The Sustainable Newspaper featured by One Earth
Want to read your daily news and grow herbs and flowers simultaneously? Read about this circular, compostable newspaper!
What is the Sustainable Newspaper featured by One Earth?
Newspapers have been printed and discarded since their creation, which dates back to the 16th century. The newspaper's invention can reflect humanity's nature simply and perfectly. In a disposable time, our ever-growing and fleeting future can be seen on paper. That future is mass printed and, unfortunately, irresponsibly discarded once its purpose is fulfilled.
With many watchful eyes on the horizon, the future of our earth and its ecological fate lies heavy on many of our shoulders. In a world where it is challenging to leave no environmental footprint, one company strives to reimagine a world where waste has consciousness and considers its impact.
One Earth is a nonprofit that takes active measures to use science, media, and innovation to help solve our current climate crisis. This nonprofit uses its platform to bring to light innovative approaches to making an ecological impact.
Features of the Sustainable Newspaper
The "Green Newspaper" was invented by Dentsu Inc, a Japanese advertising agency. With its debut in 2016, this special edition of the Japanese daily news, "The Mainichi Shimbunsha," was printed on eco-friendly material. The details were down to the wire, including plant-based ink and biodegradable paper, with an incredible feat; seeds were embedded into its pages.
Source: One Earth
The specially designed seed mix even went as far as being tailored to attract pollinators to the plants. With instructions to tear the discarded newspaper and place it into the soil, the newspaper would be transformed from a wasteful product to a regenerative solution to publishers' mass waste production.
According to the EPA, paper products make up one of the most significant percentages of all the materials in MSW, also known as Municipal Solid Waste Management. This large percentage amounts to "23.1 percent of the total generation,” which refers to the total amount of yearly waste.
The Impact
This inventive design, as expected, was received with great awe. The overall reach of the initiative was upwards of 4 million people and resulted in a return of $700,000 for the publisher. The internet was moved by the concept, which allowed a conversation of environmental positions and current issues to surface as a talking point.
The papermaking process has yet to be reinvented parallel to the climate crisis. A critical talking point for environmentalists is the toll the demand for paper has on the environment due to its extensive dependence on trees. Drawing from data from the Global Forest Resource Assessment, it is estimated that "80,000 to 160,000 trees are cut down each day on a global level." The paper manufacturing industry also influences global climatic patterns, air pollution, and water usage, as the production of 1 ton of paper ends up "contaminating roughly 20,000 gallons of water."
Where Can Similar Products be Found?
Businesses in the United States have begun to offer similar options of "seed paper" in the form of confetti, greeting cards, and paper. The novelty of these products is that they are also produced to gain revenue through producing a new product. The impact of The "Green Newspaper," invented by Dentsu Inc, is that their initiative worked to replace the paper that would be required to print on.
In comparison, these products are a better alternative to traditional paper products and offer a new path toward sustainable development. Still, there are extra steps that one can take to implement an eco-friendly strategy to reduce one's waste.
Help the Earth, Our Advice
The innovative concept that created The "Green" Newspaper and catapulted it into popularity is the idea that one wasteful product can be replaced with a recyclable or forward-thinking alternative. The critical point here is that we recommend using a circular strategy to address your need for paper products.
What is a circular strategy or economy? This model and way of thinking implements cycles of reusing, recycling, and repairing consumed materials for as long as possible. Examples of this are composting, repurposing, refurbishing, and redesigning products or materials so that their life span may be extended to be used for longer, reducing the need for more products.
Ultimately, individuals may need help to implement a strategy to reduce their footprint entirely due to the more significant influences of corporations on our ecological crisis. Often, we can do more by helping those who help the corporations stay accountable.
Carom is cooking up corporate responsibility to help the current ecological state of the world. For forward-thinking, focused on sustainable living, and looking to make a difference, click here to learn how your donations can help us further our work and make an impact.
Key Takeaways
Newspapers have been printed and discarded since their creation, dating back to the 16th century.
One Earth is a nonprofit that takes active measures to use science, media, and innovation to help solve our current climate crisis.
With its debut in 2016, this special edition of the Japanese daily news, called "The Mainichi Shimbunsha," was printed onto a biodegradable newspaper.
According to the EPA, paper products amount to the greatest percentage of materials calculated in the MSW, also known as Municipal Solid Waste Management. This large percentage amounts to "23.1 percent of the total generation."
Drawing from data from the Global Forest Resource Assessment, it is estimated that "80,000 to 160,000 trees are cut down each day on a global level." The paper manufacturing industry also influences global climatic patterns, air pollution, and water usage, as the production of 1 ton of paper ends up "contaminating roughly 20,000 gallons of water."
What is a circular strategy or economy? This model and way of thinking implement cycles of reusing, recycling, and repairing consumed materials for as long as possible. Examples of this are composting, repurposing, refurbishing, and redesigning products or materials so that their life span may be extended to be used for longer, reducing the need for more products.
Ultimately, individuals may need help to implement a strategy to reduce their footprint due to corporations’ more significant influences on our ecological crisis. Often, we can do more by helping those who help the corporations stay accountable.
Carom is cooking up corporate responsibility to hold them responsible for their impact on the climate crisis.
