LEADERSHIP Closer to you and the environment

Transcription

1 THE FOOTPRINT OF LEADERSHIP Closer to you and the environment LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

2 CONTENTS 1 ENVIRO HAS THE SMALLEST ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT 2 WHAT IS A LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT? 4 THIS IS ENVIRO S ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT 5 A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE BIGGER PICTURE MAKES FOR A SMALLER FOOTPRINT 6 THE BEST IN ITS CATEGORY 7 GET CLOSER 14 RESPONSIBLY SOURCED ENERGY AND RECYCLED FIBER 16 WE ARE FULLY TRANSPARENT 18 THAT S OUR STORY AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT

3 ENVIRO HAS THE SMALLEST ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT ENVIROTM 100% We ve come a long way and of course we still have work to do. When we look beyond recycling, analyze the impact of everything we do, including the industry best practices, the clear conclusion is that Rolland Enviro paper has the smallest environmental footprint when compared to the average papers in North America. By using Rolland Enviro, you can achieve a substantial improvement in your ecological balance sheet. We have conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess and manage the footprint of our papers. And now we can help you manage your own paper footprint. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 1

4 WHAT IS A LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT? An LCA is a systems-based, quantitative method for evaluating the environmental impact of a product. Transportation It is a leading tool used to assess the environmental impact of a product s entire life, from raw material extraction through material processing, manufacturing, distribution, to disposal. This study conforms to ISO standards for LCA studies with comparative assertions intended to be disclosed to the public. Results and conclusions were therefore subject to a formal peer review process. BENEFITS Allows us to focus on the most significant environmental impacts as we develop and evaluate sustainability programs and policies. Informs product decisions on the potential environmental impacts from raw material sourcing, operations and transportation. Supports engagement with end-users to reduce the impact of the product through its life and disposal. Raw materials LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT Manufacturing Find out more about the LCA process by viewing this short video. rollandinc.com/lca End of life Distribution LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 2

5 THE FULL FOOTPRINT The paper you are using has an impact on the environment. It isn t limited to carbon emissions, there s also the matter of resources, biodiversity, water conservation and other ecological considerations. The following impacts were considered in this study: Environmental impact Contributor Units Climate change Global warming potential of greenhouse gases kg CO 2 eq./ ton of paper released to the environment Water availability Water consumption inventory and impact m 3 / ton of paper m 3 world eq. Water quality Freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication kg P eq./ ton of paper Human health Ozone depletion, human toxicity factors, cancer and non-cancer, respiratory effects, ionizing radiation and photochemical oxidant formation CTUe/ ton of paper kg CFC-11 eq./ ton of paper CTUh/ ton of paper kbg U235 eq./ ton of paper kg PM 2.5 eq./ ton of paper kg NMVOC/ ton of paper Ecosystems and biodiversity Acidification and land use Mol H+ eq./ ton of paper Non-renewable resources Depletion of non-renewable metals, minerals, and fossil fuels Global species lost/ year kg Sb eq./ ton of paper MJ/ ton of paper LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 3

6 THIS IS ENVIRO S ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT Contribution to climate change 229 kg PRODUCTION OF PULP 76 kg CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING 471 kg END OF LIFE 24 kg RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION 104 kg 123 kg DISTRIBUTION TOTAL 1,027 kg CO 2 eq./ ton of paper LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 4

7 Rolland Enviro s impact regarding climate change is mainly attributable to emissions from paper decomposing in landfills and the fuel needed to collect used paper. If we include the overall environmental impact, Rolland Enviro s main contributors are: Diesel fuel for transporting used paper and raw materials Water used for the production of hydroelectricity and evaporation during manufacturing Emissions generated by the production of sodium hydrosulfite, the bleaching agent used in manufacturing chlorine-free recycled pulp Emissions from paper decomposing in landfills A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE BIGGER PICTURE MAKES FOR A SMALLER FOOTPRINT Although we draw energy from low emission sources, namely biogas and hydroelectricity, we are committed to finding ways to further reduce our water and energy use. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 5

8 THE BEST IN ITS CATEGORY Compared to average virgin and 100% recycled papers in North America, our papers are the best. That s mainly because Rolland Enviro is made of 100% recycled fiber, deinked without chlorine, using renewable energy. Other papers, virgin and recycled, are mainly made using coal and natural gas, which create emissions in the air and water. Virgin paper also has a significant impact on biodiversity, which can become even more important when its fibers are sourced in zones where certain species might be at risk. What results from the combination of recycled fiber and the skill and craftsmanship of Rolland s papermakers is a paper that not only stands out for its environmental integrity, but also for its exceptional quality. It s a win-win situation, any way you look at it. CLIMATE CHANGE Global warming potential BIODIVERSITY Species potentially affected by forest management WATER QUALITY Contribution to fresh water eutrophication % than virgin paper Only virgin fiber can affect endangered species -76% than virgin paper 20 VIRGIN RECYCLED ENVIRO 0 VIRGIN RECYCLED ENVIRO VIRGIN RECYCLED ENVIRO LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 6

9 GET CLOSER Detailed results

10 GET EVEN CLOSER This LCA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of one metric ton of uncoated fine paper using virgin and/or recycled bleached pulp in North America.

11 CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL WATER AVAILABILITY CONTRIBUTION TO WATER CONSUMPTION INVENTORY 2,800 2,600 2,400 2,200 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1, PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION END OF LIFE PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING 0 VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO kg CO 2 eq./ ton of paper 0 VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO m 3 / ton of paper WATER QUALITY CONTRIBUTION TO FRESHWATER EUTROPHICATION HUMAN HEALTH CONTRIBUTION TO RESPIRATORY EFFECTS PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO WASTE DISTRIBUTION kg P eq./ ton of paper VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO WASTE DISTRIBUTION END OF LIFE kg PM2.5 eq./ ton of paper LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 9

12 ECOSYSTEMS CONTRIBUTION TO ACIDIFICATION BIODIVERSITY NUMBER OF SPECIES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY FIBER SOURCING PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION CRITICAL 4.5 WASTE ENDANGERED 3.0 DISTRIBUTION 3 VULNERABLE VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO END OF LIFE mol H+ eq./ ton of paper 0 VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO NEAR THREATENED number of species NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE CONTRIBUTION TO ABIOTIC DEPLETION (FOSSIL FUEL) 24,000 22,000 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 PRODUCTION OF PULP CHEMICAL AND PACKAGING RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION 10,000 8,000 6,000 WASTE 4,000 DISTRIBUTION 2,000 0 VIRGIN RECYCLED OPAQUE ENVIRO END OF LIFE MJ/ ton of paper Only the impacts accounting for more than 1% are included in the charts. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 10

13 Detailed results If you re passionate about the environment, simply curious about the science, or a fan of LCAs, you ll appreciate a little more detailed data on our LCA.

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16 RESPONSIBLY SOURCED ENERGY AND RECYCLED FIBER The key factors of The our key small factors footpri nt of our small footprint Using biogas and hydroelectricity helps to reduce Rolland Enviro s effect on the environment, as does including recycled fiber in its composition. No other paper has shown a lower impact. Rolland papers are produced using biogas as fuel. This garbage gas comes from decomposing landfill waste that s been captured to prevent its release into the air. It is transported by a dedicated pipeline to Rolland and used as thermal energy to make paper instead of using fossil fuels that would release emissions into the air. Biogas energy BIOGAS CYCLE Decomposition Manufacturing Recycled paper Sustainable paper LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 14

17 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 15 Because of biogas and recycled fiber, Rolland Enviro has a better environmental footprint compared to the North American industry average for virgin and recycled papers.

18 WE ARE FULLY TRANSPARENT We are firm believers in transparency. That is why we are happy to provide the full LCA and external panel reports on our website at rollandinc.com/lca. Rolland carried out its first life cycle assessment in Our most recent LCA, delivered in 2016, is summarized in this brochure, and follows a paper trail that really matters for our planet. It was carried out using the latest advancements in LCA scientific methods, tools, and data collection processes to establish the environmental profile of our papers. This analysis of our products environmental impact is more extensive and transparent than any study published by a fine paper company in North America. The paper you use has an impact on the environment. For the sake of our planet, we want to communicate our findings so you can understand how to reduce your own organization s environmental impact. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 16

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20 THAT S OUR STORY AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT Our commitment to protecting the environment is part of everything we do. We believe the environment is an integral part of paper manufacturing. Like you, we care. This is why we further customized this LCA to better represent the true footprint of our paper. We included these aspects in our study to push the limits of standard environmental evaluation: Biogenic carbon Chlorine Biodiversity and water for specific ecoregions Landfarming of deinking sludge REFERENCES: Study conducted by Groupe AGECO and validated by a committee of external experts in August, 2016 ISO standards Database: ecoinvent 3.1 adapted to the context. Also used to further increase accuracy of research: WWF Wildfinder database (WWF, 2006), Pulpwatch.org (EPN, 2013), IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Global Species Programme, 2016), Bird Species Distribution Maps (BirdLife International, 2016) LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 18

21 WITH A PURPOSE This LCA is just another step toward Rolland becoming a more environmentally responsible company. We can help you reduce your environmental footprint. Get closer, and see how we share your commitment to protecting the environment every step of the way. Join us on our journey. Canada I USA rollandinc.com