UPM's position as frontrunner in ecolabelled products is further strengthened

Newsprint paper included in the EU Ecolabel criteria

(UPM, Helsinki, 15 May 2012) – After several years of consultation, EU Member States have now adopted criteria for an EU Ecolabel on newsprint paper. UPM has been a key player in negotiations to ensure that the EU Ecolabel could be made available also to its newsprint customers.

“The newsprint criteria give us an excellent opportunity to expand further our already impressive range of EU ecolabelled products. Almost all UPM newsprint papers are expected to fulfill the strict criteria", says Päivi Rissanen, Environmental Director of UPM's Paper Business Group.

The new criteria includes production-related emissions to water and air, the use of energy and chemicals, as well as the requirement for newsprint paper to be composed of a minimum of 70% recycled material and the remaining virgin fibre covered by valid sustainable forest management and chain of custody certificates issued by e.g. FSC or PEFC.

To date almost all UPM copy and graphic papers produced in Europe have been awarded the EU Ecolabel and the company is a clear industry leader with almost 200 paper grades from 15 paper mills approved under the EU Ecolabel scheme. All in all about 8 million tonnes of UPM paper will be able to carry the EU Ecolabel award by end of 2012.

Printed paper products to get their own label

EU Ecolabel criteria for Printed Paper Products were approved in March this year and the final adaptation is expected in the autumn.

“The development of criteria for Printed Products now makes it possible for our customers to fully utilise the logo in their own marketing. They can print the “EU flower” on products such as magazines, books and newspapers which have been printed on EU Ecolabel awarded paper”, explains Rissanen.

The criteria aim to promote the environmental efficiency of de-inkability and recyclability for printed paper products as well as prevention of risks to the environment and to human health related to the use of hazardous substances in printing.

The criteria have been set at levels which ensure that recognition is only given to printed paper products which have a low environmental impact.

For more information please contact:
Päivi Rissanen, Environmental Director, UPM Paper Business Group, paivi.rissanen@upm.com

Notes for the editors:

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 24,000 people and it has production plants in 16 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com

UPM Paper has 23 modern and sustainable paper mills in Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, China and the United States. Many of them are large recycling centres and bioenergy producers, as well as paper manufacturers. UPM Paper employs almost 14,000 people. In 2011, the business group’s net sales amounted to EUR 7.2 billion. To learn more, visit: www.upmpaper.com

Newsprint papers
UPM produces newsprint papers at its eight paper mills in Europe, all using modern technology and utilizing recycled fibre in paper production. UPM Hürth and UPM Schwedt in Germany, UPM Chapelle in France and UPM Shotton in the UK are all producing paper from 100% recovered paper. UPM is the leading newsprint producer in Europe and among the largest ones in the world.