Sustainable Paper Procurement
Sustainability is now at the top of business agendas. So it’s good to know that paper remains an excellent choice. In fact, paper is now the leading industry in Europe for recycling, and every day more trees are planted in Europe than are harvested. The paper industry is also the largest producer and user of bio-fuel (renewable energy) in the entire EU manufacturing sector.
The main component of paper is cellulose fibre, which primarily comes from trees. For the paper manufacturer, the supply of this fibre comes from wood pulp or recovered (recycled) fibre. Inevitably, myths have evolved that the paper industry is responsible for deforestation but the reality is that trees for paper production are grown in plantations. Forests in the EU have increased significantly over the past 50 years and today, the annual increase of forest cover in Europe is 6,450 km2 (the size of Greater London). Most of the world’s deforestation occurs in tropical regions where people in underdeveloped countries clear forests for agricultural purposes or wood-fuel collection. Also, tropical hardwoods are not best suited for paper manufacture.
As environmental concerns have increased, along with the use of Recycled Paper, two main auditable processes have emerged to ensure that tree pulp is harvested in ways that avoid negative environmental impacts.
These are the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes).
Power of sustainable print
To help printers and designers and users of paper explain and understand the sustainability of paper and print we have published The power of sustainable print guide on this subject.
Howard Smith Paper Group - Sustainable Procurement Policy
A key element of our Corporate Responsibility policy is a commitment to sustainable procurement. All key suppliers are required to provide the environmental facts on their products and manufacturing impacts. We actively promote sustainable forest management, holding both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Complementing sustainable virgin fibre products, with Chain of Custody, we also offer a comprehensive range of recovered fibre products (recycled). The Group commits only to knowingly procure products that originate from legal and sustainable sources.
As environmental concerns have increased, along with the use of Recycled Paper, two main auditable processes have emerged to ensure that tree pulp is harvested in ways that avoid negative environmental impacts.
These are the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes).
Power of sustainable print
To help printers and designers and users of paper explain and understand the sustainability of paper and print we have published The power of sustainable print guide on this subject.
Howard Smith Paper Group - Sustainable Procurement Policy
A key element of our Corporate Responsibility policy is a commitment to sustainable procurement. All key suppliers are required to provide the environmental facts on their products and manufacturing impacts. We actively promote sustainable forest management, holding both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Complementing sustainable virgin fibre products, with Chain of Custody, we also offer a comprehensive range of recovered fibre products (recycled). The Group commits only to knowingly procure products that originate from legal and sustainable sources.