Paper and print can support sustainability

Printed products have often unfairly been perceived as contributors to the carbon problem, but International Paper’s processes and focus on the environment show high-quality paper does support sustainabilityPaper is never just paper, especially when it comes to printing on it. Customers have high expectations regarding the quality of print media, and proof of sustainable sourcing is now a prerequisite for the majority of buyers – so finding the right match isn’t always easy. Gerald Demets, sales & marketing director for International Paper’s European Papers business, talks about the story of PRODESIGN®, the division’s flagship product when it comes to print media for applications such as direct mail, and how the company has ensured that it meets all of the needs for printers and customers alike.Where and when did the PRO-DESIGN® story begin?Gerald Demets International Paper’s PRODESIGN® has actually been around for more than 20 years and its heritage has helped to shape it into the renowned paper that is has become today. It’s manufactured at our Saillat mill in France, which has stood on the banks of the river Vienne in a village of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants for over 100 years. The mill became part of International Paper in 1989 and a number of investments made it a benchmark in the field of environmental sustainability. Sustainability was part of our ethos, and the integrated Saillat mill today produces 95% of the energy it requires, including 85% via biomass from the combustion of the by-products of the pulp production process (such as bark). These by-products are burned and then converted into energy and heat. The three chemical elements essential to our pulp and paper production – sodium, sulphur and calcium – are recycled, creating a circular economy, eliminating waste and promoting the continual use of resources.How do you support printers with communicating the sustainability message to their customers?GD A common misconception is that paper is a big contributor to climate change, but as documented in Our carbon footprint: How do paper products fit in? from Two Sides, paper and print actually make up less than 1% of the world’s carbon footprint. PRO-DESIGN® really does sell itself when reinforcing a positive story of how paper and print can support sustainability. For example, the Saillat mill has been voluntarily implementing a responsible policy of respect for the environment, continuously improving its environmental footprint. For instance, we work with a network of forestry contractors and wood suppliers and process wood only from within a 130km radius around the mill. Almost one third of the wood comes from saw mill residues. In terms of investing further in the sustainable future of our Saillat Mill, five years ago we embarked on our ‘O2 Delign’ project, the investment of roughly $22m (approximately £16.6m) was supported by local and national French organisations and European agencies. In addition to performance improvements, this project improved water effluent quality by about 35% for the entire mill. We also take into consideration biodiversity, which in France is particularly difficult to manage due to several eco-regions, forest dwelling species and habitats including some endangered. To aid the identification of high conservation value (HCV) areas, and to support forest managers in their daily decisions, International Paper and WWF have developed a specific tool box. Thanks to a dedicated website, it is now easier for forest managers to highlight protected areas and the endangered species and habitats that live in them before harvesting operations. The system offers management documents for more than 60 priority species and habitats, and a monitoring system to preserve and sustain biodiversity. This initiative is a perfect example of how International Paper is committed to improve our planet and sustain forests for the next generations to come. We have many resources available to help print businesses promote this sustainability message and showcase PRO-DESIGN® to customers as an environmentally conscious choice for their direct mail campaign or print projectAlong with sound sustainability credentials, what else makes PRO-DESIGN® a great choice for print businesses? GD When we talk about PRO-DESIGN®, we talk about the ‘True Power of One’. We know that one of the biggest headaches for printing professionals can be inconsistent paper quality. With PRO-DESIGN® we take away that worry as the full portfolio, ranging from 90 to 350gsm, is manufactured on one machine – for consistency and worry-free printing. This is what we call the ‘True Power of One’. Through our years of research and development, feedback has made us acutely