Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., a family owned manufacturer of technical/specialty, premium printing and packaging papers, today released its first Sustainability Progress Report, which highlights the company’s progress in reducing environmental impacts. Sustainability goals are guided by Monadnock’s commitment to continuous improvement and are formalized under third-party certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standards.

“A family-run company for nearly 200 years, we have always taken corporate social responsibility seriously and believe in holding ourselves accountable,” said Richard Verney, chairman and chief executive officer, Monadnock Paper Mills. “That responsibility is represented in the value we place on our dedicated employees and in the high-quality products we deliver to our customers. We are proud to say that while reducing environmental impacts we continue to experience growth in new markets and defy papermaking consolidation that is occurring worldwide.”

Monadnock Paper Mills has worked diligently to exceed aggressive impact reduction goals for the last 40 years. The company tracks impact reductions in a number of areas, including electricity consumption, CO₂ equivalent emissions, water usage and solid waste, among others. Key milestones include:

• In the past 15 years, Monadnock has reduced its water consumption by 55 percent through the installation of water recycling equipment, utilizing valve restrictors and instituting other projects identified by the company’s water conservation team.
• In 2013, Monadnock made a significant commitment to reduce CO₂ equivalent emissions and energy impacts relative to production – now making all of its paper 100 percent carbon neutral (Verified Emission Reductions) using 100 percent renewable electricity (Green-e certified wind power Renewable Energy Certificates).
• In 2013, Monadnock made improvements to flashboards and a hydroelectric turbine in its generating facilities – expecting to increase on-site hydropower generation by 400,000 kwH per year.
• One hundred percent of Monadnock’s electricity is derived from clean, renewable sources.

“We leave no stone unturned when seeking new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts to not just meet, but exceed our goals,” said Michelle Hamm, environmental manager, Monadnock Paper Mills. “One example is the waste water that is discharged from our own purification facilities. It exceeds the state’s stringent standards for water quality and is actually cleaner than the river water into which it is eventually released.”

The ongoing success of Monadnock’s sustainability initiatives is a company-wide effort. In 2012 the “Green Team” was established, which is comprised of members from across all functional areas of the company. The team identifies opportunities for environmental impact reductions and shares the results across the company to promote transparency and awareness.

To access Monadnock’s entire 2013 Sustainability Progress Report, complete this form.

About Monadnock Paper Mills
Founded in 1819 and based in Bennington, NH, Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., works with the world’s leading brands to craft and customize environmentally responsible performance papers for commercial printing, packaging and technical applications. Monadnock is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and maintains that fiber-based alternatives to plastic can be cost-efficient, environmentally sensitive and beautiful. For more information on Monadnock and its products, go to www.mpm.com and to engage, follow Monadnock on Twitter @MonadnockPaper, on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monadnock Paper Mills

Monadnock Paper Mills

Nestled in the hills of New Hampshire, Monadnock Paper Mills has a long-standing history of environmental stewardship and sustainable manufacturing processes. Monadnock papers are manufactured using only sustainably harvested pulps and post-consumer waste sources. In 2006, nearly half of the mill's electricity requirements were generated with on-site hydroelectric generators. Monadnock is also an EPA Performance Track Program Member and ISO 14001:2004 certified. It has received numerous awards including the New Hampshire Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and certificates of achievement from the Sierra Club, the EPA, and the American Forest and Paper Association. Monadnock recently a high recycled content premium paperboard for packaging, Envi by Monadnock.

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