Mondi joins Verdigris environmental initiative

Mondi, the paper and packaging manufacturer, has become the latest company to join Verdigris, the environmental initiative from graphic arts research group Digital Dots. Mondi is the first representative of the paper industry to join the Verdigris project.

Verdigris helps all parts of the print chain evaluate the carbon footprint of print and electronic media, from the point of file creation via production to final distribution, use and disposal.  The project's goal is to raise awareness of print’s capabilities in reducing environmental impact, through cooperative content development shared with an international network of trade publishers.

"We are very pleased to have signed on as an Associate Member of the Verdigris Project,” says Johannes Klumpp, Marketing and Sales Director for Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper. “Print does have a positive story to tell: Paper is a recyclable material that comes from a renewable resource. As a leading producer of office and professional printing papers, we are reliant on forests as the primary raw material for our products and we have a responsibility to maintain the healthy functioning of the forest ecosystems we own and manage. Sustainability is vital to Mondi’s business and our license to operate and we are happy to use the synergies between the paper and printing industries to tell this story."

Mondi's manufacturing process looks at the issue of carbon footprint from the ground up, starting with the development of a sustainable forestry programme. In 2012 Mondi Group sustainably managed around 2.1 million hectares of boreal forest in Komi Russia and 306,000 hectares of plantation forests in South Africa. Mondi Group planted some 31 million new trees.

The latest development from Mondi has been the Green Range of products. As of January 2012 all Mondi branded papers now meet the company's Green Range criteria. The Green Range consists entirely of FSCâ„¢ / PEFCâ„¢ certified paper from responsibly managed forests, totally chlorine-free paper or 100% recycled paper.

Welcoming Mondi’s support, Verdigris founder Laurel Brunner says,  “It is wonderful to have a paper company add its support to the Verdigris project. Mondi is one of the few paper companies which really appreciate what we are trying to achieve with the project. Mondi is certainly practicing what it preaches with its sustainable forestry programme and the development of its 'Green Range' of paper products.”