Responsible paper companies either use recycled fibres or, when opting for virgin fibres, source wood from sustainably managed forests, often adopting the EU Ecolabel to empower consumers to choose the most environmentally friendly products.
Forest-friendly paper
The spotlight often falls on paper production as a root cause of deforestation and forest degradation, which contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss. However, some paper companies are among the pioneers when it comes to promoting sustainable forestry practices, and they will now be more so after the entry into force of the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products. This piece of legislation imposes that, from December 2024, all forest-related products placed on the EU market are guaranteed to not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation in the EU or elsewhere in the world.
The global packaging and paper producer Mondi Group in their 2022 sustainability report already highlighted their commitment to the uptake of sustainable forest management practices and the development of resilient forest landscapes for their wood supply. Their wood fibre is sourced from certified sustainable forests or is recycled. Indeed, the company is on a mission to demonstrate that recycled paper products can be both high-quality and sustainable.
Furthermore, in 2022, 82% of Mondi’s packaging and paper products were reusable, recyclable or compostable, with a target of 100% by 2025, reducing waste and the demand for raw materials in line with the circular economy principles.
Mondi’s EU Ecolabel paper products
With consumers increasingly looking for sustainable paper products, Mondi opted for the EU Ecolabel to validate the green credentials of its uncoated paper. The EU Ecolabel was first awarded to a Mondi product in 2012 in Austria.
All EU Ecolabel products must meet strict criteria for sustainability which are product-group specific. For the “paper” category, three EU Ecolabel product groups criteria sets are available, including for graphic paper (established in 2019). On top of requesting that all respective applicable legal requirements are met, EU Ecolabel criteria for graphic paper assess that no fibres originate from GMO species, that they are covered by valid chain of custody certificates, that at least 70% is certified and originates from sustainably managed forests (and/or recycled materials), and that any uncertified material is covered by verification systems ensuring that is legally sourced. The products must also satisfy requirements for reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions to air and water, restricting the use of hazardous chemicals, using energy-efficient manufacturing processes, reducing waste generation, and encouraging circular economy practices.
Businesses like Mondi benefit from using the trusted EU Ecolabel to showcase their sustainable journey in paper manufacturing practices. By September 2023, the EU Ecolabel had been awarded to 20 294 paper products, including numerous graphic paper products made by Mondi under different brand names, for example PERGRAPHICA® design paper. All the paper products are listed on the EU Ecolabel Product Catalogue (ECAT) - just type ‘Mondi’ into the search box.
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