New Scientist
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‘Could do better’ seems a harsh verdict on a country that has single-handedly revitalised the paper recycling industry. But when that country is as large as China is, even a small improvement could have a global benefit.
A report by Forest Trends identifies China as an unlikely force for environmental good.
Since 2002, the country has recycled 65 million tonnes of the world’s waste paper, and in 2006 alone it saved 54.3 million tonnes of trees from being pulped.
The 2006 Stern Report noted that “the loss of natural forests contributes more to annual global emissions than the transport sector”.
“Before China became interested in using waste paper as a fibre source, the market was really flat and hadn’t changed for years,” says Luke Bailey of Forest Trends. Read more…
