Displaying items by tag: Cascades

Dear Reader,

We are pleased to introduce you the results of our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Third-party validated to ensure transparency and adherence to rigorous standards, it measures the environmental impact of Cascades' fine papers in comparison to the North American industry average. The science has spoken and the results are impressive: Rolland Enviro100 has the smallest environmental footprint, followed by Rolland Opaque50 which has a smaller footprint than the average for virgin and 100% recycled papers.

With supporting evidence, this comparative LCA demonstrates that Rolland Enviro100 and Rolland Opaque50 each have a much smaller impact, 68% and 46% respectively, as compared to the generic North American papers. These outstanding results are primarily due to the types of energy used, biogas and hydroelectricity, as well as the use of recycled fibers. Generated from landfill waste decomposition, biogas is a local and renewable energy that serves 93% of the thermal energy needs for Cascades' Rolland Mill.

An LCA breaks through the confusion surrounding green certifications and claims and curbs "greenwashing" by providing comprehensive, quantifiable and rigorous results.

It is a scientific method that assesses the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle. Specifically, for each component of the product under evaluation, its environmental impact is quantified and then aggregated to yield a final result demonstrating the potential damages to Human Health, Ecosystems, Non-Renewable Resources and Climate Change.

Please take a few minutes to watch the Video below.

Cascades is proud to share the results of its LCA , available at www.cascades.com/papers.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your

Cascades Fine Papers Group Sales Representative.

Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery of recyclable materials and the manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, expects to release its 2011 third quarter results before the market open on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Cascades will hold its conference call the same day at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Dial-in number: 1-800-732-1073

Replay: 1-877-289-8525 access code: 4482229#

(Until November 17, 2011)

Financial analysts, investors, media and other interested individuals are also invited to listen to the live or deferred webcast via Cascades' website at www.cascades.com.

Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery of recyclable materials and the manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces that its Norampac division will close its containerboard mill located in Burnaby (British Colombia).

The Burnaby mill has an annual capacity of 128,000 short tons and specializes in the production of 100% recycled linerboard, medium and gypsum. Nearly 100 employees will be affected by the closure, which will be effective on December 1, 2011 at the latest. The mill's production will be redirected progressively towards other Norampac facilities.

“This decision was made to mitigate the negative impact of several factors such as the strength of the Canadian dollar, as well as very high labour and recycled fibre costs. In addition, the mill's profitability has been below our expectations for a few years and we could not pursue our operations under such conditions” stated Marc-Andre Dépin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norampac.

Cascades officials inaugurated last week the addition of $3.7 million in new deinking equipment at the Cascades Fine Papers Group, Breakey Fibres mill. With this focus on producing high quality deinked kraft pulp, the investment will drive improvements in the quality of Cascades' fine papers.

Started in 2010, the project required the addition of several types of equipment, including a flotation cell, washers/thickeners, a disperser and a clarifier. It also involved the expansion of the building located in Breakeyville, Que. Cascades took its commitment to sustainable development to a new level by sourcing equipment from various plants.

As a result of this investment, pulp quality has greatly improved. Visible dirt and glue residue have each decreased 50%, while the whiteness has slightly increased.

"We consider this to be a very significant benefit, especially as the quality of raw materials -- waste paper to be recycled -- is declining more and more. We believe this investment will allow us to remain competitive in continuing to offer high quality recycled products," said Luc Langevin, president and COO of Cascades Specialty Products Group.

Since 1985, the Breakey Fibres mill has specialized in the manufacture of recycled deinked kraft pulp, mainly used in the production of Cascades' fine papers, such as the Rolland Enviro100 family of products.

source: pulpandpapercanada

Cascades executives were on hand in early April to inaugurate a new machine used in the manufacturing of moulded pulp products at it's the company's Forma-Pak plant in Kingsey Falls, Que. The modernization of the plant required an investment of more than $3.5 million.

Alain Lemaire, president and CEO, and Mario Plourde, chief operating officer, today

Begun in 2010, the work has led to the introduction of a new machine as well as the automation of existing equipment. A project to secure the machines was also implemented to improve employee safety. Mario Plourde, chief operating officer, explains that since the plant is located in the heart of the city of Kingsey Falls, the plant is limited in terms of space. "Rather than expand, we've completely redesigned it to accommodate more equipment and increase its efficiency."

These changes will increase the plant's production capacity by 40%.  Significant gains in product quality have also been achieved, particularly with respect to finishing and packaging. As such, automation will allow for increased packaging rigidity and, as a result, will maximize delivery including up to 20% more products on trucks.

Cascades Forma-Pak manufactures 100% recycled moulded pulp products using old newspapers and telephone directories as raw material. The plant specializes in egg filler flats as well as cup carriers used for the transport of beverages for quick service restaurants.

"It was time to modernize this plant which manufactures environmentally-friendly food packaging solutions. Since moulded pulp material is fully recycled and recyclable, we believe that it is a product with a future, especially with a packaging industry that increasingly demands more responsible solutions," said Plourde.

The Canada-based company Cascades has broken ground on a project that will produce recycled pulp from old corrugated containers (OCC). In an announcement May 31, Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades, Mario Plourde, president and COO of Cascades Specialty Products Group, and Robert Roy, mayor of East Angus, broke ground on the $10 million dollar investment at the company’s East Angus, Quebec, mill. The investment will be used to build a recycled pulp unit that will enable the company to produce kraft type recycled pulp.

A new building will be added to the premises to house a pulper, loading platforms and a warehouse for recovered fiber. When operational, the facility is expected to be able to convert more than 200 metric tons of OCC into recycled pulp a day. This integration will allow the company to increase the recycled content of its kraft papers from 43 percent to 70 percent.

"The East Angus plant initiated a shift a few years ago towards products that were more respectful of the environment. The integration of recycled content and obtaining FSC certification were some of the actions that were implemented, but also the reduction of water and energy consumption,” says Plourde. “Whether it is for the production of envelopes, bags, packaging or construction products, Cascades kraft papers will better serve its diversified customers by offering eco-friendly advantages.”

The OCC used at the facility will come from the company's sorting centers. “This investment integrates perfectly with our desire to include maximum recycled fiber content in our products, says Lemaire. “It is an effective way of reusing local materials that would have probably ended up in a landfill site, while ensuring the longevity of the plant.”

Survey Finds College Students Believe Saving the Planet is Important, But They Think Paper is Still Essential for Life's Big Moments

Most college students in a new nationwide poll rank themselves as environmentally conscious and two-thirds believe going paperless helps the environment, but they draw the line at electronic copies for key documents - especially when it comes to college diplomas.

The nationwide poll found that while college juniors and seniors believe going paperless helps the environment, fewer than 30 percent would give up printed books, magazines and newspapers, photos or official documents. And nearly 70 percent said the idea of receiving an electronic copy of their diplomas either bothered them or they considered it so terrible that they hated it. Only 4 percent of the respondents said they would "love" the idea of a paperless college diploma at graduation.

"This is hardly a superfluous scrap of paper," one of the respondents said. "Doggone it, I've worked my butt off in school, and I want a piece of paper on my wall to prove it."

The nationwide survey was conducted by Eric Mower and Associates and commissioned by Domtar, one of North America's leading paper companies. Researchers contacted 420 college juniors and seniors nationwide between April 16 to 20 to ask them their views on what they could do to protect the environment and personal paper usage. The survey has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. The complete survey results are available at www.domtar.com/diploma.

"A document like a college diploma should be handed to the graduate in paper," said one student. "It is something that people take great pride in and want to show to people, frame and hold in their hands."

"While it's important to use paper responsibly, there are also myths about paper that should be dispelled. There will always be times when a substitute won't do, because paper is simply more convenient, more effective and more meaningful," said Lewis Fix, Vice President of Brand Management and Sustainable Product Development at Domtar. "Business gets done on paper, people learn on paper, love is declared on paper and rights are guaranteed on paper. Even students who identify themselves as environmentally conscious recognize the importance of paper."

The survey also found that:

- When it comes to studying at school, 52 percent of students like
materials on paper. Twenty-three percent report they prefer hard copies
of most notes and professors also print out class materials. Another
29 percent of students said that while they like hard copies, their
professors tend to send out electronic copies.
- Students clearly prefer paper copies of key documents. Less than a
third of the students want electronic copies of their legal contracts
(29 percent), real estate deeds (25 percent), marriage licenses
(23 percent), birth certificates (17 percent), passports (15 percent)
or drivers' licenses (12 percent).
- College juniors and seniors identified the top four ways they
personally display environmental consciousness include turning off
power when electronic devices aren't being used (81 percent), recycling
(75 percent), using less water (54 percent) and doing only full loads
of laundry or hanging clothes to dry (53 percent). Thirty-six percent
say they are "going paperless" to display their environmental
consciousness, ranking it fifth in the survey.
- Less than 30 percent would give up printed books, magazines and
newspapers, photos or official documents. However, more than 60 percent
of students would be comfortable going paperless with bank statements,
class schedules/grade reports and bills.
>>

"The survey shows that college students are certainly concerned about the planet's future, and want to take steps to reduce their impact - we find that very encouraging," Fix said. "It's also interesting that even with all of the electronic options available to today's youth that paper is still important - whether in the classroom as the medium for their education - or on the wall as a symbol of years of hard work and dedication."

"Something could always go wrong with electronics," one student said of their reason for wanting a printed diploma. "Diplomas are important mementos."

"Getting a diploma over an email makes it seem so much less official," commented another student in the survey. "You worked for it like mad, and gave the school thousands of dollars, the least they could do for you is give you that piece of paper."

As part of the survey, students were asked how they typically send personal notes at an important moment to someone they really care about. Thirty-one percent said they write it on paper, because it's more meaningful and the recipient would appreciate it more. A note on paper beat out a phone call (27 percent), text (22 percent) and email (20 percent).

When it comes to landing a job after graduation, 47 percent of students say they will send out resumes electronically, while 27 percent report they will send out both electronic and paper resumes and 17 percent say they prefer to send their resumes on paper. "It was interesting to see the weight students place on using paper for documents that are important to them - everything from their college diploma to textbooks to personal notes to key people in their lives," Fix said. "For some reason when it comes to their resume - a critical first step in building a career, the largest share of students plan to use email to reach potential employers. Based on how they react to a document on paper, they may want to rethink relying solely on electronic copies of their resumes."

Domtar invests in projects to increase forest certification and reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Because of this, Domtar has earned the support of respected environmental organizations. More than three-fourths of the energy used at Domtar mills comes from renewable, carbon neutral sources, and Domtar has cut green house gas emissions by 33 percent since 2002 - far exceeding the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.

"Domtar is at the forefront of the responsible use of paper in part because the future of our business is linked to a healthy environment and the availability of both virgin and recycled fiber. We're not just a paper company, we're a sustainable paper company," Fix says. "Students should not feel guilty about using our paper, because paper is a plant based product that is renewable, sustainable and recycled with ease."

About Domtar

Domtar Corporation (NYSE/TSX:UFS) is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The Company designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of business, commercial printing and publishing as well as converting and specialty papers including recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice® and Domtar EarthChoice® Office Paper, part of a family of environmentally and socially responsible papers. Domtar owns and operates Domtar Distribution Group, an extensive network of strategically located paper distribution facilities. Domtar also produces lumber and other specialty and industrial wood products. The Company employs over 10,000 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

for more info contact
Pascal Bossé
Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Tel.: +1-514-848-5938

The antibacterial paper towel Cascades has been busily working to develop for five years is launching at an opportune time. In the aftermath of H1N1 where concern over the spread of germs remains high, the paper company’s latest offering is specifically designed to slash the amount of bacteria transmitted by hand contact.

The towel is targeted towards the food-processing and restaurant sectors, as well as high-traffic areas including aircraft and cruise ships, medical clinics, schools and daycares. It will be green in colour.

“This innovation response to a need for improved hand hygiene that is frequently cited by public health experts in recent years,” CEO Alain Lemaire said of the paper.

Voith Paper: 'Top Green Supplier', 'Intellichoix award' and 'Energia Award' in the field of technological innovation - these are three of the awards that the Canadian paper, tissue and board manufacturer Cascades has recently received.

Cascades more efficient and ecological with Voith technology

'Top Green Supplier', 'Intellichoix award' and 'Energia Award' in the field of technological innovation - these are three of the awards that the Canadian paper, tissue and board manufacturer Cascades has recently received. To support its green image, Cascades has decided to preferably work with suppliers that adopt the same philosophy and pay special importance to sustainability. As part of this initiative, Voith Paper has received on February 2nd from Mr. Alain Lemaire, President of Cascades, the 'Sustainable Development Supplier Award 2009' which was awarded for the first time.

To evaluate suppliers, the Global Reporting Initiative, an international network for establishing sustainability standards in companies and organizations, was used. The questions covered the categories of 'product characteristics', 'environment', 'social and working conditions', 'economy' and 'transparency and reporting'. Voith Paper's technology is "a key element that helps us lower our operating costs by extending the life of the fabrics and related equipments." That's how Louise Fillion, Purchasing Manager, explained the decision to name Voith Paper as the first recipient of this award.

Voith Paper is a division of the Voith Group and the leading partner to and pioneer in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-saving products to reduce the use of energy, water, and fibers.

Voith is setting the standard in the paper, energy, mobility, and service markets. Established on January 1, 1867, Voith currently has 39,000 employees, € 5.1 billion in sales, and over 280 locations worldwide and is one of the largest family-owned businesses in Europe.

Voith is an official partner in the "Germany - Land of Ideas" initiative.