Survey Highlights Paper's Wide Acceptance as a Sustainable Way to Communicate

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A recent survey commissioned by Two Sides- a global independent, nonprofit organization suggests that a good majority of people still consider print and paper as a sustainable way to communicate. The survey on ‘The Attractiveness and Sustainability of Print and Paper’ was carried out among 7,000 consumers across the world. It collected opinion on the environmental impacts of digital versus paper-based communications. It also checked the acceptability of “Go Paperless-Go Green” campaigns by companies across the world.

According to the survey, 88-91% of the survey participants expressed the view that print and paper, when responsibly produced, used and recycled can be the most sustainable way to communicate. The positive environmental attributes of paper were generally welcomed by people. 94-97% agreed that recyclability is an important characteristic of environmentally responsible products. Also, 61-76% people were aware that paper is based on a renewable resource.

A good majority of survey participants were unaware that paper id one of the most recycled products. As per the survey, 64-73% of respondents believed that only less than 50% of paper is recovered for recycling, whereas only 5-9% believed that paper enjoyed recovery rates over 60%. Incidentally, paper has a recovery rate of over 65% across all regions or countries.

The survey found that “Go Paperless-Go Green” campaigns by corporations and governments to promote electronic services over paper-based communications are not widely received by customers. Nearly 80-85% of respondents who receive such environmental claims believed that they are only part of company’s efforts to save costs. 29-57% people even questioned the validity of such claims.

In terms of reading preference, print on paper is preferred over reading from screen or electronic devices. 64-80% of respondents stated that they prefer to read from paper than reading off a screen. Also, paper records are still the preferred choice of majority, said the survey. 62-79% people opted to receive printed information as it provides permanent record. Also 29-49% preferred paper records on account of non-reliability of internet connection.

14-35% of respondents in the US, the UK and South Africa stated that advertisements related to the environmental friendliness of print and paper has come to their notice. Only 29-30% of respondents from Australia and New Zealand were aware about the environmental friendliness of paper and print.

There has been a tremendous change in preference to print and paper versus electronic media in the US and the UK during the period from 2013 to 2016. The environment friendly preference for books and magazines almost doubled from 2% to 4% during this period. For newspapers and direct mail, it more than doubled from 6% to 14%. The number of respondents who considered paper as a sustainable way to communicate when used and produced responsibly has increased by 18-19% from 2013 to 2016.