According to a Pira report, RFID and printed electronics will have a big impact on the printing and publishing industries 
A little longer than 80 days perhaps, but UV-cure inkjet is circumnavigating the globe at its own accelerating pace. Pulp and Paper
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| Best practices in responsible paper sourcing |
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| Written by Mondi Business Paper Service, 2007 | |
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The paper industry today is at the forefront of the sustainability movement, making great changes to reduce emissions and waste. Mondi Business Paper Service looks at the advancement of environmentally responsible sourcing in printing and publishing. The trend for products that reflect responsible environmental practices is becoming a defining feature across all industries. Increasing awareness of environmental practices is changing the way in which both consumers and manufacturers approach buying and production. As a result sustainable management has become a core business issue for many organisations. This includes minimising the amount of waste that is produced, reducing energy consumption and making more efficient use of resources.Not so very long ago, the notion of environmentally responsible sourcing of paper products for printers and publishers hardly came into question. Recycled papers didn't offer the optimal whiteness needed for professional printing and the forestry industry was facing stark criticism for clear-cutting great expanses of forest. Today the paper industry, long targeted by environmentalists, is at the forefront of the sustainability movement, making great changes to reduce emissions and waste. It has become a model for other industries, with NGOs, manufacturers, social groups and forestry companies working together to effect change. Starting at the source: responsible forest managementResponsible forest management is the cornerstone of responsible paper sourcing. There are various certification bodies, of which the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are amongst the most well-known. The stringent standard sets out 10 principles and a series of related criteria to which forestry operations must adhere if they are to receive certification. The roots of the FSC can be traced back to the early 1990s, when a diverse group got together to discuss setting up the world's first forest certification organisation. Comprising environmental NGOs, indigenous peoples, forestry organisations as well as big retailers, they laid out agreements on what standards would be required and how the organisation would be orchestrated. In the 14 years since its establishment in 1993, over 92 million hectares of forest have been certified in 76 countries1. While the driver for the creation of the FSC may have come from non-regulating bodies, consumers are showing a greater awareness for these products. In 2003 alone, the amount of paper produced to FSC standards in Europe quadrupled. The recent announcement that the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series will be printed on FSC certified paper is a clear sign that these papers are adding real value to their products. While FSC is largely seen as the leading certifying body, PEFC acts as an umbrella organisation for the assessment and mutual recognition of smaller national forest certification schemes. These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of ongoing mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world covering 85 per cent of the world's forest area. Furthermore, reforestation is vital to securing raw materials that are sustainably available. Planting new saplings, as part of forest management also aids the carbon cycle. Young plants better absorb CO2, converting it to biomass and oxygen. Looking at the environmental impact of the industry as a whole, reforestation and the role of saplings as carbon sinks, has a principle role to play in reducing the environmental footprint. The role of the manufacturerFor printers and publishers, sourcing their paper from respected and responsible manufactures is one of the most important decisions to make. Two things to look for when looking for a paper supplier are their wood sourcing policy and wood tracing systems. Once manufacturers have made a commitment to responsible sourcing and FSC or PEFC certification, the next step is to define a wood sourcing policy to which the company will adhere. Responsible purchasing guidelines are simple guides for staff and suppliers responsible for procuring legal and sustainable wood and virgin fibre used in paper and pulp production. Such guidelines state for example the company's sustainable forest management policy, credible certification standard, minimum wood standard and defines a process for ensuring long-term legal and sustainably harvested wood/fibre supplies. Just as important is the tracing system, which makes it possible for purchased wood to be traced back to the source, serving as a guarantee and 'backup' for sourcing policies. From wood to paperPaper manufacturers' environmental reporting can provide great insight into a company's overall sustainability. Pulp production processes also impact the environment. In Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) products the pulp used for manufacturing, the paper has been bleached without the use of elementary chlorine, which significantly reduces emissions of organic chlorine compounds. Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) products are 100 per cent chlorine-free bleached, usually using a combination of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. This process guarantees that organic chlorine compounds are not present in waste water and that pollutants don't enter the food chain through water dwelling creatures such as fish. 100 per cent recycled or virgin fibres?Initially the first assumption of consumers is that 100 per cent recycled is by default the more environmentally sound product. However it is necessary for a significant proportion of papers, especially for the printing and publishing but also packaging industry, to be sourced from virgin fibres in order to meet the high quality demands in terms of brightness, strength and hygienic aspects, for example. Recycled papers can offer publishers one added advantage: a 2005 survey conducted by an independent research company2 revealed that 80 per cent of consumers who had purchased a book or magazine in the past six months or who currently have a magazine subscription said they would be willing to pay slightly more for a book or magazine printed on recycled paper. Intelligent recycling is a key word here. Recycled fibres consist of either pre-consumer waste, including paper recovered from the manufacturing process i.e. paper mill scraps, offcuts or trimmings. Post-consumer waste includes paper that has been used by consumers and would otherwise have ended up in landfill. Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely as fibres wear out, losing their capacity to bind with other fibres to form a strong paper. These fibres can be used also combined with virgin fibres in products with comparably lower quality demands, such as specific packaging or tissue grades. Into the hands of the print centres and end usersResponsible sourcing doesn't end when the paper arrives at the print centre. The printing industry collectively uses a significant amount of energy - from electricity to run the presses, to fuel for delivering the finished product. Measures can be adopted industry-wide to reduce energy consumption. This includes using presses that are more energy-efficient, driving fuel-efficient delivery vehicles and researching alternative energy suppliers. Sourcing print centres that practice Best Available Technique with the ability to capture and reuse large amounts of recovered solvent is equally important. This reduces overall costs and prevents the release of volatile organic compounds, a major source of greenhouse gases. Printers and end-users alike should make sure that suppliers, whether paper suppliers or delivery companies, are certified to recognised standards, such as Chain of Custody certification or ISO 14001. Of course the printers can also obtain Chain of Custody certification, identifying themselves as a reliable partner for responsible sourcing. As of April 2006, the European FSC-paper list included 96 FSC printers and publishers. This ensures that every step in the value chain is responsibly and sustainably managed. The advancement of environmentally responsible sourcing will require sustainable practices across the entire cycle: from forest management to design and production through to service and end use. And of course, the final step in the responsible sourcing cycle is ensuring that paper is recycled after use. References1. FSC International Center, March 2007. 2. www.sustainprint.com |
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