Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Masatomo Nakamura) today announced the discontinuation of its 100% waste paper products and the reorganization of its lineup of recycled paper products based on the Company's own environmental concept, Green Proportion™. The Company is attempting to reduce waste paper composition and reduce the weight of paper through the Company's own low-density technology. It will begin production of the new Green Proportion recycled paper series in June then commence sale. After giving careful consideration to the environmental role that paper plays, the Company concluded that it could help to preserve the environment and reduce the burden on the environment. Some products in this series would be the nation's first PEFC-certified paper, exclusively produced from woodchip and sold based on the PEFC international forestry certification system.

 

(1) In principle, discontinue 100% waste paper products.

(2) Reduce waste paper composition in woodfree paper, mechanical paper, A2 grade coated paper and lightweight coated paper while maintaining quality.

(3) Expand the Company's lineup of recycled paper to include the T-6 series, which is more environmentally friendly due to its 6% reduction in weight.

(4) Start the production and sale of PEFC-certified paper in some products (mechanical paper and A2 coated paper).

 

(1) The yield rate is declining due to the decline in the quality of waste paper.

(2) There are cases where the process for manufacturing 100% waste paper products increases the emission of fossil fuel-based CO2 compared to that of paper manufactured without using waste paper, increasing the contribution recycled paper makes to global warming. (Refer to Figure 1.)

(3) After giving careful consideration to the environmental role that paper plays according to (1) and (2) above, the Company concluded that it should adapt its paper to the environment by using de-inked pulp and that it should determine the optimum percentage composition according to use of paper, instead of restricting waste paper composition to a fixed percentage.

The Company also concluded that with its unique low-density technology, it could economize on the use of resources and cut down on the use of energy for transportation, thereby making a more comprehensive contribution to preserving the environment and reducing the burden on the environment.

 

(1) Green Proportion Recycled Paper series: On sale commencing with the June 2007 production lot.

(2) Conventional products: Sales continue through the September 2007 lot.

 

 

The main materials used in the production of paper come from forest resources produced through afforestation and from waste paper. Paper can also be made of biomass energy produced in the process for manufacturing pulp. Unlike household appliances and automobiles, paper does not consume energy when people use it. Based on these characteristics, Green Proportion™ represents the Company's ideas on what paper can do for the environment.

The three elements of Green Proportion™

(1) "Refresh" water and air

(2) "Diet" (Reducing and economizing resources in various environmental aspects)

(3) "Recycle" paper and greenery

 

By balancing the combination of these three elements according to use, the Company aims to make every type of paper help preserve the environment and reduce the environmental burden.

Product type	Brand name	Waste paper composition	Forestry certification	Weight reduction	Conventional composition
Woodfree paper	Recycled Woodfree	About 30%			70%
	Recycled Woodfree 70	Over 70%			100%
	Recycled Woodfree T-6	About 70%		Y	New product
Mechanical paper	Greenland	Over 70%	PEFC		100%
	Greenland T-6	About 70%	PEFC	Y	New product
A2 coated	Recycled Coated T-6	About 20%	PEFC	Y	New product
	Recycled Matt T-6	About 20%	PEFC	Y	New product
A3 coated	Recycled Coated L	About 30%			100%
Lightweight coated paper	Recycled S	Over 70%			100%
	Recycled S Soft	Over 70%			100%
	Recycled S2	Over 70%			100%