C
Carbon Neutral
Carbon Neutral describes products, operations and activities
which have had their greenhouse gas emissions measured, calculated
and then 'offset' through the purchase of Carbon Credits. Carbon
Neutral products, operations and activities should be certified by
an independent organisation that specialises in system management
and auditing.
Chain of Custody
The means of tracking a product along the supply chain. For
instance, being able to trace paper from the forest of origin,
through pulp and paper mill, paper merchant and printer to the end
user. Often a third party audits the Chain of Custody system, as
with the FSC and PEFC schemes. For Chain of Custody to work, each
group who handles/transforms the product must be certified.
Cradle-to-Gate
Cradle-to-gate is an assessment of a partial product life cycle
from manufacture ('cradle') to the factory gate (i.e. before it is
transported to the consumer). The use and disposal phases of the
product life cycle are usually omitted.
Cradle-to-Grave
Cradle-to-grave is the full Life Cycle Assessment from
manufacture ('cradle') to use phase and disposal phase
('grave').
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D
DIP
De-Inked Pulp. Pulp consisting of fibre from recovered paper
which has had the ink removed.
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E
Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF)
Paper pulp that is whitened/bleached, using derivatives of
Chlorine that does not release harmful dioxins into the
environment. Dioxins have proven to be carcinogenic and now studies
have shown that mills using ECF bleaching have eliminated dioxins
from mill effluent.
EMAS
The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, EMAS, is the European
Commission's environmental policy tool for European Union
organisations to ensure sustainable development. It has been
operating since April 1995, and aims to promote continuous
evaluation and improvements in the environmental performance of
participating organisations. Essentially and practically identical
to ISO14001.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
A business process that ensures that environmental matters are
addressed through a documented system. An EMS is a systematic
approach to address businesses' environmental issues and covers all
facets of their operations. It allocates resources and assigns
responsibilities and provides for the continual evaluation of
practices, procedures and processes. A large part of an EMS is
continual improvement plans and actions.
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F
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network
promoting responsible management of the world's forests. The
principles for management of FSC certified forests are used to
verify the management of forest holdings and are a system of
tracing, verifying and labelling timber and wood based products
which originate from certified forests.
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I
ISO 14001
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) developed ISO
14001 as a global environmental management system to assist an
organisation to achieve its environmental goals. It guides
planning, implementation and operation, continual improvement,
checking and corrective action, and management review
processes.
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L
Life Cycle Assessment / Analysis (LCA)
A method of evaluating the environmental impact of a product
'from cradle to grave', including how it's made, how it's used and
how it's disposed of.
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M
Mechanical Pulp
A broad description that includes all pulp where the bonding
lignin in wood is not completely removed as it is in woodfree pulp.
Such products range in brightness from those used in Newsprint to
those used in magazine papers. Mechanical pulp brings benefits in
opacity, stiffness and bulk to papers.
Mill Broke
Off cuts and rejected material that has not left the paper mill
and is part of the process of making paper within the mill. Broke
is routinely re-pulped and the fibre used in the production of new
paper. Mill broke is not normally considered to be recycled
fibre.
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O
Old Growth Forest
Ecologically mature forest subjected to very little, if any,
unnatural disturbance such as timber harvesting, roads and
clearing.
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P
Plantation / Tree Farms
Areas of intensively managed trees of either native or exotic
species which are created by the regular placement of seedlings or
seed specifically for timber and/or fibre production. Usually
contain only one species - monoculture.
Post-consumer Waste
There are various definitions of Post-consumer waste.
FSC definition = paper waste that has reached the end user,
typically homes and offices (excludes unsold final product).
ISO14021 = paper waste that has been converted to its final use
(includes unsold final product)
Pre-consumer Waste
Waste that has left the mill but has not reached the end user.
Typically trimmings and offcuts from paper converters.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC)
A scheme for auditing forestry operations, taking into account
the effects on the environment. The PEFC council is an independent,
non-profit, non-government organisation, founded in 1999 which
promotes sustainably managed forests and chain of custody through
independent third party certification. PEFC provides an assurance
mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are
promoting the sustainable management of forests. PEFC recognises
local national forestry standards under the global certification,
such as the Australian Forestry Standard AS4707 is recognised under
PEFC. Both FSC and PEFC have the same aims, that is to engender
responsible forestry and protect high risk forests.
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R
Recycled
To obtain the Recycled label, a paper must contain recovered
materials. The amount may vary considerably, from small percentages
of pre-consumer to 100% post-consumer materials, and any
combination of the two. Most recycled papers will have a recovered
content of at least 20%.
Recycled Fibre
Paper and board that has been collected for re-use as raw fibre
material in paper and board manufacture. Includes both pre and post
consumer waste that is prevented from going into landfill.
Regrowth Forest
Forested land which has been replanted with original mixed
species from the area, or selectively logged and allowed to re-grow
naturally.
Renewable Energy
A term given to energy sources that are limitless or are so
large that it is inconceivable that they would run out. For example
solar energy, wind and wave energy. In contrast, non renewable
energy refers to that source which when used depletes the reserve
of that energy source eg coal, oil etc.
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S
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the needs of the future.
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T
Totally Chlorine Free (TCF)
Paper pulp that is whitened/bleached, using systems other than
Chlorine. Alternative bleaching agents include Hydrogen Peroxide
and Ozone. The term TCF cannot be associated with recycled papers
because it is impossible to know if the fibre was originally
whitened using a Chlorine based system.
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W
Woodfree
Woodfree is a description of pulp and paper meaning that they
contain little or no mechanically ground fibres. Implies that
fibres are chemically treated, thereby eliminating lignin (the
substance that binds wood fibres together in the tree) and making
the product whiter and stronger. Woodfree is an historical
paper-making term shortened from 'ground wood-free' and does not
denote a paper or pulp made from materials other than wood.
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