We achieved our Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certification

Just yesterday we received confirmation from the Sustainable Forestry Initiatve (SFI) that The Paper Mill Store has achieved the Chain of Custody certification. We are very happy to announce this newest step in our sustainable business model.

As of February 13, 2008, under our SFI number - NSF-SFICOC-6T721, we will begin building our offering of SFI papers and envelopes. SFI is particlularly interesting to those of us in the USA and Canada in that this initiative focuses on the unique issues facing North American forests. SFI is dedicated to helping to protect forests and to promote well managed forestry practices through certification and tracking of forest products.

Eco training at The Paper Mill Store

We have just completed our 2008 sales meeting, bringing in our folks from around the country from our sister company CTI Paper USA. As both companies, CTI Paper USA and The Paper Mill Store have increased our mutual commitments to sustainable design and business practices we had the opportunity to share ideas and communicate some of our newest initiatives over the last two days.

As a group we just completed our Safe Forestry Initiative (SFI) audit this past Friday. So we hope to have our SFI Chain of Custody certificate in the coming weeks. Part of SFI and FSC for that matter require that we educate all of our employees on these processes and that everyone have a good understanding of the benefits and procedures.

The group developed a new paper as an addition to Aspire Petallics, Aspire Petallics Pearl. A stunning sheet which is SFI certified and is manufactured Carbon Neutral through offsetting 100% of the carbon produced in its manufacture. As well, we now have recycled options in Aspire Petallics with 30% Post Consumer Waste (PCW) in our 98 lb cover Beargrass and all our 80 lb text weights except for Beargrass text.

Some of you may know that we have a paper crafting division in the company. Some new big eco initiatives will be announce from these folks during the upcoming CHA show. As the founder of the group I'm really pleased that our team has adopted these important eco initiatives with such enthusiasm and support.

Get Ready SFI is coming in a Big Way!

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is coming to a market near you. SFI is a non-profit third party independent sustainable forestry certification organization dedicated to certifying sustainable forestry practices in North America.

These folks have been in existence since 1995 and until now have been quietly working to protect N. American forests. They currently have 130 million acres certified as part of their program. A growing number of supply chain participants across the continent of which The Paper Mill Store is working towards joining with a hopeful certification date of the end of this month December 2007 is making it easier to purchase and specify SFI paper and envelopes.

SFI has committed to a multi million dollar advertising campaign targeting the major cities of N. America. Over this past Thanksgiving holiday week I found myself on a plane headed towards New York City, reading the NYT. I saw a large ad touting SFI. Upon landing and walking around Manhattan I saw numerous bus stop and telephone booth signage advertising SFI. SFI has been a sleeping giant and according to their President & C.E.O. Kathy Abusow those days are over. Kathy reported to me that SFI intends to get their message out to the marketplace and help to build demand for SFI certified wood products. This is the only forest certification program targeted at the specific needs and circumstances of N. America's forest which are largely made up of patchworks of privately owned land.

Keep your eyes and ears open as you are going to hear a lot more about this important organization.