CO₂ emissions: Virgin vs recycled fibres in tissue

This chart consists of 4 sets of bars. Each set represents the number of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per tonne of tissue created for the three sequential processes for complete tissue production, resulting in the final product. Stage A: Collect fibre; Stage B: Prepare fibre; Stage C: Make tissue from fibre; Tissue product complete – Total CO₂.

Three sequential processes emit CO₂:

Stage A + Stage B + Stage C → Total CO₂

Stage A: Collect fibre

• Renewable

  Wood growing & harvesting – 0.52*

• Recycled

  Collection of waste paper – 0.77*

Stage B: Prepare fibre

• Renewable

  ‘Pulping’ of wood makes fibres, uses bioenergy in wood – 0.15*

• Recycled

  Deinking & cleaning of waste paper uses chemicals and energy – 0.52*

Stage C: Make tissue from fibre

• Renewable

  Tissue making from virgin fibre – 2.31*

• Recycled

  Tissue making from recycled (=gloopy) fibre – 2.59*

Tissue product complete – Total CO₂

• Renewable – 2.98*

• Recycled – 3.88*

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* (tonne CO₂ / tonne tissue)