Paperless Campus: The Real Contribution towards a Sustainable Low Carbon Society

Abstract

Massive global deforestation is not only caused by deforestation of tropical forests in developing countries, but also deforestation of natural forests in developed countries. Pulp and paper industry is one of the main players of deforestation. Globally, paper consumption increases by 3% per year. Currently, global paper consumption is around 350 million tons. The paper industry itself consumes 35% of all trees to produce paper. We have to cut one tree to produce 16.7 reams of paper (equal to 8,333.3 sheets). Annually, more than 900 million trees are cut for paper industries in the world. On average, individual consumption of paper is currently around 4,873.1 sheets per year, per student (or equal to 0.6 trees per year, per student). The papermaking process simultaneously contributes significantly to the pollution of water and air. Paper production factories emit 6.5 pounds of CO2 per ream of paper production or around 80 million tons of CO2 per year. In Canada and the USA, the pulp and paper industry is the third largest industrial polluter releasing over 100 million kgs of toxic waste every year. This study carried out students interviews (n=118) followed by a structured questionnaire in the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University, Japan to generate empirically supported assessment and explore the factors of the educational institutions that are responsible for creates forest degradation and deforestation. To fulfill the research objectives, this study used the Probit model and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). This study identified more paper consumption creates hindrance for establishing a sustainable low carbon society. Provision of behavioral change of stakeholders, government intervention, financial and technical assistance from development partners and electronic gadget manufacturers, and sometimes social corporate responsibility (CSR) can promote a paperless campus and ensure a sustainable low carbon society. The findings of this paper provide a robust basis for policy makers, researchers, and stakeholders for further research and development of specific policies and plan in this field to lessen the forest degradation and deforestation and establish a paperless campus.