Neenah Paper is adding two environmentally friendly papers to its Classic brands. Recycled Bright White and Recycled Natural White are both available as FSC-certified and Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). “Neenah is the first mill in the world to watermark the FSC symbol and chain of custody into its papers, and is the first premium paper mill to be certified PCF by the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA),” says Meredith Christiansen, product manager for Neenah. “The papers are made without chlorine or chlorine compounds, and they can now proudly carry the PCF emblem. Third-party certifications such as those from the CFPA demonstrate that the exciting choices Neenah offers are also environmentally unsurpassed. CFPA is an unbiased organization that is forging new ground to verify high environmental standards are being met. It offers a credible way of assuring customers that Neenah has met the most rigorous standards.”

This spring, Neenah also joined the Chicago Climate Exchange—the world’s first voluntary, but legally binding, greenhouse-gas emissions reduction, registry and trading program. The paper house will track and report carbon dioxide emissions, and will work toward a 6-percent reduction of its baseline by 2010. “By joining the Chicago Climate Exchange’s growing program, Neenah Paper not only has committed to reducing emissions but has also agreed to be both transparent and accountable in regard to our sustainable practices and targeted improvements,” says Sean Erwin, chief executive officer of Neenah Paper. “Neenah Paper is committed to the responsible stewardship of the environment and resources we use to provide products to our customers. As a leader in our markets, it is important to send a message to our employees, stakeholders and customers about our commitment to the systematic reduction of our environmental footprint.” Neenah Paper, www.neenah.com

Environmental sustainability practices are in place at Finch Paper. All products are SFI and/or FSC certified, meaning the wood fiber comes from forests that have been independently verified as responsibly managed.

Finch Paper’s own staff of foresters also manage 161,000 acres of working forestland on behalf of The Nature Conservancy. “Finch Paper’s forest management philosophy is to protect the beauty and natural resources of Adirondack forests and the wide array of wildlife and plant life they sustain, while continuing to help meet society’s ever-increasing demand for Finch Paper and other forest products,” says Finch Paper woodlands manager Roger Dziengeleski.

For the past three years, Finch has averaged about 316 million lbs. of post-consumer fiber use per year. But the paper house says its ecological efforts don’t stop with trees. At least 60 percent of Finch’s energy comes from non-fossil fuel sources like hydroelectricity. And by using pollution-prevention tools like scrubbers and mist eliminators, the company is also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Finch Paper, www.finchpaper.com

A growing number of designers are turning to synthetic paper to lessen their impact on the environment. Made from the extrusion of melted plastic—like polypropylene or polyolefin resin—synthetic papers are completely inorganic. There are no ozone-threatening emissions from production, and nearly no waste by-products. Dave Jeffers, Yupo Corporation America’s technical service manager, says, “Synthetic paper is 100-percent recyclable. Recycled polypropylene plastic, for example, is recovered as plastic resin and may be used in food containers, yarns and fabrics, upholstery, luggage and car seats. The recovered resin demonstrates the same performance as virgin plastics. Polyolefin can be recycled along with other plastic packaging materials and does not need to be separated.”

Yupo’s paper is also durable and waterproof, making it ideal for projects like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Beachcomber’s Companion, published by Woods Hole Sea Grant. The 50 flash cards boast beautiful illustrations of marine invertebrates, as well as cool scientific facts and a reusable checklist so explorers can check off the invertebrates they meet on the beach with a wax pencil, then wash it off and reuse it for the next trip. Yupo, www.yupo.com

Gmund has gained FSC certification for nearly all of its papers. The environmental seal of approval is the latest in the company’s green efforts. In 1991, the Silencium line—made up entirely of post-consumer waste—was the first fine paper worldwide to earn the Blue Angel label. (Blue Angel was created in 1977 to promote environmentally sound products, and was the first eco-labeling program for products and services anywhere in the world.) And in 2002, Gmund built a facility to clean papermaking effluents with ozone. The firm went on to receive the Bavarian State Medal for special merit in the environmental field. “The FSC certification proves one more time that high-end text and cover papers can very well be produced while respecting and protecting the environment,” says Florian Kohler, owner and creative head of the company.

Gmund says Germany’s environmental mandates are some of the strictest in the world, and the company often exceeds those by employing green techniques—like getting 60 percent of its energy for the mill from a river on-site and recycling more than 95 percent of production wastes. “Of course, raw materials are also checked for being ecologically harmless: Gmund papers are made from chlorine-free wooden or cotton pulp,” Maxi Christina Gohlke of Gmund Marketing explains. “Still, Gmund’s paper designers search for alternative raw materials, which shows in unique new sorts of paper consisting of recycled fibers, hemp or cotton, or even with inclusions of straw, bark or rags.” Gmund, www.gmund.com

Earth-friendly changes are on the way at Crane & Co. The paper house—which has made 100-percent cotton social and business stationery since 1801—is building a renewable-energy center. Located on its manufacturing campus in Dalton, Mass., the center is to consist of three alternative power sources: biodiesel production, biomass energy and hydroelectric power.

First up: The construction of a 50 million gallon-per-year biodiesel manufacturing facility, using soybean oil and animal fats from the Midwest. “In addition to producing biodiesel for commercial and residential applications, the plant will have the potential to generate between 5 and 10 megawatts of electricity,” spokesperson Peter Hopkins explains. “A by-product of the manufacturing of biodiesel is glycerin, a chemical widely used in papermaking. A $3 million grant was awarded by the Massachusetts Agency of Transportation to reconnect a rail siding to accommodate incoming and outgoing shipments.” Berkshire Biodiesel LLC will begin building the plant later this year or early next year.

Crane is also partnering with Tamarack Energy and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to study the feasibility of a 30 to 50 megawatt biomass energy facility on Crane’s campus. It would be able to supply power to 40,000 homes per year, using the parts of trees unable to be used for lumber.

The paper company also has a grant to research the potential of hydroelectric power from dams on the Housatonic River. Crane & Co., www.crane.com

Monadnock is unveiling a premium line of environmental packaging grades that are manufactured carbon neutral and are made with 100-percent clean, renewable electric power. Envi by Monadnock has earned the FSC chain-of-custody certification under the chip and fiber standard—meaning the fiber can be traced back through every step of the supply chain and is sourced responsibly.

Envi Folding Box Board (FBB) is the first of the line to be introduced. The single-ply, high-caliper uncoated paperboard is made with 80 percent post-consumer waste, and up to 45 percent of the energy used to manufacture Envi FBB is generated on-site with low-impact hydroelectric generators. “With a relentless stream of advertising on TV, radio, internet and print, breaking through the competitive clutter has never been more difficult for brand holders,” says David Lunati, director of Marketing for Monadnock. “Because it makes good business and social sense, they are increasingly choosing to distinguish themselves through the application of sustainable business practices. Envi by Monadnock presents a unique opportunity to satisfy the need for attention- grabbing aesthetics while demonstrating a firm commitment to environmental stewardship in packaging.” Monadnock Paper Mills, www.mpm.com

Premium paper is getting an ecological update at Sappi Fine Paper. Lustro Offset Environmental (LOE) is made of 30-percent post-consumer waste fiber and boasts both FSC chain-of-custody (BV-COC-061202) and SFI fiber sourcing (BV-SFIS-157024) certifications. Jennifer Miller, executive vice president, Strategic Marketing and Corporate Communications, says, “Lustro Offset Environmental sets an industry standard in not only sustainable manufacturing, but in paper attributes as well. LOE elegantly captures flesh tones and beautifully reproduces images of rich, warm tones—all while offering three times the industry standard for PCW content. Furthering our promise of sustainable operations, 100 percent of the electricity used to manufacture LOE is Green-e certified renewable energy.” Sappi Fine Paper, www.sappi.com

Smart Papers is expanding its core environmental line. Genesis now includes new 100- percent post-consumer waste papers and FSC-certified papers, as well as new colors and a smoother surface. The range of PCW content starts at 30 percent. “We’re in a new era of papermaking—one where there’s no longer a tradeoff between earth-friendliness and paper quality,” says Dan Maheu, president and chief operating officer for the paper house. “Our newly expanded Genesis line demonstrates our commitment to give designers, printers and their customers some of the best-printing environmental papers available on the market today.”

Smart Papers has also given Passport an upgrade. One of America’s earliest recycled and fiber-added printing paper lines, all Passport papers are now made with 30-percent PCW fiber. The line is also acid-free, chlorine-free and archival. It comes in 14 colors and a variety of weights. Smart Papers, www.smartpapers.com