The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is the leading organisation working on behalf of the UK's paper industries. It represents the paper supply chain from the recovery of used paper, through papermaking and conversion, to distribution. As such, CPI feels it must respond to certain elements within the WWF report, “Illegal Logging, Cut it Out!”.

CPI and its Member companies strongly disapprove of illegal logging. Through sustained discussions with other concerned organisations, CPI seeks to discourage its practise.

At 74.6%, the UK has one of the highest recovered paper utilisation rates in the EU. The remaining 1.6 million tonnes a year of fibrous raw material needed by CPI Members includes both softwood and hardwood pulps. These are sourced from forests approved by internationally recognised certification schemes such as the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

These certification schemes ensure that any pulp used by CPI Member companies has been sourced from forests which are responsibly managed in terms of their environmental and social impact, and their continued sustainability. CPI Member companies do not therefore use illegally logged timber or its derivatives in their manufacturing processes, and as such CPI is confident that its Members’ consistently strong environmental credentials remain intact.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Richard Sexton, Papermaking/Tissue Sector Manager, on 07887 988647 or email rsexton@paper.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

CPI is the voice of the paper industry in the UK, representing papermakers, tissue manufacturers, corrugated packaging producers, and recovered paper merchants.

For additional information on the UK paper industry, in the first instance, please contact Catherine Watson, External Affairs Coordinator, on 01793 889612 or email cwatson@paper.org.uk. Alternatively, please visit: http://www.paper.org.uk.