Mark Pitts
  Executive Director, Printing-Writing

  Paper embodies a unique set of values that no other
  communications medium can match:  a fact often lost amidst the
  constant barrage of emails and digital messages that come across
  our computers and mobile devices.

Paper is such a part of our lives, the unique collection of benefits is worthy of a reminder to us all. 

Did you know that students commonly employ five different reading strategies, and frequently switch between them while engaging in academic texts?  Among the five strategies, paper is superior to electronic texts in supporting these strategies.

Did you also know reading on a digital screen is fundamentally different than reading on paper, often resulting in less comprehension and recall than reading written text?

Now try completing this sentence:    _______ is made from renewable raw materials; is manufactured primarily using renewable energy; and is 100% recyclable.  Paper is the one product that can make such a strong sustainability statement.

AF&PA and the Printing-Writing Sector compiled a summary of studies, reports and scholarly articles into an easy to read Literature Review, which highlight the great value proposition that paper-based communication offer our everyday experiences. The research contained in the Review provides references and citations to value statements about paper from five different perspectives:

• Paper as a Learning Tool
• Paper as an Effective Medium for Reaching Customers
• Paper as a Permanent Record for Milestones in Life
• Paper as a Secure Form of Documentation and Communication
• Paper as a Sustainable Choice

In an era where advertisers are pouring resources into internet marketing plans, paper continues to be a very effective medium for reaching customers. In a recent study of 350 marketers, direct mail advertising was identified as delivering the strongest ROI for customer contact and retention for B2C customers. And the most recent “DMA 2013 Statistical Fact Book” reveals that consumer’s use of coupons has gone up in 2012 to 79.8 percent.

Paper provides easily accessible, secure, and permanent documentation of important records that do not require constant monitoring. Electronic document access and storage are less secure, as nearly two-thirds of all Americans and three-quarters of Millennials have fallen victim to some sort of cyber crime.

Paper is so embedded in our culture that we often take its value for granted. To further explore the examples mentioned above, and to discover many more proof points that document the value of paper, I invite you to download a copy of the AF&PA Literature Review from AF&PA’s Printing and Writing Page.

  Erik Heilman
  Director, Government Affairs

  If you’re reading this, you’re either online right now or you’ve printed
  it out.  You chose which method – electronic or paper – you
  preferred.　 That’s the principle behind AF&PA’s view that people
  should be able to choose whether to pay bills, communicate with
  friends and colleagues, read a book, etc. electronically or on paper.
  Unfortunately, many government agencies don’t see it that way.　

Recently, federal agencies have been eliminating services and communications such as social security documents, tax documents, and savings bonds in a paper format forcing them to electronic-only formats.　 What’s more, citizens relying on these services aren’t given a choice in the matter.　 To spotlight this problem, Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) teamed with Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME) to introduce a non-binding resolution in the US House of Representatives that says the federal government should take all appropriate measures to ensure that citizens continue to be provided with paper-based information, products and services, and public notices while providing the ability for all citizens to opt-in to electronic delivery if they so choose.　

The fact is, millions of Americans cannot access information in electronic formats or simply prefer paper documentation.　　 Perhaps you know someone who doesn’t have reliable internet access or doesn’t want to be told they have to receive things in an email only.　 According to a recent survey done by Consumers for Paper Options, 72% of respondents said the government should continue to provide important documents and records in paper form.　 The move to digitize all forms of communication disadvantages nearly 30% of American households without Internet access, 45% of seniors who do not own a computer, and 8% of the population who choose to not maintain a bank account.　

Paper and digital formats can be complementary; those who wish to receive paper-based communications and documentation should have that choice and not be forced to digital delivery or forgo the information or service altogether.

  AF&PA members continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in
  their facilities through their commitment to energy efficiency. By
  generating and using renewable, carbon neutral biomass energy,
  our members meet over 65 percent of the onsite energy demand in
  their pulp and paper mills. Their purchased energy efficiency has
  improved by over 8 percent and they will make even greater progress through AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative.

The industry’s products and carefully managed forests store approximately 10 percent of annual U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and thus play a pivotal role in reducing climate change impacts.

Privately-owned forests supply 91 percent of the wood harvested in the U.S. If trees were not regularly harvested to manufacture paper and wood products, those forestlands would likely be sold or used for other purposes – such as development and agriculture – which would not include the consistent replanting of trees. In fact, there are 20 percent more trees in the U.S. today than there were on the first Earth Day celebration in 1970.

  Julie Landry
  Manager, Government Affairs

  For more than 25 years, the federal vehicle weight limit has been
  set at 80,000 pounds—a regulation that now challenges our
  safety, economy, environment and infrastructure. Shippers in the
  pulp and paper industry often meet this limit with significant space
  in their trailers, and are forced to use more truckloads, miles and
  fuel than necessary.

This inefficiency problem is hindering economic recovery and straining our infrastructure. Shipping costs are on the rise, and available truck capacity has dropped dramatically. At the same time, freight hauled by trucks in the U.S. is expected to double by 2035.

If the U.S. is to emerge from the economic downturn and be competitive in the global marketplace, we need to boost truck productivity. Congress should enact H.R. 612, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) to make truck transportation safer and more sustainable.

• SETA gives states the option to safely raise interstate weight limits, without making trucks any larger.
• States would be free to set interstate weight limits of up to 97,000 pounds—but only for vehicles equipped with an additional (sixth) axle.
• The required sixth axle would maintain braking capacity and handling characteristics—without changing the size of the truck.
• It would also minimize the weight-per-tire to minimize pavement wear.
• SETA pays for itself. While the additional axle maintains vehicle safety performance and reduces pavement wear, SETA requires operators of heavier trucks to pay a slightly higher user fee—a continuation of the fee already in place. Those fees would be redirected to states and used to fund bridge maintenance.

Our national highway system cannot accommodate the coming surge in increased freight without also making changes to reduce the number of trucks hauling that freight. There must be changes to our national trucking policy to allow each truck to carry more freight safely and efficiently.

  Rashida Holmes
  Manager, Paper Group

  Since 2006, the annual AF&PA Recycling Awards recognize
  outstanding business, community, and school paper recycling
  programs across the country.

  Winners for 2013 will receive a $2,000 cash prize and an original
  framed artwork, while being recognized through the award presentation in their local media market.

While these paper recycling programs – and those of previous award winners – vary greatly in terms of geography and reach, they are reminders of the on-going commitment of the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work, and school every day.

The 2013 AF&PA Recycling Award winners are:

Business Leadership Award – Edwards Brothers Malloy – Ann Arbor, MI

Edwards Brothers Malloy is a book manufacturing business. A zero landfill vision and an education program for their 900 employees led them to recover over 12,500 tons of paper for recycling in 2012.

Community Recycling Award – City of Guntersville – Guntersville, AL

Guntersville’s 8500 residents recovered 865 tons of paper in 2012. A partnership with 25 organizations and collaboration between city agencies has increased public participation and awareness. Information about the program is disseminated via municipal offices and local media.

School Recycling Award – Bishop Watterson High School – Columbus, OH

Bishop Watterson High School recovered 18.36 tons of paper in 2012, with nearly all 1,100 students and staff actively participating in recycling efforts. The recycling program includes a number of partnerships and various classes include paper recycling in their curriculum.

For more information on the award winning programs, visit the newly improved paperrecycles.org website. You can also follow @paperrecycles on Twitter and ‘like’ us on Facebook.

  Chuck Fuqua
  Executive Director, Strategic Communications

  Chicago was definitely the place where the paper industry meets
  this week, as more than 700 registered participants took part in the
  events of Paper2013.  The lobby and hallways of the Fairmont
  Millennium Park Chicago hotel bustled with activity from the time
  people came to check-in at registration, where they were greeted
  with information on the programs and actions being conducted by the co-hosts:  American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the NPTA Alliance.

This year’s event is getting great buzz about the speakers and ability to meet with their industry peers.  The sessions were widely attended, providing a breadth of information from various perspectives.  Supportive CEOs took questions from industry reps and explained why the Paper Check-off would benefit the industry..  Monday afternoon, a panel of CEOs addressed issues and opportunities on the horizon, and provided positive examples of innovation and transformation that is taking place in the paper industry.   

The traditional luncheon session drew a packed-house to hear about domestic and global opportunities from the keynote speaker – Dr. Jeffrey Rosensweig.  Attendees heard powerful and interesting messages on the power of paper from AF&PA and NPTA leaders, and the Stanley O. Styles award was proudly presented to David McGehee, president of Mac Papers.

Paper2013 did everything possible to build on its proud tradition  of offering registered attendees great value.  We came away rejuvenated about the integral role paper plays in society.  Join us next year in New York City! 

  Julie Landry
  Manager, Government Affairs

  Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Roy Blunt
  (R-MO) and Reps. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Kurt Schrader
  (D-OR) introduced the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2013, which
  modifies the definition of “biobased” materials to specifically include
  all forest products regardless of “newness” or “market maturity” in the
  USDA BioPreferred Program’s voluntary labeling and government procurement initiatives.

The legislation clarifies that USDA should recognize forest products as biobased and will ensure a competitive marketplace for all products with biobased content, including “pulp, paper, paperboard, pellets, and wood products” and “any recycled products derived from forest materials.”

The department has arbitrarily excluded some of the most biobased products on the market from participation in its labeling and federal procurement initiatives, and this bi-partisan legislation would allow our products to be recognized for their inherent biobased qualities.

The program was originally enacted as part of the 2002 Farm Bill to help consumers identify and use biobased products. Products with as little as 25 percent biobased content are recognized under the program’s current implementation guidelines, while many paper and wood products that have up to 100 percent biobased content are not.

  Donna Harman, President and CEO

  AF&PA is proud to represent U.S. manufacturers of the paper, pulp,
  packaging and wood products that are relied upon by people across the
  country and around the world in their daily lives.  Our members are
  continually innovating to create new and improved products and
  methods of production, all with an eye to ensuring sustainable business
  practices. 

Our industry has a great story to tell and is working to tell it better. Today we are unveiling our newly redesigned flagship website – afandpa.org.  We hope you find value in in the greater functionality and ease of use in finding  information that policymakers, industry representatives and consumers alike are looking for.

The AF&PA site is a fresh canvas for our messages to be displayed, highlighting our social media channels, this blog, video and interactive features to tell the story of the forest products industry and showcase  the great work being done to create, innovate and provide the products our society expects today and will need tomorrow.