Environmental Certification Schemes

PEFC

The PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is a framework for the mutual recognition of national or regional forest certification schemes, rather than being a specific scheme in its own right.  National governing bodies apply for membership of the PEFC Council.

Key Points:

• A minimum of 70% of the fibre must be PEFC approved for the product to carry the logo.

• A chain of custody scheme and product logo are available.

• There is widespread support amongst those in the forest and paper industry, who view it as more flexible, economic and user friendly.

Purelypaper is a licensed user of the PEFC logo

NAPM Recycled Mark

This is the National Association of Paper Merchants’ scheme for designating a paper as recycled. 

Key Points:

• To qualify a product must contain at least 75% recycled fibre, which can be either pre- or post-consumer waste.

• The other 25% can be mill broke or virgin fibre.

Blue Angel

This German environmental label is the oldest ecolabel in the world. It is very popular in Germany but fairly rare in the UK.

Key Points:

• It applies to more than 80 products including recycled paper.

• Papers must be 100% recycled utilising paper from household and commercial collections.

• Compared to paper products made from primary fibres using wood as a source of fibre, raw material recycled papers with the Blue Angel label reduce the consumption of wood resources and water and energy consumption whilst maintaining a comparable level of product serviceability.

ISO14001

The standard published by the International Standards Organisation specifying the requirements of an environmental management system.  Certified organisations are committed to the continuous improvement of aspects like energy efficiency, waste reduction and pollution control. 

Key Points:

• Refers to environmental management of the mill rather than the product itself.

•  ISO14001 does not specify the level of an organisation’s environmental performance (it doesn’t necessarily mean an organisation has good environmental credentials).

• It does require an organisation to commit to complying with legislation and regulation and to continuous improvement.

• In practice ISO14001 means that an organisation has examined its operations and identified areas that have an impact on the environment.

• There is no official logo available.

EMAS

The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme is the European Union’s regulated environmental management system. Similar to ISO14001 but is more stringent and requires the public reporting of progress.

Key Points:

• Refers to the environmental management of the mill rather than the product itself.

• There is an off-product logo available (subject to strict requirements for use).

• Use of the logo on products is being trialled.

Nordic Swan

An environmental label encouraging production methods that create minimum environmental impact.

Key Points:

• It applies to many types of products and even services.

• The broad criteria are a ‘life cycle analysis’, quality and performance standards and the periodic raising of environmental standards.

• Once popular, it has now been dropped by many paper manufacturers in favour of environmental management systems such as EMAS.

• Still found on some office papers

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