Paper has been available to us for three thousand years and during that time we have used it to record our history, our knowledge and our cultures. Today, paper finds its way into almost every aspect of daily life through newspapers, postage stamps, books, labels, postcards, tickets, paper towels, carry bags, correspondence, marketing brochures and maps, just to name a few of the items made from paper.

The cycle begins in the forest where trees are grown and harvested for their wood and their fibre. When the fibre is converted to pulp, the process of making paper begins. Binders, coatings, dyes and finishes transform the pulp into a wide array of papers and boards. Rolls and cut sheets of paper are then converted through printing and manufacturing into the familiar day to day paper products that most of us take for granted.

Recycling enables us to reuse paper once it has been discarded. This extends its life and maximises its economic value. But we can't just manufacture recycled paper on its own, it is simply a part of the paper making cycle. One process relies on the other. Careful management of forest assets will ensure that we have sufficient resources to meet our needs and environmentally managed production processes will maintain and improve the quality of our air and our water.

Sensible recycling strategies will ensure that paper is reused, which enables us to optimise the potential of this important resource.