Millar Western pulp now Nordic Ecolabelling approved
Having completed a rigorous review process, Millar Western’s bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) has been added to Nordic Ecolabelling’s list of inspected pulps. The inspection process, which takes a life-cycle approach to product evaluation, assesses compliance to a broad range of requirements in the areas of sourcing of raw wood material, emissions to air and water, energy and chemicals use, and waste management. Paper makers either now using or seeking to use the Nordic Ecolabel can incorporate only inspected pulps in their fibre mix, meaning that they may now include Millar Western BCTMP in their products.
Steve Lord, Director of Pulp Sales and Marketing with Millar Western, said that the listing not only opens up new marketing opportunities but acknowledges Millar Western’s commitment to minimizing its environmental impact. “Nordic Ecolabelling is a highly respected, internationally recognized standard that sets the bar high in terms of product evaluation. This listing recognizes ongoing efforts to produce pulp in a way that is respectful of natural resources, from procuring wood from sustainably managed forests, to investing in new processes and technology to limit our energy and water intake.” He added that a new bio-energy project, which will come on stream later this year, will result in further improvements to the Whitecourt pulp mill’s environmental performance.
The Nordic Ecolabel was initiated in 1989 by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It is a Type 1 Ecolabel (ISO 14024) environmental label, meaning that it is a voluntary, third-party certified Ecolabel with stringent criteria for the Ecolabelling of products and services. The criteria are regularly revised to ensure the highest environmental standards.