Changing to better paper in your office?


Askul, a Tokyo-based company that supplies a lot of paper to Japanese officies, has announced its "Procurement Policy for Paper Products" as a guide for Askul-brand paper products, says Japan for Sustainability.

Askul will give priority to the following raw materials:
1) "Recycled pulp" produced through the effective use of waste paper and other waste wood
2) Pulp certified with forest certification for proper management
3) Pulp from a properly managed secondary forest or plantation forest.

The company has conducted traceability surveys on raw materials used in all seven series of Askul photocopy papers since 2004, and discussed the results with each paper manufacturer to promote "green procurement." The company says it will continue to promote green procurement by shifting to the raw materials designated in the procurement plan and complete this shift by the end of fiscal 2005.

This is perhaps a good step, but it still sounds too vague for me. It is great when big companies try to do the right thing, but I look forward to some independent monitoring of the results, not just the company's own interpretation.

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