Wausau Paper's effective water management

Every consumer should understand how much influence they have as a group. You can see all over the market how resource intensive companies are taking a very close look at how they operate their plants. My industry, the paper industry is no different.

I know the folks at Wausau Paper personally and I know as individuals that many of them genuinely care about the environment. However you need a company management that sees better business practices to be in its best interest to make real change. This is how Wausau Paper appears to view things.

Over the last two years Wausau Paper has reduced their consumption of water at their Brokaw, WI paper mill by, get this, 2 billion gallons of water per year. That's approximately 5.5 million less gallons of water consumed a day. This water consumption savings is equal to approximately 80 million loads in a dishwasher and 70 million loads of laundry.

That's impressive and I congratulate Wausau Paper for their efforts. I also congratulate the consumers who have voiced their desires for cleaner manufacturing. Keep up the good work.

The Eco Rush is On

The paper industry has heard the cry for eco-friendly practices loud and clear. There is much opportunity for the paper industry to provide products and services that lessen the negative impact of the industry's activities on the environment.

Over the past couple of years two environmentally beneficial initiatives have taken hold in the paper industry, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of forests and renewable energy. Both of these initiatives provide substantial benefit to lessening the impact of paper manufacturing and distribution on the environment. What I find intriguing is that both of these initiatives are voluntary and can be economically beneficial to the companies supporting these programs.

Briefly FSC certification, with the consumers support, increases demand for FSC products and therefore adds value to these products throughout the manufacturing and distribution channels. Renewable energy and most commonly wind power offer an opportunity for companies to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (REC) that in effect subsidize the growth of renewable energy production, more wind farms, etc. Purchasing REC also adds value to a company's marketing profile and reduces quantifiable amounts of carbon from our atmosphere.

FSC and REC represent two programs which provide significant environmental benefits, significant economic benefits and for those of you preferring less government regulation the programs are 100% voluntary by industry. Consumers are the driving force behind this movement. If you are interested in seeing these and other beneficial environmental steps move forward support companies and products that support these programs. You might find yourself amazed at the power the consumer has today. Company executives are listening in unprecedented numbers.