New Zealand’s environmental labelling program is proposing a raft of changes to standards for paper that will attract industry and environmental interest group comment. Source: Voxy NZ
Overall, says general manager Robin Taylor, the proposed changes will clarify and firm up the exacting position of Environmental Choice regarding the harvesting, milling and further processing of paper pulp, in order to safeguard the environment.
“With input from the industry’s ethical companies, and with some massive overseas field work, we have recently added to our expertise in this area, and we want to raise the level of evidence we will accept from paper manufacturers who wish to have product certified in New Zealand as better for the environment.”
Drafts of the revised paper and related specifications have been posted on the website of Environmental Choice New Zealand, and the Ecolabelling Trust is seeking public, expert and industry comment.
The revisions cover packaging, cardboard, newsprint, hygiene and office papers and stationery.
Sustainable management of forests is an issue of much concern and debate internationally, says Robin Taylor.
“Poor forest management leads to destruction of valuable ecosystems, and the draft changes reflect this concern,” said Taylor.
Alternatives to wood fibre, such as hemp, mushrooms, bamboo, straw, bagasse (sugar cane waste fibre) and minerals bring additional, new concerns that are covered in the standards. Environmental Choice does have one existing licensee with paper made from stone.
The new materials, which do have environmental positives, sometimes produce paper products with limitations, such as printer suitability.
Any different performance from “standard” paper will be required to be part of the product labelling, if the draft revisions become final.
While bamboo is becoming more popular as a fibre, the ecolabel is paying attention to the habitat it forms, to ensure that bamboo used in ECNZ-licensed paper is not sourced from protected areas such as those with important social, cultural or ecological functions.
Bamboos are habitats for a number of endangered species such as the Giant Panda, Mountain gorilla, many species of Amazon birdlife and the bamboo lemur. Some species of bamboo are themselves threatened.
Requirements are also being tightened up for certain emissions to the environment during paper processing, with CO2 emission specifically reduced.
The general term “biodegradable” may be seen as simply greenwash, said Robin Taylor, unless given further definition such as “readily biodegradable”.
The updated draft reaffirms that this must be specified. The label also wants to toughen up evidence on the supply chain of paper manufacturers.
Not all FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certifications will now be acceptable for Environmental Choice purposes, while some others, such as The Rainforest Alliance Smartwood program, are proposed as acceptable evidence of legal harvesting.
Evidence gathering overseas by the New Zealand label’s scientists, especially in Indonesia, has also authenticated and enabled the inclusion of some of the Indonesian government’s eco certifications.
The new standards also request information about environmental legal compliance up the supply chain, where many of the significant environmental impacts of producing paper products are likely to occur.
Submissions are open until the end of March www.environmentalchoice.org.nz
