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Environmental responsibility is being taken to the next level. No longer is it just acceptable to recycle waste products. Public institutions as well as end users are demanding that the new products supplied are made from these recycled products. In addition, the manufacturing processes to produce them also need to be Green.
Suppliers are doing their part. They are combining environmental protection with quality paper products. The result is more certified recycled paper products are being offered in the marketplace.
"The demand for recycled paper products is continually growing," says Mark Ray, director of marketing for Kruger Products Limited, Away From Home Division. "Places where public money is being spent such as state and federal procurements, as well as colleges and universities are stipulating these recycled paper products."
Certification
Certifying that the product and process is Green distinguishes suppliers from their competition. The EcoLogo symbolizing the Environmental Choice Program created by Environment Canada focuses on continuous environmental process improvement. The certification criteria addresses all of the potential environmental impacts in the lifecycle of a product.
"The entire manufacturing process is looked at for certification," says Ronald Thiry, vice president of manufacturing for SCA. "It is a comprehensive program that looks at your energy efficiency, water use and cleaning procedures."
Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization, located in Washington, D.C. that also certifies products. They also utilize a lifecycle approach, which means they evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including on-site plant visits. Green Seal standards mandate that towel and tissue products cannot be manufactured with any added inks, dyes, fragrances or pigments.
The use of these products also provide credits for buildings taking part in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) program.
"Third party certification makes sure that even your manufacturing process is sound," says Roy. "We realized that you can't just tell customers what you are doing. Certification takes the guesswork out of the evaluation process."
Investment
Kruger Products has been using recycled fiber in tissue since the 1970s. In 1989, the recycled fiber mill expanded its recycling capabilities to include the processing of paper waste stream materials including office paper, magazines and newspaper.
According to Thiry, SCA has invested very heavily improving their recycling technologies. Through research, SCA has made improvements in seperating ink from fiber, cleaning and screening.
"These are difficult chemistries," says Thiry. "Through our research, we have made the process more robust. The result is improved whiteness and cleanliness in the product."
For recycled paper products, this has not always been the case. In the beginning, these products were known for low quality resulting in low user satisfaction.
"Recycled fiber is now being produced in greater quantities and better quality. We have built our reputation on producing quality products that are environmentally friendly," says Ray.
Recycling Facts
• Recycling lets you reduce waste by 80 percent, which adds up when you consider that one ton of paper takes up 2 m3 of landfill.
• Every ton of recycled paper saves 20 trees, and one tree can filter up to 60 lbs. of pollutants from the air each year.
• Chlorine-free products use 20 to 25 times less water than regular products.
• By recycling one ton of paper:
- you save 4,100 kWh of energy the equivalent of the average power consumption of one household over a six-month period;
- you reduce water pollution by 35 percent and air pollution by 74 percent;
- you save 7,000 gallons of water; and
- you can make 8,000 rolls of bathroom tissue or 3,250 rolls of paper towels.
(Facts courtesy of Cascades Inc.)
Costs
In the past, recycled paper products had a price advantage over using virgin fibers. Since the demand for these recycled fiber has grown, this advantage has dissipated.
"That is why it is hard to compromise on quality. The cost and the use of the product is paramount to the sale. Customers are not prepared to pay more," says Ray.
Sellers should emphasize the environmental benefits of these products.
"These products should be sold on the advantage of using recycled products," says Thiry. "We capture and reuse over 750,000 tons of waste/recoverd fiber per year."
While over 50 products have received the EcoLogo or Green Seal in Kruger's product line, according to Ray, they didn't create any more SKUs (stock keeping units).
"These products existed in the core of our line, therefore we didn't have to create a new line and no new warehouse space is required for buyers," says Ray.
All in all, approximately 70 percent of Kruger products use recycled paper. Over 15 percent of this recycled product comes from their own plants.
