The document discusses best practices for sustainable procurement of paperboard. It identifies three focus areas: long-term supplier engagement, product specification improvement, and complying with environmental measures. Some key sustainable practices discussed include using post-consumer waste and eucalyptus in paperboard, recycled content, aqueous coatings, and soya inks. Implementing sustainability measures can help reduce wastewater, solid waste, wood use, net energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Best Practices in Sustainable
Procurement of Paperboard
MAY | 2011
1Copyright © Beroe Inc, 2011. All Rights Reserved

2. 2Copyright © Beroe Inc, 2011. All Rights Reserved
Best Practices in Sustainable Paperboard
Procurement
a) Three Focus Areas in Sustainable Paperboard Procurement
1. Long-term Supplier Engagement
„ Joint Process Improvement
„ Better Product Understanding
„ Better Price Negotiation
„ Cross Country Engagement
„ Volume Concentration
2. Product Specification Improvement
„ Streamlining the Specifications Used
„ Light Weighting
„ Reduce or Eliminate Excess Packaging
3. Comply with Environmental Sustainability Measures
„ Avoid procuring forest products from countries with high
incidences of illegal logging
„ Perform life cycle analysis to understand the environmental
impact of a given product
„ Use sustainability scorecards and checklists to ensure
compliance
„ Seek legal counsel to ensure regulatory compliance
„ Ensure post-consumer recycled content in paperboard
products
„ Reduce energy consumption and switch to renewable energy
sources
Source: http://fsc.org, www.ence.es, strathconapaper.com
BusinessSustain
ability Soci
alResponsibility
Business Sustainability
Cost Reduction:
„ Excessive Inventory
„ Over Processing
„ Overproduction
„ Excessive Movement
„ Excessive Waiting
„ Defects/Rework
„ Non-value-added
Transportation
„ Inaccurate Information
Social Responsibility
„ Prevention of Air,Water, and
Land Pollution
„ Conservation of Natural
Resources and Energy
„ Reducing Landfill Waste
„ Setting objectives and targets
to address these elements of
environmental sustainability
is the key for successful
implementation.
Environmental Sustainability
„ Conforming to local, state and federal
regulatory requirements
Abstract
This whitepaper focuses on the current global trends in the sustainable measures in paperboard packaging. It also outlines the different
measures of sustainability and the various steps that have to be taken to ensure sustainable procurement of paperboard packaging.
Overview
The Three Aspects of Sustainability in Paperboard Packaging

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b) Sustainable Practices in Board Specifications
Sustainability in Recycled Paperboard
Wastewater measures the amount of process water that is treated
and released to a mill’s receiving waters.
„ 0% recycled paper uses 234,537,650 gallons
„ 50% recycled paper would use 139,755,360 gallons, i.e.
40.41% less.
„ 100% recycled paper would use 44,973,070 gallons, i.e.
80.82% less.
Wastewater volume indicates both the amount of fresh water needed
in production and the potential impact of wastewater discharges on
the receiving waters.
SolidWaste includes sludge and other wastes generated during pulp
and paper manufacturing,and used paper disposed of in landfills and
incinerators.
„ 0% recycled paper uses 22,581,630 pounds.
„ 50% recycled paper would use 18,265,465 pounds,i.e.19.11%
less.
„ 100% recycled paper would use 13,949,300 pounds, i.e.
38.22% less.
Wood use measures the amount of wood required to produce a
given amount of paper.
„ 0% recycled paper uses 40,040 tons, the equivalent of about
280,280 trees
„ 50% recycled paper I would use 20,020 tons less , the
equivalent of about 140,140 fewer trees
„ 100% recycled paper II would use 40,040 tons less, the
equivalent of about 280,280 fewer trees
The number of typical trees assumes a mix of hardwoods and
softwoods 6-8” in diameter and 40’ tall.
An energy credit for energy that is created by burning paper – or the
methane that decomposing paper creates – at the end of its life. The
Net Energy takes the total amount of energy required to make the
paper over its life cycle, and subtracts this energy credit.
„ 0% recycled paper uses 324,106 million BTUs.
„ 50% recycled paper I would use 263,698 million BTUs, i.e.
18.63% less BTU.
„ 100% recycled paper II would use2 03,290 million BTUs, i.e.
37.27% less BTU.
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2
) from burning
fossil fuels and methane from paper decomposing in landfills,
contribute to climate change by trapping energy from the sun in the
earth’s atmosphere.The unit of measure is CO2
equivalents.
„ 0% recycled paper uses 71,374,220 lbs. CO2
e.
„ 50% recycled paper would use 54,353,500 lbs. CO2
e, i.e.
23.84% less CO2
e
„ 100% recycled paper would use 37,332,780 lbs. CO2
e. i.e.
47.69% less CO2
e
Sustainable Practices in Board Specifications
„ Post-ConsumerWaste (PCW): PCW is increasingly being used
in paperboard manufacturing.The post-consumer waste content
recommended by EPA in recycled folding cartonboard in1995
was 35%, and in 2003, it increased to 40-80%. Currently, the
recommendation states that boards can contain PCR content
between 35% and 85%.
„ Use of Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus is being increasingly used for
paperboard packaging as the availability of eucalyptus is high in
most of the emerging countries of paper and board production.
Usage of eucalyptus satisfies both the cost and sustainability
parameters.Eucalyptus can be grown cost effectively in low cost
countries, such as Brazil, and it also has a short rotation period.
It also allows achieving greater strength with lower density per
caliper, thereby resulting in higher yield.
„ Recycled Content: Solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard,
with significantly higher economic and environmental costs,
now has the option of an SBS with recycled content in the inner
layer.
„ New Technologies: Paper recyclers are developing new
technologies designed to handle, identify, and separate paper
grades for recycling. One enhancement technology allows
segregation of paper fibers during the recycling process
according to fiber length, coarseness, and stiffness through a
sequential centrifuging and screening process.
„ Aqueous Coatings: Aqueous coatings tend to be the most
environmentally friendly. Most of the formulations use
nonpolluting water as a solvent.
„ Soya Inks: Soya ink can reduce carbon emission causing air
pollution making it a more environmentally friendly choice than
traditional inks.
„ Alcohol-free Printing: Safety, governmental concerns, and
environmental pressures have caused printers to convert to
alcohol-free printing. This offers improved quality, lower costs,
a safer pressroom, and improved color reproduction. Alcohol
substitutes have been developed to replace the alcohol as a
solution making it safer to use.

4. 9Copyright © Beroe Inc, 2011. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Strictly no photocopying or redistribution is allowed without prior written consent from Beroe Inc.The information contained
in this publication was derived from carefully selected sources. Any opinions expressed reflect the current judgment of the author and are
subject to change without notice. Beroe Inc accepts no responsibility for any liability arising from use of this document or its contents.
For more information, please contact info@beroe-inc.com.
Author:
Raghunanda E Rao | Research Analyst
Conclusion
Sustainable practices in paperboard packaging involve three factors, such as business sustainability, environmental sustainability, and
social responsibility. Sustainable paperboard packaging practices are increasingly being used due to consumer retailer pressure,
government regulations, environmental concerns, and technological advancements. Long-term supplier engagements, improvement of
product specification, and environmental considerations have to be taken to ensure successful implementation of sustainability measures.
References
„ Article published by paper info, an agency based in Europe, working in the field of International Trade. http://www.edf.org
„ Article published in Environmental Leader is the leading daily for information based on energy, environmental and sustainability
news.
„ Data and information from Environmental Defense Fund and ENCE.
„ Article published by Paperboard Packaging Council, the leading industry association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of
paperboard packaging.
„ Report published by Paperboard Packaging Alliance,they provide the paperboard packaging industry with ongoing analysis of evolving
packaging requirements and promotes the benefits of paperboard packaging and products.