Sustainability Watch
Mohawk Receives EPA Award
COHOES, N.Y.—Mohawk Fine Papers has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a leading green power purchaser. Having been honored with the Green Power Leadership Award in 2005 and named Partner of the Year in 2007, 2009 is the third time that Mohawk has been recognized by EPA.
The award is presented to companies that distinguish themselves through their purchase, leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market. Mohawk's current annual purchase of 110 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power is enough power to meet 113 percent of the organization's 2008 electricity use. Mohawk purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) from 3Degrees and Sterling Planet.
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.
Sonoco on Newsweek's Greenest Companies List
HARTSVILLE, S.C.—Sonoco has been ranked as one of the 100 greenest large companies in the U.S. in Newsweek's inaugural Green Rankings, which evaluated the country's 500 largest companies on their environmental performance, green policies, and reputation. Sonoco was listed 94th in the rankings.
Desiliconized Market Pulp Initiative
CHICAGO—Industry veteran Petri Tani of Finland announced the formation of Cycle4Green, a company with plans to produce desiliconized market pulp. The focus of Cycle4Green will be to provide desiliconized pulp to the virgin base paper industry, allowing it to become more sustainable.
SGP Partnership Celebrates Anniversary
LOVELAND, Ohio—The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership is celebrating a successful first year. With nine certified printers to date, and more than 50 SGP applicants in the program, the SGP Partnership is looking forward to its second year.
In its first year, the SGP Partnership has also expanded its Patron Program. Patrons involoved in the program include HP as a Platinum Patron, along with Durst, DuPont, BCM Inks, Environmental Inks & Coatings, Explorer Pressroom Solutions, Flint Group, INX International Ink Co., MacDermid, Mohawk Fine Papers, Pace Industries, Reliable Paper Recycling, and Xcel Products.
Brushed Metallic Transfer Films
GUILFORD, Conn.—A challenge for package designers has been appearance and shelf appeal versus sustainability. Brushfoil's new Brushed Metallic Transfer Films have been developed to provide one solution for this problem. These transfer films provide a brushed metal look that stands out on crowded store shelves, while reducing the amount of packaging sent to the landfill since there is no film that remains on the package after decoration.
Shorewood facilities receive Chain-of-Custody certifications
GUANGZHOU, China and TORONTO—Shorewood Packaging has received additional Chain-of-Custody Certifications from the internationally recognized certification standards: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Its production facilities in Guangzhou, China and Toronto, Canada are the fourth and fifth Shorewood facilities to be certified. Three of its U.S. operations received their certifications in January.
Birds Eye Reduces Packaging Weight
NORWALK, Conn.—M-real Consumer Packaging has helped Birds Eye achieve significant savings in packaging weight for its frozen food product range following completion of a project initiated in partnership with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
An important criterion of the project was that weight reduction should be achieved without loss of stiffness and strength, vital for maintaining efficiency on the packing line and to avoid carton collapse in transit and distribution. pP
