1. I N T ER V IE W
For more than 200 years, Tullis Russell
Papermakers has been a leading supplier
of high-quality paper and boards for a variety
of applications, including the apparel labelling
community. Based in Scotland, TRP has a
strong reputation for garment tags and swing
tickets, primarily focusing upon its coated and
uncoated environmentally friendly board range
called trucard.
To learn more about TRP and its support for
important industry standards such as the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC), Point of View spoke
with Andrew Robinson, who oversees the
organization’s global swing ticket operations.
What makes Tullis Russell Papermakers unique in
its ability to provide high-quality paper products
for the apparel industry?
Tullis Russell, and in particular our trucard
range, creates a unique opportunity for board
users in the apparel industry through the
choice we can offer, along with our boards’
environmental credentials. trucard offers the
widest range of premium boards on the market
with coated & uncoated surfaces available
across a wide range of grammages from 160
to 780g/m². With the full range being FSC-
certified as standard, along with coated and
uncoated recycled versions, we can ensure end
users get the right board for the right product
development, without having to compromise in
terms of quality or performance.
This unique product offer, coupled with our
strong global supply network, ensures we are
well positioned to respond to the needs of our
print partners such as Checkpoint.
Scottish papermaker
supports global
standard to ensure
high quality for
apparel customers
FSC Certification
a Must-Have
For Apparel Labels
16
Andrew Robinson

2. 17
What are the highest-volume paper products you
provide for apparel labeling applications? What
trends are emerging in board selection?
The highest-volume products supplied today
would be our two-side coated boards, trucard 2
gloss and trucard 2 matt. The emphasis here is
on consistent two-side print performance.
Two key trends we’re seeing are (1) the
importance of strong environmental
credentials, and (2) the growth in demand for
uncoated tags. We’ve seen a marked increase in
the number of retailers taking interest in the
environmental credentials of boards they use;
for instance, many retailers are now insisting
that only FSC boards be used for their hang
tags. Moreover, we’ve seen a huge growth in
popularity for our recycled content grades as
brand-holders begin to understand that, with
trucard recycled, they are still able to achieve
the premium look they are after and guarantee
printers a board that will perform without
compromise in production.
Additionally, we’ve seen a growing desire for
more tactile surfaces. This is another way
retailers are trying make their product stand
out in a very competitive market place. The feel
and touch of trucard 0 felt, for example, gives
an impression of being natural, organic and
pure which fits well with the environmentally
friendly message many of our customers are
looking to communicate.
How long has TRP supported FSC?
Tullis Russell Papermakers have been FSC-
certified since 2005. In principle, as a mill we
support all forest certification schemes that
encourage responsible forestry management.
However, it is the FSC system that is the most
widely recognized and respected throughout
our global markets.
How does the use of FSC grades benefit the
apparel industry?
Using a product that carries the FSC logo gives
brand-holders and retailers the added assurance
that the boards they are using are sourced from
well-managed forests and exclude the risk of
using illegally logged timber or contributing
towards deforestation. To verify this, the
FSC system provides a Chain of Custody
certification system. This traces every stage
in processing, conversion, distribution and
printing before the final product can carry the
FSC label.
In what other ways does your company support
standards for environmental best practices and
sustainability?
TRP has a long history of supporting a number
of important environmental and sustainability
standards, such as ISO 14001, for which we
received certification in 1998. ISO 14001 helps
organizations development their environmental
management systems, and can be integrated
with other management functions.
In 2009, RWE npower renewables concluded a
contract with Tullis Russell to supply our paper
mill in Fife, Scotland, with heat and electricity
from a new biomass-fueled co-generation plant.
Fully operational by 2013, this will reduce our
carbon footprint by more than 70 percent and
will remove 250,000 tons of fossil fuel carbon
dioxide per year from our local environment.
Furthermore, we are currently in the process of
constructing a landmark Eco-Education Centre.
Financed in co-operation with the Climate
Challenge fund, this will provide a resource
for schools, community groups and others to
learn about sustainability issues. The facility will
house a series of interactive displays as well as
provide information on environmental issues
designed to provide visitors with practical
advice on how to reduce their own carbon
footprints.
Using a product that carries the FSC logo
gives brand-holders and retailers the added
assurance that the boards they are using are
sourced from well-managed forests.
Andrew Robinson
Tullis Russell Papermakers