Two Sides, with members spanning the Graphic Communications industry, is concerned that it has
now become common practice for large organisations to sign off their emails with misleading
environmental claims regarding print and paper.
Unfortunately messages such as ‘Think before you print’ or ‘Do you really need to print this email, it
will harm the environment’ ignore the unique sustainable features of print on paper. For example,
paper comes from a renewable resource; it is recyclable; it is one of the most recycled commodities
in Europe; and that a large portion of the energy used to produce paper comes from renewable
biomass.
These claims also fail to meet the most basic tests for acceptable environmental statements as
outlined by Government and others. They are not specific, they are usually not backed by
competent and reliable scientific evidence and are misleading because they imply that electronic
communication always has a lower impact on the environment than printed materials. Below are
some facts that appear to have been overlooked in your current email footer:

An electronic attachment i.e. invoice/letter/statement sent via the internet releases
242 grams of CO2 – the same amount as producing and sending 15 paper versions.

Emails are not carbon free. 20 emails per day for 1 year emit as much CO2 as 1,000km
by car.

Each year, spam emails emit as much CO2 as 3.1 million cars.

18% of electronic equipment is recycled, whereas in Europe 73% of paper is recycled.

Paper can be recycled 7 times.

In Europe there is no shortage of trees. Paper is a renewable and recyclable product that, if
responsibly produced and consumed, is an environmentally sustainable media. It is often
surprising to learn that in Europe, where 93% of our paper comes from, the area of forest
has grown by 30% since 1950 and has been increasing at a rate of 1.5 million football
pitches every year.
Two Sides Limited
iCon Centre/ Eastern Way / Daventry/ NN11 0QB / United Kingdom
T: 00 44 1327 262920 / E: enquiries@twosides.info
W: www.twosides.info
I would therefore urge you to review your company email footer strategy. Below, you will find a
selection of alternative and factually correct e-mail footers for you to choose from.
Printed emails create a permanent and sustainable record but please ensure all waste paper
is recycled. Print and Paper is Renewable, Recyclable and Powerful. Visit
www.twosides.info for more information.
Print on paper is a practical, attractive, and sustainable communications medium.
If you print, please recycle.
Thanks to sustainable production of paper and other forest products, the number of trees in
Europe has increased by 30% in the past 50 year.
Paper production supports sustainable forest management.
If you print, please recycle.
It’s OK to print this email. Paper is a biodegradable, compostable, renewable, a sustainable
product made from trees. Sustainable forests are good for the environment, providing clean
air, clean water, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage.
There are literally hundreds of facts for you to select from, please see:
www.twosides.info/fact-sheets
For more information, help or support, please contact Tandy at Two Sides –
tsw@twosides.info
Two Sides Limited
iCon Centre/ Eastern Way / Daventry/ NN11 0QB / United Kingdom
T: 00 44 1327 262920 / E: enquiries@twosides.info
W: www.twosides.info