Cascades Tissue Group, North America's fourth largest producer of tissue paper, announces that it has been shortlisted for the prestigious "Environmental Strategy of the Year" company prize in the 2010 Pulp & Paper International (PPI) Awards. Cascades Tissue Group also reached finalist status for the "Innovative Product of the Year" company award, as did its fellow business unit, Cascades Fine Papers Group within the "Water Efficiency" award in the mills category. PPI's awards, the only accolades recognizing such achievements in the sector, will be announced Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at a ceremony at Le Plaza Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.

The Environmental Strategy of the Year award submission was based on Cascades’ agreement in April to nearly double its already industry-leading commitment to buying renewable wind energy. The annual purchase of 20,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of Green-e® certified renewable energy credits was enough to offset 100 percent of the electricity used in the production of its North River® line, recognized as the industry forerunner in environmentally preferable towel and tissue. Representing a 182 percent increase over previous levels, the purchase reduces the company's indirect carbon emissions by over 43 million pounds, on par with removing 3,745 cars from the road each year.

"At Cascades, we like to say that being green is in our DNA, so advancement toward this award is an affirmation that our core is not just planet-friendly, but innovative too," said Suzanne Blanchet, President and CEO of Cascades Tissue Group. "Becoming the first to offset a towel and tissue product line's manufacturing electricity with renewable wind energy credits was something that both made strategic sense and felt right."

In other categories, the company's Innovative Product award submission was based on the launch of its intelligent™ antibacterial hand towel, a world-first product that not only reduces harmful bacteria on users' hands immediately upon use, but then persistently shields them from new bacteria for up to 30 minutes afterwards. Marketed to the healthcare, food service and processing and education sectors initially, the product has been cleared for use in Canada and is awaiting FDA approval in the U.S. The Water Efficiency award possibility is in recognition of Cascades Fine Paper Group's successful reduction of 1.16 m3/ metric ton (or 306 gallons/metric ton) of fresh water used in the de-inked pulp manufacturing at its Breakey Fibre Unit, based in Breakeyville, Quebec.

Mark Rushton, editor of PPI magazine and chairman of the jury for the PPI Awards 2010, commented, "This is the second year we have organized the PPI Awards and we're very pleased again with the quality and quantity of the entries. We've received more entries from all parts of the globe this year. Making the finalists list is a great achievement for all the companies involved."

Industry renowned names such as Teresa Presas of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Duncan Pollard of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Rod Young at Resource Information Systems Inc. (RISI), Roger Warwick at the Association of Print and Paper Technicians and Jim Keller at the International Corrugated Case Association (ICCA) were involved in the judging, along with other experts in different fields. RISI will be publishing more information on the finalists in the October issue of PPI magazine as well as on the RISI and PPI Awards websites.

Cascades Tissue Group is a division of manufacturing and packaging leader Cascades, Inc. (CAS Toronto Exchange), long considered a pioneer in recycled paper manufacturing. The organization has 17 mills spread throughout North America, including 10 in the United States. Its various towel and tissues are generally one-time use products destined for sewers and landfills - a fact motivating Cascades to remain an industry model of forward-thinking manufacturing, sustainability and carbon avoidance. For more information about Cascades Tissue Group and its North River environmental line, please visit www.cascades.com/tissuegroup/afh or www.northriverwind.com>.

Cascades Inc.

Cascades Inc.

Founded in 1964, Cascades, Inc. manufactures, converts and markets packaging and tissue products composed mainly of recycled fibers. Cascades employs close to 12,500 employees who work in more than 100 production facilities located in North America and Europe. The company’s visionary management philosophy, 45 years of experience in pioneering recycled paper and continued efforts in environmental stewardship, research and development are strengths enabling it to create quality new products for its customers. Whether for recycling materials, re-using waste, improving water and air quality or energy efficiency, Cascades has established high standards for each operating unit and closely monitors their steps toward achieving the objectives.

The company’s Cascades Tissue Group division is a leading tissue paper manufacturer for retail and away-from-home (commercial) markets, including office buildings, secondary and higher education, health care, hospitality, government and more. With 17 plants, Cascades Tissue Group offers its customers a wide range of sustainable quality products throughout North America. Its North River ivory towels are the first third-party certified 100 percent recycled hand towels, using 100 percent post-consumer content and utilizing 80 percent less water than the North American paper industry average. In the case of its notable North River® towel and tissue products, 100 percent of the electricity used for manufacturing is offset by Green e-certified wind energy, avoiding 43 million pounds of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

More from Cascades Inc.