes and links to the web pages to 
anyone who would like to have it.


   a.. Less than 8 percent of Canada's boreal forest is protected.  The 
United States is the destination for nearly 80 percent of Canada's forest 
products, including lumber, toilet paper, catalog paper and newsprint.
   b.. In 2001, nearly 17 billion catalogs were sent to consumers in the 
U.S.
   c.. One-third of logging in the U.S. is for paper.
   d.. In the southeastern U.S., 1.2 million acres of forest are clearcut 
for paper every year.
   e.. For the manufacture of paper, mature, biodiverse forests are clearcut 
and replaced with biologically impoverished pine plantations or left to 
regenerate with shade-intolerant species.
   f.. Paper manufacturing is a major source of mercury, lead, and dioxin 
pollution, and is the largest consumer of freshwater on earth.
   g.. Paper manufacturing is the third largest source in the U.S. of 
greenhouse gases, and the amount of greenhouse gas produced is expected to 
double by 2020.
   h.. When paper decomposes in a landfill, it creates methane, a greenhouse 
gas with 21 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.


Some things you can do to reduce paper consumption and logging for paper:



   a.. Get off the mailing lists for catalogs and other direct marketing 
solicitations.  See 
http://www.eurekarecycling.org/PDFS/Reduce_Junk_Mail_Kit.pdf for 
instructions and phone numbers to call to get off of mailing lists.  Those 
who don't have internet access can call Eureka at 651-222-7678, and ask them 
to send a junk mail reduction kit.
   b.. Recycle all of your paper and cardboard.  If you live in St. Paul, 
you have weekly curb-side pickup by Eureka Recycling.  Call Eureka or check 
eurekarecycling.org to find out your pick-up day.  If you don't live in St. 
Paul, check with your local government for recycling opportunities.
   c.. Use products made from recycled paper, preferably 100% post-consumer 
recycled.  The products are available-everything from office paper to paper 
towels, Kleenex-type tissues, and toilet paper.
Julian Sellers

St. Paul