Displaying items by tag: AF&PA

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has issued its response to the United States Postal Service (USPS) announcement to eliminate six-day mail delivery service.

“The U.S. Postal Service’s decision to eliminate six-day mail delivery is a short-sighted solution with questionable financial savings and will only drive volume out of the system, stripping both the USPS and businesses that depend on the mailing industry of potential revenues,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.  “The greatest contributor to the record $15.9 billion USPS losses in 2012 was not the cost of Saturday delivery but the $11.1 billion in unrealistic benefit obligations. Reduction of service puts mailing industry jobs at risk and eliminates the Postal Service’s opportunities to leverage its network to find new revenue growth.”

The USPS is the essential component of a $1 trillion mailing industry that employs more than 8 million Americans in large and small businesses across the country such as advertising, printing, paper manufacturing, publishing, and financial services.  Approximately one-third, or $6 billion, of printing and writing paper produced in the U.S. is delivered through the Postal Service.

“We urge Congress to take action to ensure the long-term stability of the Postal Service and to passing comprehensive postal reform that supports both long-term cost reductions and new revenue sources, not by cutting critical services needed for delivery of time sensitive information,” said Harman.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman has issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Pulp and Paper Industry, also known as the residual risk and technology review rule.

“EPA’s reaffirmation of the core elements from the 1998 maximum achievable control technologies (MACT) rule is welcome news.  Control technologies have not changed since that time, and EPA’s decision is an indication that the current rules have worked to bring pulp and paper mill emissions to an acceptable level.   

“Based on a careful review of available information, EPA rejected changes that would have no measurable public health benefit yet would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars.  EPA also retained the current emission allowances for venting that are needed for the safe operation of mill equipment and were a critical part of the original MACT.

“We remain concerned, however, with the changes to the start-up, shutdown and malfunction provisions and are still evaluating the implications for mills.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the NPTA Alliance, joint hosts of the annual paper industry meeting, announced today that Paper2011 would be held in Chicago on March 27-29, 2011.

“Today’s changing economic demands and business climate have the entire paper industry taking a fresh look at how we position ourselves for continued growth in the future,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.  “Paper2011 will be the premier venue to have those discussions and the new location in Chicago will really enhance our efforts to foster a broader perspective on the industry.” 

“Paper2011 in Chicago will bring representatives across the supply chain together in a new location,” said Newell Holt, CEO of NPTA.  “This will be the one event in 2011 where leaders from across the industry can come together to discuss ways to advance their respective companies’ interest as well as that of our industry.” 

Additional details about Paper2011 will be announced in subsequent releases.  For more information as it is announced, go to www.paper2011.com.

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About the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA):  AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry employs 1 million workers and generates 6 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.

About the NPTA Alliance: NPTA Alliance (formerly the National Paper Trade Association, Inc.), founded in 1903, is the association for the $60+ billion paper, packaging, and supplies distribution industry. The mission of NPTA is to actively support the success of its members through the delivery networking, education, industry data and research and advocacy, which focuses on the health of the distribution channel. Visit the NPTA Alliance online at www.gonpta.com

The American Forest & Paper Association has issued its 2010 report measuring progress by the forest products industry on key sustainability indicators. The report – Sustainable Practices: a foundation of the forest products industry – shows that despite the severe impact made by the recession, the AF&PA notes that continued investments by its members in efficient processes and equipment, which have led to measurable progress on such sustainability indicators as recycling and air emissions.

Among the reports key findings, are:

• In 2009, 63.4 percent of U.S. paper consumed was recovered – surpassing AF&PA’s 60 percent recovery goal three years ahead of schedule.

• On an absolute basis, both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions at member pulp and paper and wood products industry facilities have decreased.

• In 2008, 65 percent of the energy needed to operate member pulp and paper mills was produced from renewable fuels.  At wood products facilities, renewable fuels produced 73.5 percent of needed energy.

• Compared to 2006, pulp and paper mill sulfur dioxide releases decreased 14.6 percent and total reduced sulfur releases were reduced 18.6 percent.

• Companies have continued to make investments in new processes and equipment.  Paper mill and allied product company capital expenditures were $7.6 billion in 2006 and $6.3 billion in 2008.

• From 2002 to 2008, forest products exports grew by almost 50 percent, from $18.2 to $27.1 billion

For the full report download the attachment below.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman made the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, issued this week:

“The EPA’s action hurts rural communities by endangering family wage American jobs and reversing economic development in communities that need it the most.

“We are deeply disappointed the EPA failed to reaffirm its own precedent and the internationally-recognized carbon neutrality of biomass.  This rule treats biomass fuels identically to fossil fuels, in effect undermining the Administration’s support for renewable energy policy in this country.  The forest products industry is proud of its voluntary reductions in greenhouse gases and our increasing reliance on domestically grown, renewable and carbon neutral biomass to power our mills – all of which are important for a sustainable future.

“Biomass is the renewable fuel that forest products facilities use for two-thirds of their energy needs as an alternative to fossil fuels.  Emissions from the combustion of biomass historically have not been included in greenhouse gas reduction policies because biomass combustion does not increase carbon in the atmosphere when the overall biomass stock is renewed.  When biomass is burned for energy, it releases carbon dioxide that was captured from the atmosphere back into the atmosphere. As trees are replanted, this carbon is reabsorbed, repeating the cycle. EPA’s own data show that the biomass carbon cycle in the U.S. removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits.  This rule undermines this important precedent and jeopardizes public and private investment in biomass-based renewable energy, which is fundamental to existing and future green jobs in rural communities hit hard by the economic downturn.  

“This rule is another example of why the Clean Air Act is the wrong tool to regulate greenhouse gases. New investment in manufacturing and clean energy technologies runs counter to the arcane and rigid set of rules and regulations that are being triggered by the use of the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases.  These rules have developed around localized pollutants and are not well suited to address the global realities of greenhouse gases.

“Congress, not the EPA, is in the best position to make the trade-offs that will be needed to ensure future global competitiveness for the forests products industry and other energy intensive, traded exposed industries that employ millions of hard working Americans and contribute to our nation’s economic well being.”

For More Information:

Carlton Carroll
001 (202) 463-2587
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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released its 50^th Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard, and Pulp Capacity,  which reported that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined 2.5 percent in 2009 to 93.9 million tons. The decline took place against a backdrop of a severe global economic recession.  Paper and paperboard production is rebounding from the recession-induced lows reached in early 2009.

The Survey also reported that 14 U.S. mills were permanently closed in 2009, shutting down 16 paper and paperboard machines, and an additional 11 machines were permanently shut down at other mills.  Furthermore, several mills and machines have been indefinitely idled in response to weak market conditions, but have not been removed from the Survey base because they may be restarted at some future date.

According to data reported to the Survey, total paper and paperboard capacity is expected to decline 3.4% in 2010 and then remain essentially stable in 2011 and 2012.

The Survey reports U.S. industry capacity data for the years 2009 through 2012 for all major grades of paper, paperboard, and pulp, based on a comprehensive survey of all U.S. pulp and paper mills. Survey respondents represent about 90 percent of the U.S. industry capacity.

The complete Survey with detailed tables can be purchased for $1,650 by contacting Michelle Gaskins at AF&PA (202-463-5162, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

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The government of Brazil this week released the final retaliation list on U.S. goods in its dispute over U.S. cotton subsidies, and the final list does not include pulp, paper or wood products.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) authorized Brazil to retaliate against the U.S. for non-compliance with its ruling in a dispute on cotton subsidies.  A preliminary retaliation list issued by Brazil’s government last November included several pulp and paper products with a value of about $120 million, which if included on the final list could have been subject to 100 percent tariffs.

“We support free and fair trade and are especially pleased that pulp and paper products were removed from the final retaliation list by the Brazilian government,” said American Forest & Paper (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman.

For More Information:
Carlton Carroll
(202) 463-2587
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