Which is more sustainable and environmentally friendly - paper or plastic? If you're looking for an answer to this question, you've come to the right place! Paper, which is made from the renewable raw material wood, enjoys a pretty green image. This is in stark contrast to plastic items made from limited amounts of crude oil, which have long been floating around in huge quantities in the world's oceans.
For these reasons, one legal ban on single-use plastics follows the next - and paper products are often the first alternative to replace them. But does this solve the waste problem? And is paper instead of plastic always the better choice when it comes to being as environmentally friendly as possible? After all, paper production also leads to Deforestation of the forests - and only works via a very energy-intensive process.
In this article, I would like to take a closer look at both materials so that you can always make an informed and sustainable decision in everyday situations. You will now learn about the advantages and disadvantages, decisive factors, easy-to-understand case studies and tips for everyday life. Let's go!
You can find a brief overview here in advance:
Background: Where is paper used instead of plastic these days?
The aforementioned prohibitions mean that iMore and more everyday objects are made of paper rather than plastic exist. But in which practical areas of everyday life is this actually the case? Where is paper increasingly being used instead of plastic?
Here, for example, are disposable products such as Bags, cotton buds or Straws made of plastic, which symbolize the way we live. Disposable society as they have an extremely short useful life before they end up in the garbage can.
But what is particularly clear is the replacement of plastic with paper observed in the packaging industry. For example, increasingly replace Kraft paper stand up pouch the classic plastic doypacks, Paper food boxes the ToGo boxes made of polystyrene - and Corrugated cardboard or Schrenzpapier as Sustainable filling material the famous crackling bubble wrap.
Advantages and disadvantages: What are the pros and cons of paper and plastic?
To really understand, in which situation paper or plastic is the better alternativelet's start by comparing the main advantages and disadvantages of both materials. I have summarized them clearly for you below.
Advantages of paper over plastic
- Biodegradable: Paper decomposes much faster in the environment and does not leave behind any harmful waste. Microplastics.
- Renewable raw material: Paper is made from the wood of trees. It can come from controlled organic forestry or even be made from old paper products.
- Recyclable: In most cases, paper products are easier and more resource-friendly to recycle than plastics.
Disadvantages of paper compared to plastic
- Resource-intensive manufacturing: Paper production also requires a lot of wood, water and energy. It takes around 5.5 kilograms of wood, 130 liters of water and 13 kilowatt hours of energy to produce 500 sheets of new copy paper.₁
- Species extinction: Although paper can come from sustainable forestry or be made from recycled material, this is not the case for most paper products. This is why paper production continues to contribute to the loss of habitat for plants and animals - and therefore, of course, to Decline in biodiversity - with.
- Ephemerality: Paper products are generally not as durable as plastic products. Especially when in direct contact with water or other liquids.
Advantages of plastic over paper
- Durability: Plastic objects are usually much more robust and durable than their paper alternatives. This is a major Plastic advantage.
- Weight: Things produced from plastic, as a rule, are very light, which facilitates especially the transport and handling.
- Versatility: Plastic can be produced in a variety of shapes, colors and textures and is suitable for a wide range of applications. For example, it can be flexible or hard, depending on your requirements.
Disadvantages of plastic compared to paper
- Pollution: Probably the largest Plastic disadvantage is that the material only decomposes over many decades, centuries or even millennia and can still be used as Microplastics in the sea or nature remains. Every particle of plastic produced remains somewhere on earth. Human plastic waste in nature costs around one million seabirds and 135,000 marine mammals life.₂
- Climate-damaging production: The CO2 footprint of plastics is getting worse and worse. The main reason for this is the increasing combustion of coal for plastic production.₃
- Pollutants: Many types of plastic contain potentially harmful chemicals, such as plasticizers like bisphenol A. (BPA)
Factors: What determines whether paper is better than plastic?
Looking closely at the pros and cons, it quickly becomes clear that when it comes to the question of "paper or plastic?" No one-size-fits-all answer is not always the case. Instead, we must always take other factors into account in order to make a well-considered and sustainable decision. Depending on the context and area of application, these factors can tip the scales.
Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds! Here I'll introduce you to the most important things you can in the respective everyday situations to find out if plastic or paper is the environmentally friendly alternative.
Recycled content
Of course, the Material origin plays a special role in determining whether paper or plastic is the better choice. As a general rule, the greater the proportion of recycled paper and plastic components in products, the more environmentally friendly they are - because the better they can be recycled. Conserving natural resources be
Recyclability
Whether Recyclable packaging or objects and can be recycled as efficiently as possible after disposal largely determines how sustainable they are.
Paper is generally easy to recycleif it is pure in type. So-called Dressing materials (coated, moisture-resistant compounds made of paper and plastic), on the other hand, are difficult to impossible to recycle.
Plastic is generally difficult to recycle materially. It is therefore much more expensive to produce high-quality products from recycled plastic.
Use and longevity
How sustainable paper and plastic products actually are also depends on the duration and frequency of their use. The longer and more often they fulfill their purposethe better their ecological balance.
If the material is not durable and long-lasting, so that the respective products can only be used a few times and then have to be disposed of, this is of course questionable from an ecological point of view. A short life cycle (period from production, through use, to disposal) is always bad for the ecological balance.
Product and quantity
Paper is not always the best alternativeto pack products. That's why it's important to consider the things you want to pack and transport in it.
This applies, for example, in the event that Liquids or very heavy objects need to be transported or protected. Here, plastic alternatives are often more efficient, safer and more durable, as they repel moisture and are generally more tear-resistant.
Disposal
In addition to recyclability, it is of course also crucial whether consumers use their Separate waste correctly and dispose of. From a Yogurt cup For example, the paper label can be easily separated so that the aluminum foil and plastic cup can go into the yellow bag and the label into the paper waste. In the case of composite materials (e.g. Rice bag made of paper with a plastic coating), however, this is not possible, so that recycling is not possible or only possible with difficulty.
Can you think of any other factors that are important for the decision? Then I look forward to your ideas and suggestions in the comments below the article.
Practical case studies: When is paper better than plastic - and when is it not?
Every person with a pronounced Environmental awareness knows those moments when the question "paper or plastic?" arises. Because there are indeed situations and decisions from time to time where the Answer not so easy for various reasons falls, as had initially been assumed.
Here I would like to introduce you to some of them and at the same time show how I would decide.
Tetra Pak
The beverage cartons, which are often used for juices or milk, consist of a combination of Paper, plastic and aluminum. However, according to the German Environmental Aid Association (Deutsche Umwelthilfe), the adjusted recycling quota is only around 30 percent and no recycled cardboard is used for productionbut new fibers. This is another reason why the organization is calling for a deposit system for disposable drinks cartons.
Personally, I try to avoid Tetra Paks (and plastic bottles) as much as possible and instead prefer Regional juices from returnable glass bottles.
Bags and shopping bags
Plastic bags are reusable - but many people only use them for a few minutes before they end up in the bin or even remain in the environment for centuries. Reusable paper bags and paper carrier bags are a good alternative. biodegradable alternative.
However, according to NABU Use at least three times as often as a classic plastic bagso that the carbon footprint is balanced out. Finally, the production of the paper alternative also requires a great deal of energy and water.₄
I only use a Cloth bag, a carry basket or my backpackto transport shopping or other items. So the question "plastic bag or paper bag?" doesn't even arise. I don't use plastic or paper bags at the bakery either and have my bread rolls, sandwiches or pretzels put in a cloth bag instead.
Filling material for parcels
Bubble wrap or plastic chips, which are intended to protect products during shipping, are increasingly being replaced by More sustainable filling materials replaced. How for example Bioplastic, scratch paper or crumpled newspaper.
Whether paper or plastic - I simply reuse any filler material from shipments that have reached me. The more often it is reused, the better. I also generally try to, Avoid returns in a targeted mannerso that there is no double waste.
Beverage cup
Around 320,000 coffee-to-go cups are used and disposed of every hour in Germany.₅ Even though they are mainly made of paper, the cups have a plastic coating. This makes a Complete recycling hardly possible and contributes to the fact that the majority of a cup ends up in the waste incineration plant.
Personally, I don't buy drinks in disposable cups. Instead I drink beverages on site in the café or wear a refillable reusable cup with me, for which I am even rewarded by some companies with a small discount.
Drinking straws
Paper straws (preferably recycled) are often a more environmentally friendly choice compared to plastic straws because they are single-origin and decompose more quickly. However, they are also still disposable productswhich are elaborately produced but only used for a few minutes. With drinking straws made of glass, stainless steel or bamboo wood, there really are many environmentally friendly, washable and reusable alternatives, so there is no need for any waste.
I prefer at home and in bars or cafés Glass straws or other reusable drinking straws. And if there is none, I simply do without it by mentioning it briefly when ordering.
Can you think of other case studieswhere you often weigh up whether paper or plastic is the more sustainable choice? Then please write me a comment with your experiences.
Tips: What can consumers look out for?
The Recycled content, the Recyclability or the Useful life of paper and plastic alternatives already reveal a lot about whether they are environmentally friendly or not.
In principle, we consumers can also turn to Environmental seals for paper on the respective products. For example the "Blue Angel", the "ÖkopaPlus" seal or the "EU Ecolabel".
But even then it is still difficult to distinguish between recyclable, pure paper products and only partially recyclable mixed or composite materials.
The remedy here is the Tear test - If you can see a thin film in the tear in the cardboard, then it is a composite material. This can also be only with significantly more effort tear than a pure paper product. Furthermore, a Glossy and moisture-repellent surface an indication that paper and plastic were combined.
But as a consumer, you can do even more for the environment than preferring recycled paper to disposable plastic! For example, if possible plastic free living and the best Tips for avoiding waste in everyday life implement. For example, it is advisable to transport bread from the bakery in a cloth bag and to avoid paper or plastic bags altogether.
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Bottle brush16 € -
Large stainless steel drinking bottle25 € -
Oilcloths13 €
Because whether plastic or paper waste - the Avoidance of waste (e.g. through packaging-free or reusable alternatives for disposable products) is basically always the most sustainable action.
Tip: Whether it's a drinking bottle, oilcloth, washing-up brush or glass straw - be sure to take a look at my Zero Waste Basic Equipment which really can be used to avoid just about any waste.
Paper or plastic? It depends!
Paper instead of plastic - it sounds so simple and environmentally friendly. But as we have seen, the decision far more complex than it appears at first glance. Because even though we produce paper, cardboard & Co from the renewable raw material wood, they are often but not automatically always the more environmentally friendly alternative.
Whether paper or plastic is the most ecologically sound solution, depends on many different factors off. Today you've gotten to know them. From production costs, material origin, biodegradability, recyclability and durability to the planned service life, you should include them all in your decision-making process.
"The best garbage is the garbage that doesn't get created in the first place."
Unknown (more under Zero Waste Quotes)
You now know when and why the decision is sometimes tricky - and that in many cases there are even more sustainable alternatives that reduce waste. Ultimately, it is up to us consumers to make informed and well-considered decisions and not to let ourselves be influenced by targeted Greenwashing to be misled.
I hope this article has given you some valuable insights into the duel "paper vs. plastic" given. Do you have any questions, comments or experiences of your own that you would like to share? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay sustainable,
PS: How you save paper in a targeted manner in everyday life and how exactly a Paperless office I'll be happy to explain how it works in the linked blog posts. Have fun!
References:
₁ J. Trauth, E. Schönheit (2016): Paper Compass, 16th edition, Forum Ökologie & Papier, August 2016, p. 4.
₂ NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland) e. V.: Plastic waste and its consequences, available at https://www.nabu.de/natur-und-landschaft/meere/muellkippe-meer/muellkippemeer.html. [09.08.2023].
₃ Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. (BUND): Resource consumption must fall - Many plastic products are produced with the climate killer coal-fired power (as of 22.12.2021), available at https://www.bund.net/themen/aktuelles/detail-aktuelles/news/ressourcenverbrauch-muss-sinken-viele-plastikprodukte-werden-mit-dem-klimakiller-kohlestrom-produziert. [09.08.2023].
₄ NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland) e. V.: Plastic bags? Avoid instead of replace!, available at https://www.nabu.de/umwelt-und-ressourcen/oekologisch-leben/alltagsprodukte/19463.html. [09.08.2023].
₅ Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.: Factsheet - The environmental problem of coffee to go disposable cups: The most important facts (as of 01.09.2015), available at https://www.duh.de/fileadmin/user_upload/download/Projektinformation/Kreislaufwirtschaft/DUH_Coffee_to_go_FactSheet.pdf. [09.08.2023].
