About environmental schemes

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

The PEFC is committed to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third party forest certification. PEFC labels are placed on products made from wood from forests that meet the criteria of national certification schemes endorsed by the PEFC.

Paper and board awarded the NAPM recycled paper mark must be manufactured from either 50%, 75% or 100% genuine recovered fibre no part of which should contain mill produced waste.

The EU Eco-label makes it easier for consumers to choose green products. It is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers - including public and private purchasers - to easily identify them. The scheme came into operation in 1992 and was designed to identify products which are less harmful to the environment than equivalent brands. For example, eco-labels will be awarded to products that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which damage the ozone layer, to those products that can be, or are, recycled, and to those that are energy efficient. The labels are awarded on environmental criteria set by the European Union. These cover the whole life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of the product.

The Blue Angel is the first and oldest environment-related label for products and services in the world. It was created in 1978 on the initiative of the West German government. It considers itself as a market-conform instrument of environmental policy designed to distinguish the positive environmental features of products and services on a voluntary basis.

This is the official Nordic Environmental Label. It is awarded to products which adhere to strict controls over waste water quality and air pollution during manufacture.

The national recycling campaign to encourage consumers to recycle more items more often.

Products made from pulp which has been bleached without the use of elemental chlorine, but instead uses some chlorine gas along with other bleaching agents such as oxygen.

Products made from pulp which has been bleached without the use of chlorine gas or chlorine dioxide.

An international voluntary standard for environmental management systems. The overall aim of ISO 14001 is to support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic needs.

A voluntary European management standard similar to ISO 14001. However, participating companies must not only conform to the environmental management system but also produce a public statement on performance verified by an external assessor.

A Carbon Neutral Production is when the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide produced during the Manufacture is offset against renewable energy projects.