Research published in Nature Sustainability shows that greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 2050 if... paper recycling continues to rely on fossil fuels or fossil-based energy, including electricity.

Researchers modelled various potential scenarios for how paper recycling might develop by 2050 if volumes were increased, and how this would impact the volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In one of the modelled scenarios, researchers concluded that if all recyclable paper were recycled, emissions would increase by 10% because paper recycling consumes more fossil energy than producing new paper.

In any case, the researchers concluded that GHG emissions would be reduced very significantly if paper recycling were to take place using renewable energy resources.