1. The green
challenge
For a sustainable
management
of paper
Marc LEMAIRE
Director of ECORES
President of the NGO GROUPE ONE
Baudouin MEUNIER
Member of
the Management Committee of
DE POST - LA POSTE

2. Agenda
Introduction
CO2 emissions and reduction targets
Paper, the lifeblood of the Post
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3. The paradox about paper as a media: people like it for its inner
qualities but perceive it as negative for the environment
Paper is what most people want to get People perceive paper as
negative for the environment
About 85% of Belgians prefer paper to 55% consider non-addressed as “polluting”
electronic for getting bills, publicity or 48% consider addressed DM as “polluting”
even personal messages
90% of companies surveyed consider
DM sells: 78% read addressed publicity, paper as less ecological than other media
ROI of DM is high
There is a perception issue about the
There is a social and economic demand true environmental impact of paper in
for distribution of physical messages comparison with other media
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4. As the national postal operator, the Post wants to play an active
role in promoting corporate social responsibility
The 3 pillars of Corporate Social Responsibility
Fair
Economy Social
DURABLE
Sustainable Viable
Environment
Besides its social and economical role, the Post also wants to minimize
its impact on the environment by reducing its ecological footprint
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5. The ecological footprint of the Post is mainly generated by its
CO2 emissions. But The Post also uses and transports paper
Paper
Internal use: copiers, internal
magazine, posters, etc.
Transport of paper & cardboard for
CO2 (green gas) emissions its customers:
Transport letters, commercial mailings,
Buildings, heating & electricity press, parcels, …
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6. Agenda
Introduction
CO2 emissions and reduction targets
Paper, the lifeblood of the Post
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7. In 2007 the Post was responsible for the emission of 109.198 tons
of CO2 in 2007 or 0,08% of the total CO2 emissions in Belgium
Electricity
The Post
0.08%
Transport
Thermal
The total CO2 emissions of the Post
The Post CO2 emissions are generated
(109.198 tons in 2007) in relation to the
by 3 main sources: electricity, transport,
total green gas emissions in Belgium
thermal
(circa 137.000.000 tons)
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8. To reduce its ecological footprint, the Post will decrease its
CO2 emissions by at least 35% by 2012
CO2 Emissions (tons)
Evolution target 2012
-7,5 %
-10 %
-35 %
2007 baseline 2012 2012 2012
agreement Post Europe the Post Target
with federal targets
authorities *
* Reduction in energy consumption
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9. The Post is launching an ambitious corporate program
to reach its CO2 reduction goal by 2012
Buildings
Switched to 100% green electricity since 1/8/2008
(responsible for 60% of CO2 emission reduction)
ISO 14001 certification for 5 sorting centers by end 2009
Implementation of recommendations of energy audit of
top 100 buildings with highest energy consumption and
CO2 emissions (e.g. opening of ventilation shafts in Gent
X) leading to reduction of 20% of energy consumption
Solar panels on Gent sorting center (other sites under
evaluation)
Fleet
Project “Excellent Fleet”
Eco-driving
People
Appointment of an Energy Manager
Wake-on-LAN project
Vending machines project
Awareness campaigns
Renewed company car policy
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10. Agenda
Introduction
CO2 emissions and reduction targets
Paper, the lifeblood of the Post
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11. The Post buys paper for its own use and transports paper and
cardboard for its customers
The post “consumes” 0,08% (2.808 tons) of
Global Belgian paper consumption = that for its own needs and “transports” around
3.692.000 tons / year 6% (around 220.000 tons) of the total paper
produced yearly in Belgium
the Post own
consumption
0.08%
Commercial Mailings represent about 1/3rd of the yearly tonnage of paper transported by the Post
Commercial Mailings represent about 2% of the total tonnage of paper consumed in Belgium
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12. There are three types of forests
3 types of forests
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13. The primary forest has been loosing ground on a worldwide basis
but the European forest has been growing again since 1990
State of the World’s Forest
Loss of primary forest
Intact – 21% But growth of the European forest
0,08% per year since 1990
Working – 32% 50% of EU forests are certified
(FSC & PEFC)
Lost – 47%
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14. Deforestation represents 20% of global
greenhouse gas emissions
Deforestation contributes to 20%
of greenhouse gas emissions
Deforestation
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15. The paper industry “consumes” 7,5% of
the trees resulting from deforestation
42% Paper production
Logging
industry
18%
58% Other uses
Logging industry (of which logging for paper
industry is only one part) accounts directly for 58% of the product of all deforestation is used
18% of the deforestation. for other purposes than paper production
(But it also contributes indirectly to
(when looking only at natural/semi-natural
deforestation since logging will often make the forests, the proportion of deforestation used
forest accessible for other uses such as for other purposes than paper grows to 75%)
agriculture)
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16. In Europe, 15% of paper “raw material” comes from
specific “thinning” (cutting of trees)
60% of paper production is 25% of these virgin fibers comes from
made of “virgin” fiber specific “thinning”
25% Specific “thinning”
25% Waste of forest industry
50% Sanitary “thining”
15% (= 25% of 60%) of paper “raw material” comes from specific “thinning”
These figures are averages
There are forests that are managed (almost exclusively) for paper, and this is even more so for
plantation forests. Also in the EU, adult trees are used for paper production
Sanitary thinning can be done in a sustainable way but can also sometimes cause environmental
harm, forest waste can come from good or bad sources, etc.
Even environmentalists agree that there is nothing wrong in using timber (large or small trees)
for paper production provided the forest is managed in a sustainable way
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17. There is also growing awareness among actors in the paper
value chain and policy makers about the need for recycling
Recycling
Good EU global recycling rate > 50%
In Belgium, recycled paper represents 55%
of total consumption and 59% of total
production
90% of EU Direct Mail is collected and
recycled
Regulatory framework
Growing number of regulations imposing
strict recycling objectives
Packaging and packaging waste directive
Belgium: regional legislation (Fostplus)
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18. In Europe, the pulp and paper industry is responsible for 0,6%
of greenhouse gas emissions
Source of greenhouse gas
emissions in Europe
Pulp and paper 0,6%
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19. More and more efforts are being made to reduce the
ecological footprint of paper. These efforts must be intensified
29% decrease of CO2 emission per ton produced over the last 15 years
50% of the primary energy consumed comes from biomass
Example of Wallonia: decoupling between production of paper
& pulp and environmental impact
20% decrease of GHG (greenhouse gas)
Stabilization of water consumption while production grows
50% decrease of acid gas emissions
Pulp and paper Food industry Energy Transport
mills industry
GHG 0.6 % 1.5 % 8% 19 %
Acid pollution 1.7 % 3% 7.4 % -
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20. The « e » alternative to paper may not prove to be the silver
bullet in terms of ecological footprint
There is no silver bullet
The plastic bottle versus the glass bottle
The ecological footprint of “e”
PCs = chemicals + non renewable raw
materials + electricity consumption +
recycling issues
IT = 2% of the world greenhouse gas
emissions (comparable to the aviation
industry)
To live one day virtually in « Second Life »
produces as much CO2 as to live one day in
Brazil !
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21. But the environmental impact of paper
cannot be ignored
Forest loss and degradation
Illegal “logging” and use of “high conservation” forests (e.g. Canada, Finland, Australia, …)
Logging for paper production purposes is often a “trigger” for more deforestation
Tree plantations may sometimes cause more harm than good (e.g. monoculture affecting
environment and local communities)
CO2 emissions and climate change
Production of paper is consuming substantial amounts of energy
CO2 released through deforestation
Other pollution
Chlorinated compounds: some are long-lasting and toxic.
Nitrogenous and phosphates compounds leading to algal growth
Sulfur dioxides leading to lake acidification
Waste disposed in landfills
High amount of water consumed
Communities
Communities loose traditional lands and forests through plantations (e.g. Indonesia) Affecting
hunting, gathering of non-timber forest products (food, medicine, …)
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22. Therefore, the Post intends to play a leading role in the
promotion of the sustainable use of paper
Internally
Purchasing: exclusive use of
recycled or FSC labeled paper by
end 2009
Internal campaigns to promote
recycling and a responsible use of
paper
Guide of best practices
Externally
Address database management
Incentive for use of recycled paper
& envelopes
Launch of « green » products (to be
further defined)
Eco-calculator
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23. Key Messages
The Post recognizes it has an environmental
impact. It is in the process of calculating its full
paper and carbon footprint and has embarked
on an ambitious program to reduce its CO2
emissions by 35% by 2012
Paper has an ecological impact. But it does not
deserve its poor environmental reputation when
compared to other media
It is far from being the main cause of deforestation
The Post wants to play a leading role in the It is by essence a “natural” and “renewable”
promotion of a sustainable use of paper by: resource if managed in a responsible way
Showing the good example by promoting a As a media for conveying messages, it does
responsible use of paper internally stand the “environmental” comparison with
Helping clients in their efforts to manage their electronic alternatives
paper consumption in a responsible way
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