Market Readiness Analysis

4.1.1 Paper
The experts in the paper category are highly aware of the sustainability aspect
and are well knowledgeable in their respective field. Lebanese suppliers involved
in the distribution of sustainable products confirm that the demand for sustainable
paper is rising yearly and the majority of them believe that the government can
be their big client and thus create an imminent market behavior change and also
initiate different rules, regulations, and initiatives to those who shift their
consumption to sustainable paper.
Sustainable paper can be defined as any effort undertaken to reduce
deforestation for paper production as well as consuming less energy and
producing fewer emissions in manufacturing than virgin paper.
Today, paper is made in many environmentally responsible forms, from a variety
of fibers. Paper can be manufactured from partly to fully recycled materials using
pre and post consumer waste. It can be produced without chlorine bleaching.
Paper can also be derived from sustainable forests, where trees are farmed
specifically for paper production. Finally, paper can be produced from plant fibers
other than timber such as cotton, hemp, bamboo or sugar cane.
Although the use of sustainable paper has grown significantly however today
virtual technology is reducing our paper consumption and provides us with
alternatives that provide heavy users with sustainable solutions such as in the
case of the Lebanese government.
4.1.1.1 Categories of Paper
Essentially paper can be made from virgin wood, recycled materials or tree free.
a. Virgin Wood
Virgin paper comes directly from trees and is sourced from native
forests and plantations. It contains the strongest fiber but requires the
most energy to manufacture and has the most immediate impact on
the forest and is the most commonly used. However, that impact may
be diminished if the pulp is harvested from a source that is part of a
sustainable forest certification program (as indicated in the ecolabeling
and certification section 4.1.1.3).
b. Recycled Paper
Recycled paper is a broad term, generally applied to any sort of
environmentally friendly paper. When most people hear
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