Love Paper Week Celebrates Paper & Sustainability

This article has been prepared with resources provided by lovepaperweekna.org and is being shared with Ahead of the Curve readers interested in celebrating paper. Find more—including free downloadable resources—at the website.

Even in today’s digital world, paper remains unique in its ability to touch our lives. Paper is renewable, recyclable, and the natural support of new ideas and creativity. It’s okay to LOVE PAPER.

Running from February 2nd – 6th, we encourage all printers, paper merchants, paper and packaging manufacturers, publishers, direct mail agencies, and all those who operate within the sector to support Love Paper Week and to inform their clients, customers, and consumers why paper is such a sustainable, effective and attractive medium.

Love Paper Week 2026 is a powerful opportunity to remind everyone why paper matters. Beyond celebration, it’s a chance to highlight sustainability, functionality, craftsmanship, creativity, and the enduring value of print. 

Paper Loves Trees

Did you know that US forest area has been increasing by more than 1,200 NFL Football fields every day?

The paper industry depends on and promotes sustainable forest management to provide a reliable supply of wood fiber, the key raw material for its products. Well-managed forests result in important benefits for society, such as livelihoods, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. Continuing demand for paper and other wood products is an indispensable economic incentive for maintaining healthy, forested lands rather than converting them to non-forest uses.

Between 1990 and 2020, US net forest area expanded by approximately 605,000 acres per year. Canada’s forested area also has remained quite stable for the past 25 years, at approximately 367 million hectares (over 900 million acres).

More trees are regrown than harvested annually in both the US and Canada. In fact, tree harvesting occurs on less than two percent of total US forestland each year, and on 0.2 percent of forestland in Canada. In contrast, nearly three percent of US forestland and 4.3 percent of Canadian forestland is disturbed annually by natural events like insects or disease and 1.2 percent by fire.

Paper Loves People

Did you know that the US forest products industry is a major national employer?

The forest products industry is among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 43 states. The US industry directly employs around 925,000 people and supports more than two million additional jobs throughout the supply chain. The forest products industry is a major contributor to the US economy, representing approximately five percent of manufacturing GDP.

In 2022, Canada’s forest sector directly employed 212,660 people, including increased representation of women, indigenous, and immigrant employees. Canada’s forest sector contributed CAN$33.4 billion to Canada’s nominal GDP in 2022.

Paper Loves Learning

Did you know that, when it comes to learning, paper elevates our ability to comprehend and process information?

The expansion of broadband, smartphones, and portable technology has changed how we communicate, access information, work and learn. While many of these changes are positive, there is growing evidence that this isn’t always the case.

In recent years, there has been a gradual shift away from paper-based learning materials in schools toward digital and online tools. Research has shown that this increasing reliance on digital methods may be negatively affecting the ability of students to learn and remember information.

There is also growing concern about the impact of digital technology on mental and physical health. Paper-based learning materials, in addition to providing cognitive benefits, also provide a much-needed break from the digital world.

Don't Let this Week End Without Spreading the Word

Since paper loves us so much, we should be sure to love it back! Love Paper Week is the perfect time to shift perceptions and build trust. Download free social media assets and email footers at LovePaperWeekNA.org, and be sure to use consistent hashtags and visual branding throughout the week. It is easy (and free) to use the digital assets. Your company can...

• Feature the Love Paper Week banners or logos on your website homepage and in your email signatures.

• Add a Love Paper logo to your customer-facing emails—not just seasonally, but all year long.

• Use the Love Paper Week social media posts on your social channels to help spread the word about the benefits of paper.

• Share the Love Paper message with your internal employees through digital signage.

Don’t forget to brand your own content with #lovepaperweek and #lovepaper, and tag @LovePaperCampaign so they can reshare.

By weaving the concise messaging of Love Paper Week 2026 into your own story, you can turn this themed week into a perception-enhancing experience. Love Paper Week isn’t just a celebration, it’s also the perfect time to strategically educate, inspire, and reconnect clients, customers, and consumers with the value of paper. 

You can celebrate Love Paper all year long, but Love Paper Week is a great way to reinforce that it’s okay to love paper and elevate the positive ways it affects our lives. You can start by sharing this article as your way to share the paper love. 

And thank you for what YOU DO every day to make paper possible.