By Caner Anda Mellis Education, Technology, Trade Limited, Türkiye
The European Commission has consistently emphasized that going paperless is not merely a trend but a tactical move. In the overview of the “Circular Economy 1.0 and 2.0,” the EU pointed out that, for materials like paper, cardboard and packaging, the targets for reuse and recycling by 2030 are ambitious (for instance, they expect recycling and reuse of paper and board to exceed 90% or more). Also, beyond recycling, using fewer sheets means fewer trees remain standing, less water and energy are consumed in production, and fewer transport emissions are released. In summary, the zero-paper goal directly supports the EU policies on climate change, resource efficiency, and reduction of waste.
The figures are eye-opening. In 2022, each person in the EU accounted for the generation of about 186.5 kg of packaging waste and paper and cardboard accounted for about 40.8 % of that total. Moreover, the pulp and paper sector in the EU reported a production decrease of 5.9% in 2022, while CO₂ emissions of the sector has been cut in half compared to 2005, owing to modernization and efficiency gains. Together, these figures provide a powerful incentivize: it is not just nice to cut paper use, it is a means it’s a means to cut environmental impact, costs and comply with more stringent EU legislations.