International Paper, the world’s largest paper and packaging company, has announced that its PRO-DESIGN® range, International Paper’s flagship colour laser paper from its Saillat Mill, is now being offered with Carbon Capture®, which is an initiative introduced by leading national paper merchant group, Premier Paper. 

The announcement provides a further environmental credential and endorsement of the product’s high sustainability standards and follows the recent announcement of the range’s switch from PEFC to FSC® certification, and also the introduction of an FSC® certified 350gsm heavy weight paper to its PRO-DESIGN® range in August last year.

The PRO-DESIGN® range is already known for its high environmental performance, having recently received FSC® accreditation the PRO-DESIGN® range already carries the EU-Ecolabel and the carbon capture initiative is another significant addition to its environmental criteria.

PRO-DESIGN® is produced at International Paper’s Saillat mill in France, which is one of the world’s best performing sites in terms of CO2 emissions. Since 1990, Saillat has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 78%. 

The Saillat mill uses thinning from certified forests or those that are in the process of becoming certified, with its main forestry supplies located within just 128km of the mill, reducing any transport related environmental impacts such as CO2 emissions. 

Saillat also recovers by-products from the furniture and framing industries which represents 27% of its wood supply. In terms of energy efficiencies and performance, some 88% of Saillat's energy requirements are met by the on-site production of green energy (biomass).

The Carbon Capture® initiative allows International Paper’s customers to effectively “capture” the CO2 emissions from their PRO-DESIGN® paper purchases made through Premier Paper by planting native woodland in the UK, through The Woodland Trust and The Woodland Carbon Scheme.

Customers who order papers from the PRO-DESIGN® range can choose to capture the carbon used in the manufacture and distribution processes of the paper. The amount of CO2 that has been generated is then calculated. 

A certificate and a copy of the Woodland Carbon logo will then be issued, which customers can use on all print jobs produced using papers in the PRO-DESIGN® range that have been carbon captured. This will provide a further enhancement to their brand and their environmental messaging.

Dave Jones, Group Marketing Director of Premier Paper Group, said, “Premier’s Carbon Capture® scheme is unique as it works with the Woodland Trust and captures CO2 through creating woodland right here in the UK. We have elected to capture the CO2 from all our sales of PRO-DESIGN® sold through the Premier Paper Group and by doing so are making a tangible and practical contribution to the UK environment by creating woodland that we can all visit and enjoy.”  

Woodland Carbon is an accredited, award-winning carbon removal scheme that is operated under the Government’s 2011 Woodland Carbon Code. Organisations looking to reduce their environmental impact and migrate their carbon emissions can fund tree planting with The Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It is estimated that 25m² of native British woodland captures and stores at least 1 tonne of CO2. Customers wishing to find out more can visit www.woodlandcarbon.co.uk

Commenting on the carbon capture offer from Premier Paper for the PRO-DESIGN® range, Mike Robertson, International Paper’s Country Manager UK stated, “We are delighted to see Premier Paper offer our Pro Design® range as part of their Carbon Capture initiative.  This added to the recent FSC® Certification really demonstrates the environmental credentials of Pro Design.”

PRO-DESIGN® is International Paper’s colour laser range for professional laser printing, used by graphic reproduction houses, digital printers and copy centres. Its significant features include improved high whiteness 168 CIE quality. This provides sharper contrasts for excellent reproduction, whilst other features include better sheet formation, smooth surface, optimal stiffness for jam-free runnability and ISO 9706 providing an anti-ageing guarantee.

The PRO-DESIGN® range is also available in the UK through national merchant distributors, The Paper Company (PaperCo) and Coral8. Customers within the Republic of Ireland can also obtain the range through merchant Realt Paper, Premier Paper Ireland, Glenvalley Paper and Swiftbrook Paper.