(UPM, Helsinki, July, 20, 2007 at 10.00) – UPM has been awarded an EU Flower certificate for its magazine papers. The EU Flower certificate has been given for the products of UPM's Finnish paper mills Jämsänkoski, Kaipola, Kajaani, Kaukas and Rauma.
"The EU Flower is a proof of a product's good overall environmental performance and thus low environmental impact. The EU Flower criteria cover the entire production process and include also the use of certified fibres. With the EU Flower, UPM wants to demonstrate that its papers meet comprehensive criteria and are environmentally sound," says Ms Marja Tuderman, UPM's Vice President, Environmental Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility.
To receive the EU Flower, paper producers must meet strict regulations set on emissions to water and air as well as reduce energy consumption. In addition, paper producers must meet a wide range of environmental and sustainability requirements. These include using recycled fibres or fresh fibres from sustainably managed forests. More than 10% of fibres need to come from certified forests.
The first UPM papers that applied for the EU Flower were office papers manufactured at UPM's mills in Europe. Soon after that, also fine paper grades sold under UPM's own trademark and made at Papeteries de Docelles (France), Kymi (Finland) and Nordland Papier (Germany), as well as UPM Eco magazine paper produced at Schongau mill in Germany, started using the EU Flower.
For further information please contact:
Ms Natasha Rubanin-Hilden, Environmental Analyst, telephone +358 204 150 758
UPM in short:
UPM is one of the world’s leading forest products groups. The Group's sales in 2006 were EUR 10 billion, and it has about 28,000 employees. UPM's main products include printing papers, self-adhesive label materials and wood products. The company has production plants in 15 countries and its main market areas are Europe and North America. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki and New York stock exchanges. www.upm-kymmene.com
The European Eco-label, known as the "EU Flower", is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products that are genuinely a better choice for the environment. The EU Flower sets comprehensive standards for raw material, energy and water consumption, emissions, waste management, share of certified fibre and use of chemicals. So far, seven producers of copying and graphic paper have been awarded the European Eco-label. Ecological criteria have been adopted for 24 product groups. For more information, please visit www.eco-label.com.
