Impact on the Environment
The production and manufacturing of pencils affects the environment to different extents depending on the methods and resources used. Thankfully many major pencil making companies such as Crayola® have made efforts to use wood from sustainable forests with claims such as 'For every tree used, a new one is planted.' as well as the use of solar panels to power factories in cleaner, renewable ways.
Map showing the locations of Calocedrus decurrens (Incense cedar) forests worldwide as indicated by yellow dots
Sourced from: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Calocedrus+decurrens&guide=Trees&cl=US/CA/Nevada/Sagehen_Creek The majority of forests in central and northern California have restrictions and regulations ensuring that there is always more trees growing then being chopped down. Some pencil manufacturers have ceased the need to cut down timber by using recycled materials such as old newspapers, denim and rubber tires. However not all pencil manufacturers have taken these initiatives in conserving the environment and instead remain sourcing wood from rain forests that don't have regulations on logging and may be home to endangered animals. In many of these cases loggers have depleted forest reserves while denying the growth of other trees to stop competition between species. These cases can have serious negative implications on the biodiversity and ecosystem within an area.
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Below is an informative report card published by ForestEthics.org (an organization aimed at protecting forests worldwide) grading certain pencil-makers based on their environmental records. Pencil Environmental Report Card ForestChoice: A Greenline Paper Company: A Green Apple: C Paper Mate: C Dixon/Ticonderoga: F USA Gold: F Read more: The Environmental Impact of a Pencil - The Daily Green The mining of graphite and other metals used for making pencils impacts the environment and the Earth's atmosphere . Mining can affect the surrounding environment of an area in various ways including the:
Fortunately the demand for mining graphite is relatively low compared to other minerals and so pencil making causes less of these harmful effects. |