Jim Thompson

Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

With a new administration in the US White House, where do environmental issues stand today? Notably, the United States has withdrawn from and ceased funding of the Paris Agreement. Many other deregulation initiatives are under way.

So, what does that mean for the pulp and paper industry? Throw away our air and stream measuring devices? Defund NCASI (the National Council of Air and Stream Improvement)? Hardly.

Let's go back to the basics. First off, it is universally true that human beings want clean air and water for our families, and by extension, any families that touch our facilities and products. This is basic. The question is what is clean? How do we achieve it?

We may keep in place some testing protocols that the government abandoned (and they are not going to abandon them all--we are definitely not going back to the 1960s or before). We may continue to improve our processes and products voluntarily because it makes good sense as corporate citizens and to maintain a competitive edge.

The cat is out of the bag, so to speak, on our past practices. The public is suspicious of our actions, even today, because of poor responses in our past.

The visual are easy to see and fix. The smokey smokestack, the brackish discharge waters, the recycled paper pieces within three blocks of the urban mill in a poor neighborhood. It is when we have to get out the microscope or the gas chromatograph that things get argumentative.

Then there is the smell. Some neighbors, even far away, hyperventilate over the smell of even recycled paper mills, let alone virgin paper mills. Having spent half a century up to my knees in pulp, I must admit I don't get it.

The one thing we seldom hear about is noise. There are complaints about heavy truck traffic, but that is not exactly a noise complaint.

I must admit my own bias here. I think sometimes neighbors just want the pulp and/or paper mill gone and will do anything possible, punch any button they can to force it out of the neighborhood.

Despite these possible new scenarios, rest assured that many regulations are not going to go away with the new Administration--and we don't want them to, either. Back to the beginning, we all want clean water and clean air for our families.

Yet even if we had no regulations today, the sensitized public would punish us by not buying our products if we were a bad actor. We are not dealing with the consumers of just a few decades ago.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

For a deeper dive, click here.

Environmental Issues and the Pulp & Paper Industry: A Review

Study Guide

Key Concepts:

Deregulation: The reduction or elimination of government rules and regulations.

Paris Agreement: An international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

NCASI (National Council of Air and Stream Improvement): A non-profit research organization focused on environmental and sustainability issues for the forest products industry.

Corporate Citizenship: The responsibilities of a company to society, including ethical behavior, environmental stewardship, and community involvement.

Public Perception: The way in which the general public views a particular issue, industry, or organization.

Voluntary Action: Actions taken by companies or individuals without being mandated by laws or regulations.

Sensitized Public: A public that is more aware and concerned about environmental issues and the actions of industries.

Quiz:

1. What significant environmental policy decision has the new US administration made regarding the Paris Agreement?
2. According to the author, why might the pulp and paper industry continue some environmental testing even if government regulations are relaxed?
3. What historical factor has contributed to the public's current suspicion of the pulp and paper industry's environmental practices?
4. What are some of the easily observable environmental issues associated with pulp and paper mills that the author mentions?
5. What sensory complaint, other than visual or water-related, does the author discuss in relation to pulp and paper mills?
6. What is the author's personal opinion regarding some neighbors' complaints about pulp and paper mills?
7. Despite potential deregulation, why does the author believe many existing environmental regulations will likely remain in place?
8. What is the author's argument for why the pulp and paper industry would still need to be mindful of environmental impact even without regulations?
9. What fundamental desire does the author assert is "universally true" for human beings in relation to the environment?
10. What does the author imply about the current consumer base compared to those of previous decades regarding environmental responsibility?

Quiz Answer Key:

1. The new US administration has withdrawn from and ceased funding of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This signifies a shift in the country's approach to international environmental cooperation.
2. The industry might continue testing protocols voluntarily because it aligns with being good corporate citizens and helps maintain a competitive edge in the market. Additionally, they may retain some testing practices due to internal standards.
3. Poor responses to environmental issues in the past have led to the public being suspicious of the pulp and paper industry's current actions and environmental record. This historical context shapes present-day perceptions.
4. Easily observable issues include smokey smokestacks, brackish discharge waters, and recycled paper pieces visible in the vicinity of urban mills. These are tangible signs of potential environmental impact.
5. The author discusses the smell associated with both recycled and virgin paper mills, noting that some neighbors have strong reactions to these odors, even at a distance.
6. The author suspects that some neighbors who complain about pulp and/or paper mills may simply want the facilities removed from their neighborhoods entirely and will use any means to achieve this.
7. The author believes many regulations will remain because there is a fundamental desire for clean air and water that is shared by everyone, including those within the industry.
8. Even without regulations, the author argues that a sensitized public would likely boycott products from companies perceived as "bad actors" environmentally, thus acting as a form of punishment and incentive for responsible behavior.
9. The author states that it is "universally true that human beings want clean air and water for our families, and by extension, any families that touch our facilities and products."
10. The author implies that today's consumers are more environmentally aware and likely to hold companies accountable for their environmental impact through their purchasing decisions compared to consumers in previous decades.

Essay Format Questions:

1. Analyze the author's perspective on the potential impacts of deregulation on the pulp and paper industry. Consider both the potential challenges and the reasons for optimism presented in the text.
2. Discuss the significance of public perception in shaping the environmental practices of the pulp and paper industry, even in the absence of stringent regulations. Use examples from the text to support your argument.
3. Evaluate the author's assertion that the desire for clean air and water is a universal human value and how this belief informs their perspective on environmental regulations and industry behavior.
4. Compare and contrast the author's discussion of easily observable environmental issues with the less visible, more technical aspects of environmental monitoring in the pulp and paper industry. What challenges does each present for the industry?
5. To what extent does the author believe that voluntary actions and corporate citizenship can effectively address environmental concerns in the pulp and paper industry, particularly in a potentially deregulated environment?

Glossary of Key Terms:

Deregulation: The process of reducing or removing government rules and restrictions in a particular sector or industry.

Paris Agreement: An international treaty adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that sets goals for limiting global warming and addressing climate change.

NCASI (National Council of Air and Stream Improvement): A non-profit organization that conducts research and provides technical support on environmental and sustainability issues for the forest products industry.

Corporate Citizenship: The concept that corporations have ethical and social responsibilities beyond just making a profit, including environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Public Perception: The collective opinion or view held by the general public about a specific topic, person, or organization.

Voluntary Action: Actions undertaken by individuals or organizations out of their own will, without being legally required to do so.

Sensitized Public: A population that is highly aware of and concerned about particular issues, in this context, environmental problems and the environmental impact of industries.

________

Other interesting stories: