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Abstract: This article contributes to the theoretical and empirical discussions on how it could be possible to transform technical eco-efficiency into reduced environmental impact of consumption. The rebound effect is an important concept in this context. The relevance of consumer behaviour is addressed within three important sectors for the Zero Emissions Techniques and Systems: shopping of paper products, energy use in household and waste management. It is not only important how much the consumers buy, but also what kinds of products they buy and how they use and dispose of them. However, the responsibility for a sustainable development should not entirely be put on the shoulders of the individual consumer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The production and consumption of paper leads to emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Therefore, reducing the paper demand will lead to GHG emission reduction. Paper use for communication is responsible for GHG emissions of 121 Mton CO2-equivalents in Western Europe (1995). In this paper a baseline scenario is developed for Western Europe that forecasts a rise in communication paper consumption from 31 Mtons/year in 1995 to 53 Mtons in 2015. We show that several measures are available to reduce the demand for publication papers, e.g. thinner paper, efficient printing technologies, duplexing, and printing on demand (POD). The impact of these measures are determined by using a life cycle inventory approach whereby we focus on GHGs only. We estimate that it is technically possible to reduce paper demand in 2015 by 37% compared with the baseline scenario. This would correspond to a GHG emission reduction of 70 Mton CO2-equivalents We calculate that the intensity of use of publication papers may drop from 5.2 kg per $1000 GDP in 1995 to 3.4 kg per $1000 GDP in 20l5 (all in 1995$). The measures with the largest emission reduction potential are, lowering the basic weight of paper as well as POD. Assumptions on the market potential of POD are uncertain and have a large influence on the results. Further research should focus on determining the influence of increasing access to (digital) information on paper demand. In the analysis only material management improvements are taken into account, no improvements in energy efficiency or improved waste management practices are taken into account. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article deals with the continued consumption of paper. It was assumed that computer technology has the potential of reducing the use of paper. However, every country in the Western world uses more paper as of December 2005, on a per-capita basis, that it did ten years ago. Cognitive psychologists and ergonomics experts argued that paper persisted for very good reasons: when it comes to performing certain kinds of cognitive tasks, paper has many advantages over computers. The fundamental confusion about the role of paper makes people feel dismayed at the sight of a disorganized desk.

Reports on the release of the trend information regarding the paper recovery and its consumption by the Paper Recycling Promotion Center Japan.