Paper & Environment

Is your paper environmentally friendly? Does it come from a sustainable managed forest?
What fibres were used to make your paper?

The answers to these questions, and more can be given by your paper supplier. The industry has made efforts to reduce the environmental empact of paper and to inform customers of steps that we can all take to support sustainable development.

Sustainable Fibre Resources
Through sustainable forestry, the paper industry can ensure a renewable supply of raw material. as well as the preservation of biodiversity.  Once paper products have been used, they can be collected and used several times, either asa secondary raw material (for recycled paper production) or as a biofuel.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) are the two most frequently used systems in Europe promoting sustainable forest management and safeguarding long-term fibre resources.

Other forest management systems include:  Sustainable Forestry Initiative, American Tree Farm System, Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Draft Australian Forestry Standard, Brazillian CERFLOR scheme, Chilean CERTFOR Standard.

Common Responsibility
The entire paper industry supply chain strives to make sustainably developed products.  This leads to common responsibility where all stakeholders have an important role to play. 

Environmental Management Systems
The European paper industry is convinced of the value of environmental mangement systems and has long promoted the adoption of such schemes on a voluntary basis. Environmental management systems provide useful tools to improve environmental performance and to assess the progress made.  They also communicate the message that the industry strives for a continuous improvement of its production process.

Product Related Information
The environment impact of a paper product during its life cycle is mainly linked to the manufacturing process.  It is therefore essential that product related information is available to customers.