A long term partnership links the forest to the paper sack industry. Indeed, the forest plays a major part in our business, continuously providing

natural fiber while absorbing CO₂ for its own growth.

The renewability of our raw material and the recycling of paper, make the paper sack industry naturally eco-friendly.

For 15 years, the kraft paper and paper sack industry has documented its enviromental impact, running various Life Cycle Studies.

This document, based on a study run by the Swedish Research Institute, Innventia, aims at giving simple answers to fundamental questions:

What is our enviromental impact? How has our industry reduced its emissions? What are the technical solutions that have enabled this progress?

What is our CARBON FOOTPRINT? And how do we measure it?

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: THE "CLIMATE ACTION PLAN"

In 2008, the European Commission has voted the "Climate Action Plan" in order to reduce Europe's overall emisssions by at least 20% by 2020.

The "20 - 20 - 20" Action plan consists of:

>> Cutting greenhouse emissions by 20%

>> Using 20% of renewable energy

>> Improving energy efficiency by 20%

INDUSTRY & NATURE: TWO WORLDS NATURALLY LINKED

The forest plays a major part in the process, and our industry contributes to its sustainability.

1. Our industry uses natural fiber, from tree thinning and from process waste of the timber industry. The forest is a natural

    and renewable ressource.

2. The kraft paper and paper sack industry emits CO_2.

3. Forests absorb CO₂ during their growth in the photosynthesis process. The trees in a forest can trap large amounts of CO₂ and store it.

    1m³ of wood captures 1t of CO₂ while emiting 0.7t of 0₂.

4. Thanks to sustainable forestry management, the paper sack industry has a positive land use.

>> In sustainably managed forests, new trees are continuously replanted. Today the wood surface in Europe is expanding by 510 000 ha per year.