The Final Word by Chuck Swann

Chuck Swann, Senior Editor

The Final Word by Chuck Swann

Two Sides North America has a bone to pick with some companies that promote going paperless as going green. Two Sides says misleading environmental claims such as "go paperless, go green" is merely greenwashing and the real motive of such companies is simply to save costs in their operations.

Two Sides is, by its own definition, "an independent non-profit organization created to promote the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper," with members spanning the entire print and paper value chain.

To promote its cause, Two Sides has released what it calls an infographic entitled "Going Paperless May Not Be Greener." Two Sides sees many companies urging customers to switch from paper to digital with claims that it is greener and will save trees. "Such claims," says Two Sides, "ignore the growing environmental footprint of electronics and the unique sustainable features of print and paper." Two Sides continues, 'They also fail to meet environmental marketing rules published by the US and Canada."

The infographic also points out the 85% of US consumers side with Two Sides in believing that "Go Paperless--Go Green" claims are designed to save costs. And, as a result of its global anti-greenwash campaign, more than 170 leading companies have removed misleading environmental claims about print and paper. Two Sides also observes that electronic communications has a significant and growing environmental footprint and e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world.

The Two Sides infographic can be found at www.twosidesna.org.

Chuck Swann is Senior Editor of Paperitalo Publications.