A comparison of the GHG emissions caused by manufacturing tissue paper from virgin pulp or recycled waste paper

Waste paper recycling decision system based on material flow analysis and life cycle assessment: A case study of waste paper recycling from China

The aim of this work is to compare the environmental impacts of two production processes of tissue paper using virgin pulp (virgin fiber) or waste paper pulp (recycled fiber). This comparison is based on the materials and energy used as well as emissions and waste resulting from the production of tissue paper. Life cycle assessment (LCA), ReCiPe method, was chosen as the analysis tool. The results of the research proved that electricity has the most considerable participation in the overall environmental impacts in both production processes, followed by either virgin pulp or heat. Consequently, these two production processes are the greatest contributors to the following midpoint environmental impact categories: human toxicity, climate change, human health and ecosystems, and fossil depletion. The analysis based on endpoint impact categories proved that the production process based on waste paper is more environmentally friendly than the one based on virgin pulp in all impact categories: human health, ecosystems, resources. This is largely because of its lower material and energy requirements in the entire life cycle. Due to the fact that the tissue paper is the final use of fiber, using recycled waste paper is strongly recommended. The obtained research results are a valuable source of management information for the decision makers at both company and national levels required to improve the environmental performance of tissue paper production.

Exploring greenhouse gas emissions pathways and stakeholder perspectives: In search of circular economy policy innovation for waste paper management and carbon neutrality in Hong Kong

Assessing life-cycle GHG emissions of recycled paper products under imported solid waste ban in China: A case study

Better information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation potential in the agricultural sector is necessary to manage these emissions and identify responses that are consistent with the food security and economic development priorities of countries. Critical activity data (what crops or livestock are managed in what way) are poor or lacking for many agricultural systems, especially in developing countries. In addition, the currently available methods for quantifying emissions and mitigation are often too expensive or complex or not sufficiently user friendly for widespread use.The purpose of this focus issue is to capture the state of the art in quantifying greenhouse gases from agricultural systems, with the goal of better understanding our current capabilities and near-term potential for improvement, with particular attention to quantification issues relevant to smallholders in developing countries. This work is timely in light of international discussions and negotiations around how agriculture should be included in efforts to reduce and adapt to climate change impacts, and considering that significant climate financing to developing countries in post-2012 agreements may be linked to their increased ability to identify and report GHG emissions (Murphy et al 2010, CCAFS 2011, FAO 2011).

Assessing wood use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of wood product cascading in the European Union

Taking Stock of Strategies on Climate Change and the Way Forward: A Strategic Climate Change Framework for Australia

As China's demand for paper products increases, China's paper industry faces enormous pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By using material flow analysis in combination with input-output analysis, this study measured the waste paper recovery rate in a more accurate method and analyzed the impact of waste paper recycling on the carbon emissions from China's paper industry. China's waste paper recovery rate estimated in this study was close to 70% in 2017, much higher than that of 48% obtained with the traditional method. The regression results displayed a negative relationship between waste paper recovery rate and CO2 emissions per unit of paper consumption during 2000-2017 in China. The rolling regression results further indicated that the impact of waste paper recycling was becoming stronger on reducing CO2 emissions per unit of paper consumption in China. Since an inverted "U" shape relationship exists between waste paper recovery rate and its reduction effect on carbon emissions from the paper industry, the regression results suggested that China's waste paper recovery rate has not reached the optimal level with regard to carbon emissions from China's paper industry. Thus, although China's waste paper recovery rate has reached a relatively high level, currently waste paper recycling is still an effective method to reduce carbon emissions from China's paper industry.

Major US electric utility climate pledges have the potential to collectively reduce power sector emissions by one-third

Mitigating Curtailment and Carbon Emissions through Load Migration between Data Centers

Dynamic Simulation of Waste Paper Recycling System in Japan

Dynamic simulation of waste paper recycling system in japan

There are differences in the ways and attitudes of recycling waste paper between schools in urban and rural areas at different levels of development in China. The purpose of this study was to discover the role of interactive mechanisms of waste paper recycling on students' behaviors and attitudes toward waste paper in the campus recycling process. To complete this study, urban school classes and rural school classes in the same city, which have different waste management and recycling systems. Compare before and after recycling processing systems that incorporate interactive mechanisms. Data were obtained from interviews with students, questionnaires, and focus groups. Students in 10 urban schools and 10 rural schools in the same urban area of Guangdong Province, China, were surveyed online using Questionnaire Star, and the data were examined using SPSS statistical software. In the whole system, town schools are used as the main scenario, where teachers and students put waste paper into the converters and get the corresponding items. Due to the large amount of waste paper in town schools, there will be a surplus of items being converted out. Excess items will be transported to rural areas by transport vehicles from the recycling processing plant. The goods will be delivered to children in rural schools, reducing spending on educational items, while the transporters will take away and dispose of waste paper from rural areas. The focus groups discussed attitudes toward the improved waste paper management system, and most participants felt it was beneficial and significantly improved attitudes toward waste paper. After the improvement, the participants will intentionally collect the waste paper and put it into the replacement box. In addition, some participants also mentioned the sense of accomplishment that comes from turning the collected waste paper into usable items. Convenience and a sense of responsibility to protect the environment and the self-satisfaction of helping rural students are also motivations and potentials for improving waste paper management behavior. Participants were quite satisfied with the improved system of waste paper management. Not only is it sustainable, but it also takes into account the fact that it helps schools and school children in rural areas. Greater satisfaction can be obtained from it. This study provides a good starting point for future research on student attitudes toward recycling in both types of schools. A framework is provided for further research on factors influencing positive behaviors and attitudes based on this study.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been established for recycling of paper waste with focus on a material recovery facility (MRF). The MRF upgrades the paper and cardboard waste before it is delivered to other industries where new paper or board products are produced. The accounting showed that the GHG contributions from the upstream activities and operational activities, with global warming factors (GWFs) of respectively 1 to 29 and 3 to 9 kg CO(2)-eq. tonne(- 1) paper waste, were small in comparison wih the downstream activities. The GHG contributions from the downstream reprocessing of the paper waste ranged from approximately 490 to 1460 kg CO(2)-eq. tonne( -1) of paper waste. The system may be expanded to include crediting of avoided virgin paper production which would result in GHG contributions from -1270 to 390 kg CO(2)-eq. tonne(- 1) paper waste. It may also be assumed that the wood not used for virgin paper production instead is used for production of energy that in turn is assumed to substitute for fossil fuel energy. This would result in GHG contributions from -1850 to -4400 kg CO(2)-eq. tonne(- 1) of paper waste. These system expansions reveal very large GHG savings, suggesting that the indirect upstream and operational GHG contributions are negligible in comparison with the indirect downstream emissions. However, the data for reprocessing of paper waste and the data for virgin paper production are highly variable. These differences are mainly related to different energy sources for the mills, both in regards to energy form (heat or electricity) and fuel (biomass or fossil fuels).

Energy-related activities are a major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A growing body of knowledge clearly depicts the links between human activities and climate change. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil and other human activities has released carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other heat-trapping GHG emissions into the atmosphere and thus increased the concentration of atmospheric CO2 emissions. The main human activities that emit CO2 emissions are (1) the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, accounting for about 37% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 31% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, (2) the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods, accounting for about 31% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 26% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, and (3) industrial processes such as the production and consumption of minerals and chemicals, accounting for about 15% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 12% of total ...