Arctic Paper

23/03/2007

Arctic Paper takes further environmental responsibility with its FSC-certified Munken paper

The Earth is confronted with mounting environmental challenges and debate on the increasing climate threat over the past year has been heated. Arctic Paper has long had extensive environmental knowledge and has now taken a further step in this area. Since the end of 2006 the entire Munken range has been FSC certified. Moreover the company is striving to continuously improve water consumption, energy sourcing and the use of chemicals in its paper production.

Environmental considerations are a natural part of Arctic Paper’s operation. Although the environmental threats in the world today are many and far-reaching, there is a sense of optimism at Arctic Paper that the environment can be changed for the better. Arctic Paper is now starting a campaign for Munken, the aim of which is to place environmental issues in greater focus for us all.

Arctic Paper’s Munken range is made at the Group’s mill in Munkedal, Sweden, where environmental efforts have come a long way. Because Arctic Paper Munkedals is located in an environmentally sensitive area, it places strict demands on its business partners. During the 1950s the mill risked having a negative impact on the local environment. The Gullmar Fjord, which flows right past the mill, was polluted. Following extensive environmental improvement measures on the production process in the 1960s the ample fish stocks returned and local people could once again swim in the fjord. Today the Gullmar Fjord is a marine reserve.

Arctic Paper has also had a Vision Zero for polluting discharges since 2001 and works with environmental issues on many levels. The vision entails that Arctic Paper should have its own closed water system and not discharge even cleaned process water into the Gullmar Fjord. In practice this is no easy goal to achieve but the company wants to set itself a challenge. Arctic Paper has already made much progress in this area and consequently water equivalent to three months’ full production goes back into the process without any discharge into the fjord waters. The returned water is then piped back to Arctic Paper’s fresh water cleaning system.

“Despite rising environmental challenges in the world, we are optimistic about the future, so it’s tremendously important that the entire Munken range is now FSC certified. We’re proud of this as we can now offer such a wide eco-friendly range of uncoated design and book paper, which is quite uncommon on the market. Apart from FSC we also work to continuously improve our water and energy consumption and use of chemicals,” says Hans Karlander, Marketing Director at Arctic Paper.

Arctic Paper has offered FSC-certified qualities since April 2004 but since the end of 2006 all the qualities in the Munken range have been FSC certified. Since 2001 Arctic Paper has also been certified in line with the ISO 14000 environmental management system.

Munken is a high quality uncoated fine paper which is made in an environmentally friendly production process and is particularly suitable for printed material, brochures, books, catalogues and magazines. Munken is produced in white and cream and comes in various bulks and grammages offering a wide range of creative options. Munken is available in three qualities for design paper and six for book paper.