Secret Life of Paper

Watch the 5 minute video http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/watch/9/the_secret_life_of_paper

Americans consume more paper than anyone else on the planet. In 2006, Americans consumed 663 pounds of paper per person, versus 448 pounds in the UK and 136 pounds in Mexico. Yet very few of us stop to think about what constitutes responsible paper usage. Most are also unaware of the connection between the production and consumption of paper and global warming. In fact, the pulp and paper industry is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the US manufacturing sector.

To reveal little-known but vitally important facts such as these, INFORM created The Secret Life series. The series, a tool for education and activism, examines the lifecycle environmental impacts of commonly consumed products. The videos define best practices in terms of sustainable production and consumption and give viewers concrete steps they can take to be part of the solution to the particular environmental challenge.

The Secret Life of Paper highlights important information, such as the global warming impact of paper, the disproportionately high per capita paper usage in the US versus other nations, the forest and associated biodiversity loss linked to paper production and the development of promising alternative non-wood paper fibers. In addition, the video illustrates the significant environmental benefits of recycling, of buying recycled paper products and just using less paper in the first place.

Simple changes can add up to huge impact; we hope that The Secret Life of Paper will prompt you to re-think how you use paper at home, at school or at the office. The more people that change their paper habits after watching The Secret Life of Paper, the better for the environment.

The Secret Life of Paper is posted on all the major video sharing and social networking sites and has also been picked up by a diverse array of corporate, non-profit, university and government sites representing all regions in the U.S.

The Secret Life videos have also attracted plenty of attention in the blogosphere, where they have been discussed in prominent blogs, including the Los Angeles Times, Treehugger, CNN Money, Information Week, and The Huffington Post. They have been viewed online in over 84 countries worldwide and appeared in whole or in part on televisionComcast Network, NBC and Discovery Channel's Planet Green. They have also been used for educational purposes at events around the country, including Earth Day celebrations at Grand Central Station in New York City and the Zero Waste Conference in Los Angeles.