HOWARD SMITH PAPER GROUP

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Benefits of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification

Introduction Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. It was founded in 1993 in response to public concern about deforestation and the demand for a trustworthy wood-labelling scheme. The Trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council (FS C) is a label on timber and wood based products, including paper, which indicates that the wood comes from a well-managed forest. It gives assurance that the forest of origin has been independently inspected and evaluated to comply with an internationally agreed set of strict environmental, social and economic standards.

The benefits of FSC labelling The FSC label helps ensure public recognition of your corporate, social and environmental responsibility policies. It provides independent assurance to ‘ethical’ customers that your customers that your product comes from forests managed to the highest social and economic standards.

Forest Stewardship Council is supported by high profile organisations including; WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Woodland T rust. Forest and Chain of Custody certification Well managed forests are those whose management implements performance standards based on internationally agreed environmental, social and economic requirements. Although many forests are sustainably managed, the only way to provide credible proof of this is through independent verification. Chain of Custody certification is an independent assessment, by a qualified and accredited expert, who verifies systems are in place to trace the flow of wood containing products back to the certified forest.

Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility, often referred to as simply Corporate Responsibility, is a concept whereby organisations consider and take responsibility for the impact of their activities on customer, suppliers, employees, shareholders, commu nities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This commitment is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation, and sees organisations voluntarily taking further steps of continual improvement. CSR strategies are not prescriptive in what they should cover, but fundamental elements normally focus on;

• Health and Safety • Supply Chain Stewardship – ethical procurement • Operational environmental impacts • Social responsibilities for both internal staff and externally for the wider community incorporating charitable support • Business sustainability programmes • Resource efficiencies.

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Benefits of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification

Business benefits of using FSC Certified Paper For most corporate organisations procurement and sourcing policies are now included as a fundamental element of their CSR strategy. This imp acts on their use and choice of paper and print. For paper, commonly products either from a sustainable certified source, like FSC or PEFC or alternatively paper with a recycled content are specified. Product Labelling The FSC logo is used to indicate that the material has Chain of Custody and comes from a certified source. Only printers or agencies who are FSC certified, with this secure Chain of Custody, may use this iconography for their clients printed work. Useful Contact Websites HSPG FSC website: www.fscpaper.co.uk Forest Stewardship Council (UK) website: www.fsc-uk.info More Information To learn more about the environmental and business opportunities of using FSC certified paper please contact us.

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Programme for the endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Introduction

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainable managed forests through independent third party certification.

PEFC is a global umbrella organisation that acknowledges and endorses different national forest certification schemes (e.g. the national scheme in Finland is endorsed by the PEFC). These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world covering 85% of the world's forest area.

Organisations who are PEFC certified provide an auditable chain of custody which assures customers they are buying wood and paper products that originate from sustainable managed forests.

The Howard Smith Paper Group first achieved its PEFC Chain-of-Custody supplier certification in 2007. Certificate number SGS-PEFC/COC-0180

Forest and Chain-of-Custody certification Sustainable managed forests are those whose management implements performance standards based on internationally agreed environmental, social and economic requirements. Although many forests are sustainably managed, the only way to provide credible proof of this is through independent verification. Chain of Custody certification is an independent assessment, by a qualified and accredited expert, who verifies systems are in place to trace the flow of wood containing products back to the certified forest.

Why should I have PEFC certification By using PEFC labelled products, you can be assured of gaining public recognition of your environmental and Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). You can provide independent assurance to customers wishing to buy ethical products that, the forest of origin are managed to the highest social and environmental standards. Increasingly organisations are realising this as an opportunity to grow their business and secure work from organisations who have committed CSR policies.

Product labelling

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The PEFC logo can be used to indicate that the material has chain of custody and comes from a certified source. The PEFC logo can be used optionally on or off product (e.g. invoices etc) under license from the PEFC-Council, only by those who have a valid forest management certificate or a chain of custody certificate to communicate to customers

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Programme for the endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Useful contact websites Howard Smith Paper Group Chain of Custody website: www.fscpaper.co.uk Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Global website: www.pefc.org UK Website: www.pefc.co.uk

How to secure PEFC certification: www.fscpaper.co.uk/getfsc This information sheets also covers how to secure FSC PEFC UK contact details PEFC UK Ltd, Jupiter House, High Street, Tattenhall , Cheshire, CH3 9PX Telephone 01829 770438

More information To learn more about the environmental and business opportunities of using and becoming PEFC certified please contact your local Howard Smith Paper Group regional sales centre.

How to become PEFC Certified Achieving chain of custody is possible for most organisations with some resource investment. The scale and cost of this investment is reflected on the size and complexity of the business and whether any other quality management schemes, such as ISO14001 or ISO 9001, are already in place.

The Howard Smith Paper Group has developed with a partner organisation, The Print Circle, a web based tool for printers, designers and publishers to understand the process and opportunities of becoming both PEFC and FSC certified. Importantly, this is a competitive and simple solution.

Equally important, having made the investment and securing PEFC certification, this tool then helps you remain compliant.

We have a detailed information sheet which explains the process and guidance on cost. This can be downloaded from www.fscpaper.co.uk/getfsc

What PEFC papers are available The Howard Smith Paper Group have a comprehensive range of both PEFC and FSC certified products suitable for most print applications. Details, samples and advice on these products can be secured from your regional sales office.

There is growing recognition, supported by most life-cycle analysis, that the worst way to dispose of paper is to bury it whilst the best way is to recycle it. The good news is that paper can be easily recycled to a reusable quality five or six times.

At present, every year in the UK, we consume over 12 million tonnes of paper and board. Approximately 7.8 million tonnes of this is recovered for recycling, of which circa 4 million is re-manufactured here in the UK predominantly into newsprint, tissue and packaging products. The balance is exported to other world markets, the majority to the Far East.

Traditionally, papers with a high recycled content were regarded as down-shade and poor in performance when compared to virgin fibre grades. However, these myths can be openly challenged. Today’s recycled alternatives are equal in quality, performance and reliability.

Environmental benefits of recycled papers The arguments for recycling paper and board, and for organisations to buy more recycled paper appear compelling. However a recurring theme in the debate that surround waste and resource management is the extent to which the recycling of materials offers genuine benefit to the environment.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a not-for-profit government funded organisation, commissioned a major international research project from the Technical University of Denmark (IPU) and the Danish Topic Centre on Waste. Reviewing existing Life Cycle Analysis it concluded the following derived benefits when using recycled paper;

1 tonne of 100% recycled paper versus virgin paper on average; – Diverts 1.3 tonnes of waste paper from

landfill – Uses 50% less energy in production – Saves 1.32 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

WRAP information sheet on this subject can be downloaded; www.wrap.org.uk/advocacyinformationsheets

With carbon increasingly topical it is important to note that a major factor of carbon benefit is the assumption if not recycled the fibre may otherwise end up as landfill or incinerated. If landfilled, degrading paper produces methane; a greenhouse gas which is 23 times more powerful than CO2.

What constitutes a recycled paper There is currently no official standard for what constitutes a recycled paper. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), have published minimum recommendations that organisations should consider. In summary these are; Printing papers: Minimum 50% recycled content Copier/Office papers: Minimum 70% recycled content Tissue: Minimum 100% recycled content For part-recycled products, the benefits should be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

“We’ve selected high-quality recycled products that won’t just promote sustainability but will also positively reinforce Ocado’s brand value”. Jodie Macklin Marketing Publications Manager, Ocado

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Recycled Paper

Recycled content includes both post and pre-consumer waste, as defined by the NAPM, but excludes mill broke. Mill broke, waste generated within the mill, has always been considered part of the normal furnish of the product.

Business benefits of using recycled paper

Increasingly organisations are interested in sustainability, their Corporate Responsibilities (CR) and generally reducing their environmental footprint.

A “quick win” for many organisations can be implementing a paper procurement policy for recycled papers, with the associated environmental benefits they can claim. Importantly an organisation can make their key stakeholders, employees, customers and stakeholders aware of their commitment by; including this within their annual Corporate Responsibility report and using suitable iconography (logos) on their printed material. Marketing your commitment – Iconography There are a number of different logos which can be used to depict that the product is manufactured from recovered fibre (recycled). The most common in use are; The Mobius loop The percentage figure contained within the loop defines the level of recycled content.

The NAPM loop The percentage figure contained within the loop defines the level of recycled content.

The WRAP recycled mark WRAP conducted market research to show that this final mark had the highest consumer understanding/awareness. More details on this research can be found on www.wrap.org.uk/advocacyinformationsheets

Demand from Government and the wider public sector The government are committed to driving demand for recycled paper, thereby reducing landfill. In November 2003, the Government published the “Quick Wins” specification where all government departments should procure paper with a minimum recycled content. A government framework contract administered by OGC buying solutions and the Department for Transport, offers a wide range of recycled papers. This contract is also open to the wider public sector, Local Authorities, NHS, Schools, etc.

“Using recycled paper has enhanced the University’s image and commitment to environmental issues, with absolutely no detriment to quality.” Amy Clark – Marketing and Communications, Southampton Solent University

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Recycled Paper

For more details on the framework contract contact your regional Howard Smith Paper Group sales office. What recycled products are available? The Howard Smith Group has a comprehensive range of recycled products suitable for most print applications. This includes the Greencoat family of products which has featured in our product portfolio for more than 10 years. Details, samples and advice can be secured from your regional sales office. yoyo A new, innovative and unique “closed loop” recycling solution suitable for large users of office copier paper. A service contract includes; supply of recycled copier paper, collection of waste paper, return to the mill for recycling and then that same material comes back to you as new recycled paper. This unique closed loop recycling solution demonstrates real Corporate Responsibility, for any organisation, in taking ownership of their waste and recycling. More information can be found on www.yoyopaper.com or from your regional sales office.

Useful websites Wrap www.wrap.org.uk yoyo www.yoyopaper.com NAPM www.napm.org.uk More information To learn more about the environmental and business opportunities of using recycled papers please contact your regional sales office. Howard Smith Paper Group contact National Number 0845 608 4608

“The quality and performance of today’s recycled papers are progressive – and completely comparable with virgin grade alternatives.” Andy Seal – Head of Branch, Print, Publishing and Distribution – Department of Transport

ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION SHEET

Recycled Paper