05-07-2008, 08:10 PM
I don't understand why people think cutting down trees to make paper is somehow harmful to the environment. The trees used for kraft paper are virtually all planted for just that purpose. They're not old-growth hardwoods or the margin of the rain forest.
Now if you want to talk about other environmental impacts--chlorine discharge, energy needed to dewater the pulp, landfill implications--fine. But paper trees are largely a crop, like any other, and they absorb carbon dioxide while they're growing. If we use less paper, the plantation managers will simply plant fewer trees for future needs.
Now if you want to talk about other environmental impacts--chlorine discharge, energy needed to dewater the pulp, landfill implications--fine. But paper trees are largely a crop, like any other, and they absorb carbon dioxide while they're growing. If we use less paper, the plantation managers will simply plant fewer trees for future needs.