The WWF has recently launched the Paper Company Environmental Index which offers an opportunity to compare and learn about the environmental performance and ecological footprint of major paper producing companies in order to make more informed paper supply decisions. The assessment uses a variety of environmental criteria, such as the use of recycled fibre or fibre coming from well-managed forests, energy use and carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption and water pollution [1]. The launch of the Paper Company Environmental Index has coincided with the time when paper consumption is expected to increase from current levels of 400 million tons to 450-500 millions tons by 2020. As the pulp and paper industry is one of the world’s largest users of energy and emitters of greenhouse gases, as well as being a significant source of water pollution and landfill waste, it is now more important than ever to source your paper and office supplies more responsibly.
Who is the Index useful to?
The Paper Company Environmental Index offers the worldwide paper business the opportunity to learn, as well as providing a platform for producers to share their environmental responsibility in a transparent way [2]:
- Paper product buyers can learn about the environmental performance of the companies that produce the products they use so they are able to make more informed decisions
- Paper industry stakeholders (e.g. investors, NGOs) can find information on the environmental and risk profiles of paper businesses
- Businesses in the paper industry can promote transparency and commit to change the paper industry’s business models by showing leadership and environmental transparency
What is assessed?
The Paper Company Environmental Index covers the major impacts of the paper industry on the environment by splitting it into three sections:
- Impacts on forest ecosystems from fibre sourcing (35% of the maximum 100 points) – pulpwood harvesting and plantations can damage ecosystems and create social issues if they are not carried out responsibly. The Paper Company Environmental Index measures how much a producer uses recycled fibre, chain of custody certified virgin fibre (known sources) and credibly-certified fibre in their global production.
- Clean manufacturing (35% of the maximum 100 points) – the Paper Company Environmental Index measures how companies are reducing their footprint on climate and water, companies’ current energy use, fossil carbon dioxide emissions, current levels of dry waste that goes to landfill, how much water the company uses and how effectively the mills clean their effluent water to minimise organic load and pollutants from the pulp bleaching process.
- Corporate transparency (30% of the maximum 100 points) – paper producers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to be transparent about their practices and to communicate their performance publicly. Not only is clear reporting on environmental policy and performance necessary, but issues such as workers’ safety, transportation and interactions with local communities need to be publicised. The Paper Company Environmental Index measures whether the company has an ISO 14001 certification for its mills, whether the company is reporting to a standard recommended by the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines and how the company made its official fibre sourcing policy. It also measures the actual percentage of recycled and credibly certified fibre used that is available to the public and how comprehensively the company makes air, water and waste emissions data publicly available.
The criteria apply to both company policy and production, therefore measuring each company’s targets and actual performance.
The Results
Ten globally significant fine paper manufacturers were approached to voluntarily supply data for the Paper Company Environmental Index, however only five responded: Domtar from North America, M-Real, Stora-Enso and UPM from Europe and Mondi group from South Africa/Europe. As a result, these companies have been applauded for their leadership and transparency and the results are displayed below.
|
|
Mondi |
M-Real |
Stora-Enso |
UPM |
Domtar |
|
Index Score (Max 100) |
63.57 |
51.6 |
54.14 |
53.2 |
36.2 |
It is hoped that other paper companies will follow suit soon and show their directors, business partners, shareholders, investors, paper buyers and communities what they are doing to reduce their global ecological footprint, as well as promoting healthy competition within the industry to be the most green.
If you are looking to purchase more environmentally friendly paper for your own use then why not take a look at our range of paper products in our store?
