New certification bodies accredited against FSC standards

Chicago-based Mid America Paper Recycling, one of the largest independent brokers, processors and exporters of recovered paper in the Central U.S., is launching an initiative focused on tracking and increasing the value of the recycling waste streams generated by large commercial printers and paperboard converters. “The folding carton industry, for example, shipped about 5 million tons of product last year,” says Paul Pirkle, president of Mid America Paper Recycling. “We work closely with these operators and all companies that recycle waste paper to create a continuous improvement process that helps them identify where waste is generated, establish key collection procedures, and set objectives that will continually improve their waste stream’s revenue contribution to the business.” According to Mid America executives, the manufacturing operations of a typical paper or containerboard plant can generate thousands of tons of preconsumer, high-grade recyclable paper, production trim waste and paperboard waste annually, which in turn, can generate significant revenues for the company.

Much of Domtar’s sustainable forestry management occurs out of the public eye, often on large tracts of land that are miles away from neighborhoods and commercial development. As a result, our tree harvesting operations usually have minimal impact on nearby residents. But urban tree harvesting requires a unique approach. In the nearly 20-year period that it takes for trees to mature for harvest, the landscape can change, sometimes dramatically. The area around our Windsor Mill is a good example. Domtar owns and manages about 400,000 acres of forestland located near the mill. But that forestland provides only about 15 percent of the fiber the mill needs. In the mid-90s, to meet our growing fiber needs, the mill acquired several plots of fallow farmland in rural southern Quebec. The land was near a road, which offered easy access to the trees that we planted. Click Read More below for additional information.

Latvia, one of the most heavily forested countries in Europe, has successfully achieved the re-endorsement of its national forest certification system. This endorsement confirms that the Latvian system continues to meet our globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks and ensures that certified forest owners and companies in the country continue to benefit from the global acceptance of PEFC. Since Latvia was first endorsed by PEFC in 2001, half of the country’s forests - more than 1.6 million hectares - have achieved PEFC certification. With about half of the Latvian forests owned by the state, there are about 150,000 private forest owners in Latvia, who, together with their families, form a remarkable part of society in country with a population of just over 2 million people. click Read More below for more of the story