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Global Have you ever considered the value of an intact, established forest of old trees versus the recently planted young trees? We hadn’t but we have it on good authority that old and young trees are not created equal. Planting a new, young tree to replace cutting down an older, existing tree is not a one for one exchange. This is because an older, established tree has far greater benefit to the planet in terms of its ability to reverse atmospheric CO2 pollution than a young, newly planted tree. Unfortunately, a tree planted this year won’t make much of a difference in terms of carbon sequestration over the next decade which is critical for climate action. Thus, when we cut down an old tree to make single-use items such as paper towels, even if we replant the same number of trees (known as reforestation) we aren’t truly offsetting our use. “It’s important to weigh the value of paper products against the value of intact forests. If you are thinking through a carbon lens, those single-use products are very short-lived,” says Trevor Hesselink, director of policy and research at the Wildlands League, a Canadian conservation organization. “We really need to be thinking about forests in a different way at this critical junction, Instead of soaking up spilled milk, those trees can help us tackle a much larger mess.” Besides the environment, continuing to purchase single use items at seemingly insignificant prices, adds up over time. Let’s consider that the average family uses two rolls of paper towels per week. At $14 for 8 rolls, we are spending almost $200 annually on paper towels. Depending on your socio-economic status, perhaps $200 a year doesn’t seem concerning, but what about spending $200 a year for 50 years? That’s ten grand in paper towels! Now consider the financial benefit to your family if you switched to using something like vintage tea towels or cut up old tee-shirts or bed-sheets to make your own towels or napkins. Not only are forests left alone to do what they do best, sequestering carbon and protecting our earth from climate change, but we are saving massive amounts of money that could be reinvested in our family for education, vacations, etc. As consumers we can begin to exercise our power and voice on this issue by refusing to buy the products that originate from deforestation, things like single-use paper towels for kitchen messes or paper napkins or plates for a dinner party. When we opt for these single-use, throw away items, not only are we telling the producers of these things that as consumers, we are “demanding” them, but we are also wasting our money. Read the full New York Times One Thing You Can Do to “Help to Preserve Forests” article here.
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