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What is Paper Profile?
- Paper Profile is a uniform declaration for presenting environmental
product information. It covers central environmental parameters of pulp and
paper production including e.g. product composition and emissions. In
addition, this voluntary-based declaration includes information about
environmental aspects of wood procurement and environmental management.
Can I compare products based on the information given in the Paper
Profile form?
- Paper Profile enables the reader to find information about aspects of
specific interest to him/her. When using the Paper Profile one should
however note that different products have different environmental
characteristics, depending on the production processes applied. Local environmental
conditions of the production site are another important aspect to take into
account. This is why Paper Profile is not suitable for comparing or ranking
products directly.
Are there any criteria in the Paper Profile?
- The parameters presented in the Paper Profile are the most commonly used
when relating paper production and environmental issues. There is no
specific criteria for the parameters, but rules how to collect, calculate
and present them. The aim of Paper Profile concept is to allow paper
producers to openly present environmental information of their products in
this uniform way.
The key parameters that are declared in the Paper Profile primarily
relate to the production of pulp and paper, as the use of paper does not
cause significant environmental impacts. The information provided in the
single Paper Profile sheet is based on figures reported to authorities and
on participating companies' continual dialogue with customers, authorities
and non-governmental organisations.
What are the differences between Eco-labels (Swan, EU Flower) and
Paper Profile?
- Paper Profile openly declares figures of the most relevant environmental
parameters related to paper making, while specific parameter figures of an
Eco-label are not publicly available. Eco-labels indicate that the product
in question fulfils a certain criteria, set and verified by an independent
third party. Paper Profile enables the user to do their own judgements,
based on him/her prioritises. Like Paper Profile, Eco-labels are voluntary.
What do I get from the Paper Profile?
- Being a product declaration, Paper Profile presents in an open and
uniform way the most relevant environmental parameters related to
papermaking. Compiled to an A4 sheet it gives a good and easily readable
overview of the environmental characteristic of a specific product. Paper
Profile enables the professional paper buyer to make well informed product
choices.
How does the Paper Profile differ from an Environmental Statement,
e.g. such as EMAS statement?
- The environmental information in Paper Profile is targeted to meet the
needs of the professional paper buyer wanting to know more about the
environmental performance of a specific product. It is a transparent and
unified way of presenting product-related information. Environmental
Statements present the local environmental conditions at a mill site and explain
how the mill continuously improves its environmental performance. Paper
Profile's product specific figures include both paper and pulp production,
even if the pulp is produced on another site than the paper.
Is there a link between Paper Profile and environmental management
systems like EMAS or ISO 14001?
- Not automatically. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) like EMAS and
ISO 14001 are mill-site related systems ensuring continuous improvement of
the environmental performance within a systematic framework of
environmental policies and programmes. EMAS differs slightly from ISO 14001
by requiring public available environmental statements. Besides monitoring
environmental performance and legal compliance, the mill's data collection
system can be used to provide figures also for the Paper Profile. These
figures can be verified as part of the EMS
audit. The EMS status of the mill is
indicated on the Paper Profile form.
Which groups can benefit from the Paper Profile? To whom Paper
Profile is meant?
- Paper Profiles enables the professional paper buyer to make well informed
product choices. It covers central environmental parameters of pulp and
paper production including e.g. product composition and emissions. Being a
product declaration, Paper Profile is not recommended to be used by
stakeholders interested in the local or regional impact of a specific paper
mill.
How has Paper Profile been developed? Which parties were involved in
the process?
- Since the early 90's environmental product declarations have been in the
development by European pulp and paper producers. During the development
process also the associations of paper industry, paper distributors,
printers and publishers were consulted. Nearly ten years later Paper
Profile concept was agreed upon by nine of Europe's
leading manufactures of paper products. The contents of Paper Profile are
continuously improved based on the feedback received.
How do the Paper Profile companies ensure the reliability of the
data? How is the quality of the data assured in the Paper Profile forms? Is
it verified?
- The figures presented in the Paper Profile come from the mill's data
collection system, which is used for monitoring environmental performance
and legal compliance. The Paper Profile data can be verified by an external
auditor/verifier as part of the audit of a mill's environmental management
system or within a separate verification process. This means that an
external auditor has checked figures and calculation of the Paper Profile
in question. If Paper Profile is verified, the verifier's logo will be on
the upper right corner of the form.
If you did not find answers to your questions, kindly contact the Paper
Profile Secretariat: mikko.salo@papereng.fi
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