Paper and Forestry Issues

Chlorine content

All UPM Raflatac papers are ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free).

Pulps used in ECF papers are bleached without the use of chlorine gas. The process is based on oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and, as a bleaching agent, chlorine dioxide.

There are also other sources of both organic and inorganic chlorine compounds: AOX (Absorbable Organic Halogens) values are typically  1-3 mg/kg for ECF paper.

Chain of Custody

UPM Raflatac has PEFC Chain of Custody certification (BMT-PEFC-0355) for the following range of labelstock produced at its Scarborough factory in the UK. The PEFC certified product range targets end-uses such as food, retail and logistics labelling:

PEFC Vellum RP5X HG65
PEFC Vellum RP48 HG65
PEFC Raflacoat RP5X HG65
PEFC Raflacoat RP48 HG65
PEFC Raflabrite RP5X HG65
PEFC Raflabrite RP48 HG65

PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) chain of custody certification is a simple way of communicating that a product fulfils certain environmental criteria and that this is certified by a third party.

Having PEFC guarantees that the wood used in the product is legally sourced and originates from certified forests. Certified forests are those that have been assessed as being managed sustainably.   This means that environmental, social and economic aspects are taken into account in all forestry practices.

There are currently two international forest certification systems, PEFC and FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council), which have developed standards for sustainable forest management. By fulfilling these standards and by tracing the wood from forest to product, a PEFC or FSC logo can be used.

Currently about 7% of the world’s forests are certified.  The availability of forest certification paper for UPM Raflatac products depends on the type of certified wood available in the countries supplying paper to UPM Raflatac.

UPM Raflatac also has certification for FSC (FSC TT-COC-002359) and is  working with suppliers to develop its product range.