First U.S. Papermaker To Feature 30% Postconsumer Waste Content in Flagship Coated Grades.
SMART Paper's CEO Tim Needham says many corporations and their customers want environmentally responsible papers, and SMART Papers, an independent manufacturer of super premium printing papers in North America, announced it is now making part of its flagship coated paper gradeline, Kromekote, with 30% post-consumer waste (PCW) content.
It will also increase its entire Knightkote Matte coated product line to 30% post-consumer waste, effective immediately.
These papers are used in everything from annual reports and corporate marketing materials to labels and book covers. They are also used extensively in digital printing.
Three other Kromekote products will use 30% PCW content by Fall 2004.
SMART Papers' coated papers currently have between 0 and 20% PCW content — an amount either on par with or above that found in competing coated printing papers.
"The time is right to start commercializing high-end coated papers that are earth friendly," Needham said. "Looking out over the next couple of years, it will be technically and economically viable for a non-integrated paper manufacturer to market premium coated papers with 100% PCW content."
Kromekote Glass, which Needham said is the most elegant high-gloss printing paper available today, is the first Kromekote product to now be manufactured with 30% post-consumer fiber content.
Needham said SMART can raise the amount of post-consumer waste fibers used in these high-end papers because of rigorous sourcing of post-consumer fibers and advances in the company's papermaking technology.
"We're very selective in choosing our fiber suppliers and, for years, we have worked with suppliers to improve their product," noted Chuck DeWitt, Director of Product Management for SMART Papers.
Because SMART Papers is a non-integrated paper manufacturer and buys its paper fiber and pulp on the open market, it can nimbly and cost-efficiently introduce post-consumer waste as well as non-traditional fibers into its papermaking operations to meet new market demands.
SMART Papers' pulp suppliers are certified under sustainable forestry practices in the U.S. and Canada.
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