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Mohawk Fine Papers Helps Close the Loop for In-Store Earth Month Materials at Whole Foods Market(R)
Mohawk Fine Papers Helps Close the Loop for In-Store Earth Month Materials at Whole Foods Market(R)
Published 04-15-09
Submitted by Mohawk Fine Papers
COHOES, NY. - April 15, 2009 - Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. helped Whole Foods Market become the first national retailer to produce all of its national in-store Earth Month materials using "third generation" closed-loop recycled papers.
"Closed-loop" means that Whole Foods Market has recycled and reused its own paper for zero waste. The Company took its own paper waste and had it de-inked and recycled into paper pulp. The pulp was then sent to Mohawk to be manufactured into new paper for the production of its Earth Month materials. Typically, Whole Foods Market immediately recycles its in-store materials as soon as they become outdated; however, for this program the company saved and stored all outdated materials with the purpose of creating enough volume to manufacture new paper for itself.
The term "third-generation" means that the same fibers have been used to manufacture paper three separate times. Essentially, the paper's "life" began as virgin fiber paper, which was used and then recycled. Mohawk took the recycled fiber and manufactured it as 100% postconsumer waste paper, which was used by Whole Foods Market, then once again recycled and re-manufactured by Mohawk into 100% postconsumer waste paper.
The papers that Whole Foods Market used and ultimately recycled were Mohawk Via 100% PC Cool White and Mohawk Options 100% PC White. Because Mohawk’s 100% postconsumer waste papers are all FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, and because Whole Foods Market used Mohawk to remanufacture the paper, together the two companies were able to ensure the integrity of the environmental properties of the paper along with any third-party environmental certifications. This is unusual for third-generation papers since much of the recycled pulp is exported from the U.S. for manufacturing. Whole Foods Market’s closed-loop program was an entirely domestic endeavor.
According to Mohawk’s Environmental Calculator, Whole Foods Market created a significant environmental savings by using closed-loop papers. 20,000 pounds of third-generation 100% postconsumer waste paper were used for the Earth Month materials, creating an environmental savings equal to:
192 trees preserved for future use
554.42 pounds of waterborne waste not created
81,557 gallons of wastewater flow saved
9,024 pounds of solid waste not generated
17,768 pounds of greenhouse gases prevented
136,000,000 BTUs energy not consumed
Because Mohawk manufactured the paper with wind-generated electricity, an additional impact was created: 9,232 pounds of air emissions were not generated (which means that 4 barrels of crude oil were not used) and the savings was equal to not driving 10,000 miles or planting 624 trees.
Rene Harbison of Studio Azul, Inc. is a print production consultant who acted as vendor liaison for the program. "Mohawk and Whole Foods Market have similar environmental stories and visions. Mohawk went above and beyond to help create the opportunity for Whole Foods Market to be the first national retail company to implement a closed-loop recycling program and draw further awareness of the global need to recycle," says Harbison.
More information about Whole Foods Market and its closed-loop Earth Month program can be found at blog.wholefoodsmarket.com.
For more information about Mohawk's extensive collection of 100% recycled papers, visit www.mohawkpaper.com or call 1-800 the mill.
About Mohawk
Recognized for its technical innovation and environmental focus, Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. is the largest manufacturer of premium printing, writing, and digital paper in North America. Signature grades include Strathmore(R), Beckett(R), Mohawk Superfine(TM), Via(R), BriteHue, Carnival, Synergy, Solutions, Nekoosa Linen, Mohawk Color Copy(R), proprietary Inxwell(R) products, Navajo(R), and Options(R). Mohawk is also the exclusive marketer of Kromekote and Knightkote, premium coated brands manufactured by Smart Papers.
Mohawk engineers its papers to provide optimal performance for sheetfed, web, and digital printing. Uses for Mohawk papers include corporate reports, corporate identity systems, brochures, packaging, invitations and announcements. Mohawk Digital Papers are also used in on-demand photo books, personalized direct mail, and custom packaging. Mohawk offers reams and envelopes through its ecommerce site at Strathmore.com.
A certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise and leader in environmental stewardship, Mohawk is the first U.S. paper mill to offset 100% of its electricity with windpower renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production. Also offered are recycled papers certified by Green Seal and papers certified to the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) standards by SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance. FSC certification ensures responsible use of forest resources. ©1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. SW-COC-000668
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