Copying and graphic paper Module 3 - Purchasing recommendations European Commission GPP Training Toolkit

Copying and graphic paper

Module 3 - Purchasing recommendationsModule 3 - Purchasing recommendations

European CommissionEuropean Commission GPP Training ToolkitGPP Training Toolkit

European Commission GPP Training Toolkit • Module 3: Purchasing recommendations for Paper 2

Scope

These recommendations cover the purchase of copying and graphic paper.

Criteria are proposed for both:

- Paper based on recovered fibres, recycled paper (focus of the Blue Angel label)

- Paper based on virgin fibre (focus of the European Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan label)

Contracting authorities are recommended to make reference to both sets of criteria, as alternative ways of achieving the objective of purchasing environmentally friendly paper, to maximise competition and avoid discrimination.


Accompanying information

► The following documents may also be referred to:– Product Sheet on Copying and graphic paper,

containing a slightly expanded version of the information in these slides

– Background Product Report on Copying and graphic paper, providing more detailed background information on how these purchasing recommendations have been developed

► For the full GPP Training Toolkit please visit:► http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm


Key environmental impacts


Purchasing criteria

For paper based on recovered fibres (recycled paper):

► The Core criteria propose the purchase of 100% recycled paper, which is at least Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF)

► The Comprehensive criteria propose applying the full set of criteria from either the European Ecolabel, Nordic Swan or Blue Angel in addition.


For paper mainly from legally and/or sustainably harvested virgin fibre:

► The Core criteria propose that all fibres must come from legal sources and that paper is at least Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF). Additional points are awarded for virgin fibre stemming from sustainable sources.

► The Comprehensive criteria propose applying the full set of criteria from either the European Ecolabel or Nordic Swan in the award phase.

Purchasing criteria


Recovered fibres - Core GPP criteria

Paper based on recovered fibres

- Core GPP Criteria -

Note: For implementation notes see the notes page

Note: In some cases when purchasing paper for professional printing purposes, rather than normal office use, the criteria will be

different - this is clearly marked in the presentation


► Purchase of recycled office paper made from 100% recovered paper fibres.

► (For professional use): Purchase of recycled office paper made from at least 75% recovered paper fibres.

Subject matterSubject matter



► Paper must be made from 100% recovered paper fibres. Recovered paper fibres include both post-consumer recycled fibres and pre-consumer recycled fibres from paper mills, also known as broke. Post-consumer recycled fibres may come from consumers, offices, printing houses, bookbinders, or similar.Verification: All products carrying the Blue Angel ecolabel will be deemed to comply. The European Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan can also serve as means of proof if it is specified that the paper is made from 100% recovered paper fibres. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.

► (For professional use): Paper must be made from 75% recovered paper fibres…<the rest of the text should be identical to the above>...

SpecificationsSpecifications



► The paper must be at least Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF), Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) will also be accepted. Verification: All products carrying the European Ecolabel, Nordic Swan or Blue Angel ecolabel will be deemed to comply. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.

► In order to guarantee the suitability of the paper offered for office machines, a sample of the product must be provided to the authority to conduct quality tests.

Specifications (cont.)Specifications (cont.)



Recovered fibres - Comprehensive GPP criteria

Paper based on recovered fibres

- Comprehensive GPP Criteria -


Note: In some cases when purchasing paper for professional printing purposes, rather than normal office use, the criteria will

be different - this is clearly marked in the presentation


► Purchase of recycled office paper made from 100% recovered paper fibres.

► (For professional use): Purchase of recycled office paper made from at least 75% recovered paper fibres.




► Paper must be made from 100% recovered paper fibres with a minimum of 65% post-consumer recycled fibres. Recovered paper fibres include both post-consumer recycled fibres and pre-consumer recycled fibres from paper mills, also known as broke. Post-consumer recycled fibres may come from consumers, offices, printing houses, bookbinders, or similar.Verification: All products carrying the Blue Angel ecolabel will be deemed to comply. The European Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan can also serve as means of proof if it is specified that the paper is made from 100% recovered paper fibres. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.

► (For professional use): Paper must be made from 75% recovered paper fibres, with a minimum of 80% post-consumer recycled fibres …<the rest of the text should be identical to the above>...




► The ecological criteria of the European Ecolabel, the Nordic Swan or the Blue Angel directly related to paper production (and not the management practices of the factory) must be met. Full criteria documents available at:

– European Ecolabel:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/product/pg_copyingpaper_en.htm – Nordic Swan: www.svanen.nu/Eng/criteria/kriterie.asp?pgn=44

– Blue Angel: www.blauer-engel.de/englisch/vergabe/download_uz_e/e-UZ-014.pdf

– (For professional use): www.blauer-engel.de/englisch/vergabe/download_uz_e/e-UZ-072.pdf

Verification: All products carrying the European Ecolabel, Nordic Swan or Blue Angel ecolabel will be deemed to comply. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.




► In order to guarantee the suitability of the paper offered for office machines, a sample of the product must be provided to the authority to conduct quality tests.




Sustainable and/or legal virgin fibre - Core GPP criteria

Paper based on sustainable and/or legal virgin fibre

- Core GPP Criteria -



► Purchase of office paper based on virgin fibre stemming from legally and/or sustainably harvested sources (also potentially containing a percentage of recovered fibres).


► The virgin fibre for pulp production shall come from legal sources.




► Verification: Certificates of chain of custody for the virgin fibre certified as FSC, PEFC, or any other equivalent means of proof, will be accepted as proof of compliance. The legal origin of wood can also be demonstrated with a tracing system being in place. These voluntary systems may be 3rd party certified, often as part of

ISO 9000 and/or ISO 14000 or EMAS management system. If wood stems from a country that has signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU, the FLEGT license may serve as proof of legality. For the non-certified virgin fibre bidders shall indicate the types (species), quantities and origins of fibres used in the pulp and paper production, together with a declaration of their legality. As such the fibres shall be able to be traced throughout the whole production chain from the forest to the product. In specific cases, where the evidence provided is not considered sufficient to prove compliance with the requested technical specifications, contracting authorities may ask suppliers for further clarifications or proof.(For useful links see the notes page)




► The paper must be at least Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF). Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) will also be accepted. Verification: A technical dossier of the manufacturer will serve as means of proof.


Additional points will be awarded for:

► Sustainable forestry sources: All virgin wood fibres for pulp production shall come from forests that are managed so as to implement the principles and measures aimed at ensuring sustainable forest management, on condition that these criteria characterize

and are relevant for the product.

Award criteriaAward criteria



In Europe, these principles and measures shall at least correspond to those of the Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management, as endorsed by the Lisbon Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (2 to 4 June 1998). Outside Europe they shall at least correspond to the UNCED Forest Principles (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992) and, where applicable, to the criteria or guidelines for sustainable forest management as adopted under the respective international and regional initiatives (ITTO, Montreal Process, Tarapoto Process, UNEP/FAO Dry-Zone Africa Initiative).–Verification: All products carrying the European Ecolabel or the Nordic Swan will be deemed to comply. Certificates of chain of custody for the wood fibres certified as FSC[1], PEFC[2] or any other equivalent means of proof, will also be accepted as proof of compliance. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.1] FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): http://www.fsc.org/en/ –[2] PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): http://www.pefc.org/internet/html

Award criteria (cont.)Award criteria (cont.)



Sustainable and/or legal virgin fibre - Comprehensive GPP criteria

Paper based on sustainable and/or legal virgin fibre

- Comprehensive GPP Criteria -



► Purchase of office paper based on virgin fibre stemming from legally and/or sustainably harvested sources (also potentially containing a percentage of recovered fibres).


► The virgin fibre for pulp production shall come from legal sources.




► Verification: Certificates of chain of custody for the virgin fibre certified as FSC, PEFC, or any other equivalent means of proof, will be accepted as proof of compliance. The legal origin of wood can also be demonstrated with a tracing system being in place. These voluntary systems may be 3rd party certified, often as part of ISO 9000 and/or ISO

14000 or EMAS management system. If wood stems from a country that has signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU, the FLEGT license may serve as proof of legality.For the non-certified virgin fibre bidders shall indicate the types (species), quantities and origins of fibres used in the pulp and paper production, together with a declaration of their legality. As such the fibres shall be able to be traced throughout the whole production chain from the forest to the product.

► In specific cases, where the evidence provided is not considered sufficient to prove compliance with the requested technical specifications, contracting authorities may ask suppliers for further clarifications or proof. (For useful links see the notes page)




► The paper must be at least Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF). Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) will also be accepted. Verification: A technical dossier of the manufacturer will serve as means of proof.


Additional points will be awarded for:

► Sustainable forestry sources: All virgin wood fibres for pulp production shall come from forests that are managed so as to implement the principles and measures aimed at ensuring sustainable forest management, on condition that these criteria characterize

and are relevant for the product.

Award criteriaAward criteria



In Europe, these principles and measures shall at least correspond to those of the Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management, as endorsed by the Lisbon Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (2 to 4 June 1998). Outside Europe they shall at least correspond to the UNCED Forest Principles (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992) and, where applicable, to the criteria or guidelines for sustainable forest management as adopted under the respective international and regional initiatives (ITTO, Montreal Process, Tarapoto Process, UNEP/FAO Dry-Zone Africa Initiative).

Verification: All products carrying the European Ecolabel or the Nordic Swan will be deemed to comply. Certificates of chain of custody for the wood fibres certified as FSC[1], PEFC[2] or any other equivalent means of proof, will also be accepted as proof of compliance. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.–1] FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): http://www.fsc.org/en/ –[2] PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): http://www.pefc.org/internet/html




► Ecolabel criteria: Products which meet the ecological criteria of the European Ecolabel or the Nordic Swan directly related to paper production (and not the management practices of the factory). Full criteria documents available at:

– European Ecolabel: ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/product/pg_copyingpaper_en.htm

– Nordic Swan: www.svanen.nu/Eng/criteria/kriterie.asp?pgn=44

Verification: All products carrying the European Ecolabel or the Nordic Swan will be deemed to comply. Any other appropriate means of proof, such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer or a test report from a recognised body will also be accepted.




Further information

► For the full GPP Training Toolkit please visit:

► http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm Toolkit developed for the European Commission by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, 2008

Owner, Editor: European Commission, DG Environment-G2, B-1049,Bruxelles

Disclaimer: The European Commission accepts no responsibility orliability whatsoever with regard to the information presented in thisdocument

Pictures courtesy of StockXchng: Daniel Wildman (ss. 1, 16 and 21), Simon Thomaschek (ss. 7 and 11), Kristof Creative (ss. 7 and 11)

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Copying and graphic paper Module 3 - Purchasing recommendations European Commission GPP Training Toolkit