Two Sides Australia (TSA) has confirmed it has successfully abolished 70 per cent of false anti-paper claims discovered across the globe, following a meeting with fellow Two Sides country managers in London.

According to TSA, the list of offending companies includes major players in the financial, telco and utilities sectors worldwide who were using misleading environmental claims to justify reducing print. Two Sides engaged with each company and encouraged the firms to modify their marketing messages to consider the social and environmental benefits of print and paper, as well as the life cycle of sustainable forests and paper products.

“The common ‘go green and save trees’ claims are a form of greenwashing that is misleading consumers and must be corrected,” says Kellie Northwood, executive director of Two Sides Australia.

“These claims don’t consider the renewability of paper, or the numerous social, environmental, and economic benefits of well-managed Australian forests that have grown by 308,000 hectares over the last five years, which is the second highest gain of any country in the world.”

As part of its campaign, TSA also protests it is false to associate paper with deforestation in Australia. In Australia, 83.4 per cent of wood is harvested from planted forests with a small percentage of this wood being used for paper.

“Our experience to date is that many companies don’t realise the environmental credentials of paper. We challenge the ‘go paperless’ position and help educate corporations. Once informed, companies are supportive,” adds Northwood.

TSA’s achievements this year also includes the release of its new print magazine Value of Paper and Print (VoPP) which advocates the use of traditional media in marketing. 

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