THE WASTE & RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME
“PROCURING PAPER AND PUBLICATIONS WITH RECYCLED PAPER: GUIDANCE
BPIF FEEDBACK DOCUMENT V1 MAY 2004
WRAP: Procuring Paper and Publications
with Recycled Content:
BPIF Feedback on the Guidance.
Introduction
1) We very much welcome the opportunity to participate in the final consultation drafts from the recent
WRAP project “Guidance on Procuring Paper with Recycled Content” undertaken by ERM. We
envisage that our comments will improve the usability of the paper. Whilst many of our comments
serve to clarify the existing barriers to procuring paper and publications with recycled content,
nevertheless, we fully endorse the aims of the project and the practical nature of the guidance.
2) The BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) has approximately 2,250 members. It is the
largest single representative organisation for the industry:
Number of Companies
Industry = 12,000
BPIF = 2,350 (20%)
Turnover
Industry = £14.4bn
BPIF = £6.6bn-£7.1bn (45%
- 50%)
Employees
Industry = 158,000
BPIF = 87,000 - 97,500
(55% - 62%)
3) To learn more about the BPIF please visit: http://www.britishprint.com/
4) The BPIF produced this paper with the help of The Sustainable Office Forum; to learn more about
this organisation please visit: www.tsof.org.uk
5) This paper makes a number of suggestions – referenced by page number to the WRAP paper.
BPIF suggestions:
6) Page 2: Quotation from Xerox Document Supplies
a) The BPIF would recommend that this quotation be clarified as it would appear to be in
reference to copying paper only.
6) Page 2, note at bottom of page:
a) It would be helpful if the term 'comparable' could be more fully explained. A common problem
is buyers not fully appreciating the differences between paper types, and so trying to print
colour inkjet, for example, on a paper only appropriate for black and white inkjet and blaming
its failure on the fact that it is recycled rather than appreciating it is the wrong type of paper.
7) Page 4:
a) It is suggested that WRAP should clarify that it is not possible for solely recycled fibre to be
used, and that new fibre must also come into the supply-chain. What is, however,
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THE WASTE & RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME
“PROCURING PAPER AND PUBLICATIONS WITH RECYCLED PAPER: GUIDANCE
BPIF FEEDBACK DOCUMENT V1 MAY 2004
unquestionable is that there is good potential for more recycled fibre to be used, and
consumers should be encouraged!
b) The BPIF wishes to highlight that the statement, which implies that since only 37% of paper
used in the UK today is recycled means that there is 63% potential for using recycled, is
inaccurate. This inaccuracy is reinforced in Figure 2.
c) As an aside, have any studies been done to ascertain, in a perfect recycled world, what % of
virgin paper needs to be consumed at the beginning of the chain?
d) Also it would be helpful if the difference between input and yield were explained to prevent
people thinking that there are mistakes in the graph.
8) Page 5: Case Study: the Co-operative bank.
a) With a view to avoiding questionable statements, the BPIF suggests that the first sentence be
altered to read: “using recycled paper is considered an efficient use of resources and may
protect old growth forests from logging”.
9) Page 8: The four categories of paper:
a) Whilst the term “wood containing” is used in the industry, the BPIF is concerned that the term
is likely to cause confusion and would recommend that it be replaced by the more commonly
used term – “mechanical”.
10) Page 13: Name correction:
a) The Pan-European Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC) was renamed the “Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes” in Autumn 2003.
11) Page 16: Guide to office and copying paper types:
a) It would be useful to note that the differences between 'economy' and standard' grades are not
only price and appearance, but may be in suitability for various applications - for example
colour laser/inkjet or just black and white.
12) Chapter 5 (Procuring Printed Publications), page 22:
a) The matrix of indicative paper types used for a range of generic printed publications is very
misleading; the exclusion of brochures, newsletters and leaflets, inserts and direct mail from
the woodfree coated category is erroneous.
i)
Magazines, particularly shorter run sheetfed magazines, are regularly printed on woodfree
coated. Most corporate brochures are on woodfree coated, so are a great deal of
newsletters and a lot of very high volume direct mail. Direct mail also uses mechanical and
part mechanical coated.
b) The BPIF strongly recommends that these final 3 categories should be revisited particularly
since this matrix is being recommended as the principal guidance tool.
13) Page 23: Note on ink types:
a) The suggestion that printers are able to switch inks with such ease is misleading; for example,
if the printers are using bulk ink pumping it is not necessarily simple to switch inks with a view
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THE WASTE & RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME
“PROCURING PAPER AND PUBLICATIONS WITH RECYCLED PAPER: GUIDANCE
BPIF FEEDBACK DOCUMENT V1 MAY 2004
to improving print results. The statement in the note is perhaps too simplistic. An amendment
would aid purchasers in defining realistic requirements.
14) Page 23: Guide to types of paper for printed publications
a) The differentiation used elsewhere in the document (gloss, matt, silk et cetera.) is replaced
here with “1 sided coated, on-machine coated etc”. To preserve consistency in the paper the
BPIF suggests that “1 side coated” be removed as it is confusing and does not improve the
explanation.
15) Page 33: A5
a) The BPIF suggest that “suppliers” (see the line which starts “Leading suppliers of office..)
should be replaced with “manufacturer” in order to avoid confusion; this is because a merchant
is also a supplier.
16) Page 33: A6
a) The BPIF urges WRAP to explain the role of the paper merchant. Also on the list of paper
merchants it would be helpful to differentiate between those supplying printing, as opposed to
office papers, and those supplying both.
b) Without such information there is room for confusion because, for example, some paper
merchants supply paper only to printers and others to both printers and end clients. Some
end-clients will buy their own paper (in large volumes) although this will often be direct from
mills or alternatively through 'indent'.
c) Also, whilst we recognise that a more extensive list of merchants is provided elsewhere, it
would be helpful to include the following major players on this list: MacNaughton, Howard
Smith Paper, The Paper Company and Antalis.
17) Page 34, A7: Printers and publishers:
a) This section may benefit from the addition of further information. For example, WRAP may
wish to inform the audience that a list of BPIF printers, selected by product, service or
geography, can be found on www.selectprinter.com.
b) Also the sentence "some larger organisations exist which produce catalogues ....etc." doesn't
seem to make sense – does it need to be included?
18) The BPIF suggests that the following may be helpful:
a) "There are approximately 12,000 printing companies located right across the UK made up
predominantly of SME companies and serving different markets. To find a printer for your
requirements there are a number of online search directories including www.selectprinter.com
(BPIF member companies) which allows one to search by product, service, geography or
equipment type. Print management companies act as an intermediary to help large clients to
consolidate their total print requirements.
19) Page 36, Product labels and marks
a) The following additions are suggested:
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THE WASTE & RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME
“PROCURING PAPER AND PUBLICATIONS WITH RECYCLED PAPER: GUIDANCE
BPIF FEEDBACK DOCUMENT V1 MAY 2004
i)
BPIF/Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) Environmental Assessment Scheme:
Initiated by the PPA in order to foster sustainability within its industry, the scheme was
developed jointly between the BPIF and PPA and is an electronic tool to provide printers
and publishers with a means of assessing, monitoring and reducing the environmental
impact of their businesses. Following an assessment carried out on the printers' premises
by BPIF advisers, the application provides tailored reports on the company's current
environmental position and steps needed for improvement. It provides an accreditation
scheme for printers, allowing publishers to select their suppliers on the basis of
environmental performance, as well as cost and quality.
ii)
Visit: http://www.britishprint.com/business/eas.asp
b) The Sustainable Office Forum
i)
Visit: www.tsof.org.uk
ii)
See the Paper Buyers Checklist, which can also be supplied as a pdf file.
Document produced by:
Laura Jackson, Public Affairs Officer, BPIF
Laura.Jackson@bpif.org.uk
(020) 7915 8319
With the help of:
Clare Taylor, Vice-Chairman, The Sustainable Office Forum
clare@tsof.org.uk
Cicely Brown, Director of Corporate Affairs, BPIF
Cicely.brown@bpif.org.uk
David Alder, Chairman, The Sustainable Office Forum
david@tsof.org.uk
May 2004
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