Mohawk Papers Says "It's Easy Being Green"

Now it's easy to make your company more "green." You already know that using recycled paper is one step towards helping the environment. But when looking for environmentally sensible papers you should dig deeper than just the recycled content.

Knowing how the paper is made is important. Look for manufacturers that minimize the environmental impact during the production process. Some questions you can ask us are: Does the paper company support responsible forest management? Are they FSC certified? Are the papers produced with renewable energy? Are they third party certified? This information will help you supply your customers with the best environmental options.

Mohawk offers the widest range of environmental papers on today's market. As of June 1st, all of Mohawk's papers are manufactured with 100% wind-generated electricity. In addition to its highly regarded Windpower porfolio, Mohawk is now making Strathmore Writing, Strathmore Script, Beckett Concept and Beckett Expression carbon neutral. This means that these grades are made entirely with renewable energy.

How does Mohawk make paper carbon neutral? First, Mohawk makes every effort to physically reduce emissions associated with production such as replacing its steam plants with low-emission natural gas fired boilers, choosing suppliers that are also environmentally responsible, increasing the amount of post-consumer waste fiber used and converting its fleet of trucks to biodiesel fuel. Then, the grades are made carbon neutral within the production processes by offsetting both thermal and electrical energy emissions. These offsets help fund renewable energy projects that would not be financially possible otherwise.

Why is this significant? "Environmental concerns are top of mind for businesses and consumers alike. In addition to looking for ways to reduce our own carbon footprint, we feel it is equally important to provide products to customers who are looking for opportunities to contribute to the cause," said Chris Harrold, Mohawk's Director, Business Development.

The carbon offsets Mohawk purchases are verified emissions reduction credits (VERs), which offset all of the thermal energy used in the production of Strathmore Writing, Strathmore Script, Beckett Concept and Beckett Expression. These offsets are verified by the Environmental Resources Trust and are listed on their Greenhouse Gas Registry.

"Third party certification for carbon offsets is important because it verifies that the offsets are funding projects that could only happen because of the carbon market," says Harrold.

Harry Potter Goes Green

In additon to being the fastest selling book in both the United States and Britain, Harry Potter has set another important record -- only this time for the benefit of the environment. The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,’ is printed on FSC certified paper. "With a total of 22 million pounds, this is the largest purchase of FSC-certified paper in a single book printing to date (FSC News Headlines, 03/21/07)."

FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council, which is an organization dedicated to making sure forests are managed in an environmentally responsible way. Harry Potter's US publisher, Scholastic, Inc., ensured that at least 65% of the 16,700 tons of paper used for the initial printing of 12 million copies in the US is FSC-certified and contains at least 30% post-consumer waste fiber, in accordance with FSC standards.

As the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, Scholastic continues to work with Rainforest Alliance to improve its carbon footprint by engaging in more responsible paper procurement policies.

Senior marketing manager in the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable forestry program, Liza Murphy, states, “We applaud Scholastic’s progressive and bold commitment to support responsible forestry practices by buying FSC-certified and recycled papers. We hope that other businesses follow this lead by making commitments to using wood products that come from forests that are managed to be productive, protect soils and waterways, and benefit local communities.”

More About FSC Forestlands (from FSC News Headlines, 03/21/07):

"The area of FSC-certified forestlands has skyrocketed in recent years. More than 215 million acres (87 million hectares) globally are FSC-certified to date, up from more than 118 million acres (48 million hectares) in 2004. This increase has propelled rapid growth in the global supply of FSC-certified wood products including paper. Several hundred pulp providers, mills, merchants and printers globally have obtained FSC certification, which allows for increasing availability of certified products to consumers.

"Increasing consumer interest in FSC-certified products ensures that forest companies have growing economic incentives to manage their lands responsibly."

(Source: Rainforest Alliance Press Release, 03/20/07)