Results

Estimating Emissions
AF&PA, in association with the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations, the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the World Resources Institute (WRI) has developed methodologies for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities. The calculation tools will serve as a unified industry approach to emissions accounting. Prepared by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), the calculation tools are based on protocols previously developed by WRI, WBCSD, and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The tools were peer-reviewed and endorsed by the WRI and WBCSD through their project, the GHG Protocol. The most current versions of the calculation tools are available at the NCASI web site.

Estimating Product Sequestration

AF&PA, again working with the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations, has developed a tool for estimating the amount of carbon stored in forest products over a 100-year period. The tool, which was developed by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), allows companies to calculate the long-term contributions of their annual production. A report explaining the methodology and a spreadsheet calculation tool are available at the NCASI web site.

Recycling
Recently, AF&PA announced a new paper recovery goal of 55 percent of all paper consumed in the United States by 2012. AF&PA expects that achieving the recovery rate of 55% will lead to corresponding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by reducing potential emissions from landfills. The recovery goal will be achieved through integrated public-private sector partnerships with the EPA, Keep America Beautiful, CarrAmerica, and others that are being formed to educate and encourage towns and cities, office buildings, schools, and private citizens to recover more high-quality papers in their communities and workplaces.

Results to Date:

• From 2000 to 2004 AF&PA member companies collectively reduced their direct greenhouse gas emissions 16 percent, from 61.2 to 51.4 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This translates to a 12 percent reduction in intensity of direct emissions, from 0.514 to 0.453 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of production.

• Indirect emissions associated with the generation of purchased electricity decreased from 26.8 to 26.2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent from 2000 to 2004, which translates to a 2.8 percent increase in intensity of indirect emissions due to a smaller decrease in tons of production relative to indirect emissions.

• In addition, in 2004, AF&PA member companies' use of recycled paper to make new paper products has resulted in avoided emissions of 23.3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents due to the avoidance of methane emissions from landfills, where the paper would otherwise decay.

• Carbon stored in trees becomes sequestered in wood and paper products for the duration of the products' useful life. In 2004, carbon stored in products produced by AF&PA member companies resulted in the sequestration of 25.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.

AF&PA Recycling Page
AF&PA Recycling Video

Recycling Reduces Landfill Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PDF 110 KB) Download Acrobat Reader