Media Paper Management: creating a healthy environment

Media Paper Management’s commitment to the environment includes initiatives such as carrying out automatic sixmonthly “health checks” to check on possibilities to switch to recycled paper grades.

St Albans-based specialist Paper supplier Media Paper Management Ltd has always put the environment, along with its customers, at the top of its list of priorities.

Since its formation in 2001, Media Paper’s approach has always been to be innovative, pro-active and progressive. This has led them to become one of the UK’s leading specialist paper suppliers, with turnover this year continuing its steady annual rise to circa £17m.

As managing director Doug Jessop explains: “The paper industry is obviously quite high profile when it comes to environmental matters, and all of us have a responsibility to behave responsibly – accreditation to the various eco certificates is the minimum that a paper supplier should aspire to, but I think we should try to be creative and introduce some innovative disciplines of our own.”

With the environment high on the agenda, Media Paper Management has attained both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) accreditations as part of its commitment to reduce its impact on the environment, and to compliment the existing accreditations held by its wide range of suppliers. This means that the company’s customers can be assured that any paper supplied by Media Paper Management bearing either certification mark has been sourced from sustainable and well-managed forests.

As commercial director Michael Robertson points out, the additional innovative initiatives that Doug Jessop refers to are already in place: “We have introduced a voluntary six monthly ‘Paper Health Check’ in which we remind our clients about the various opportunities to reduce costs and/or switch to a recycled grade – it’s good practice, and it also guarantees that we never become complacent.”

Robertson explains the details behind the six-monthly ‘Paper Health Check’ initiative for customers, which its customers have already found to be a more than useful tool.

Every six months, each of Media Paper’s clients will automatically receive viable alternatives to their current paper usage, offering opportunities to reduce costs, and also the nearest recycled and/or environmentally friendly paper alternative.

This ground-breaking initiative by Media Paper is the latest development in the company’s on-going environmental credentials. It provides improvements to its customer service offering.

“In many cases our customers choose to remain on the grade they are using at the time that they receive the Paper Health Check, but they are happy in the knowledge that at least twice a year they will receive an update on their options to reduce costs and/or switch to a recycled grade, without having to ask for it,” says Jessop. “We hope this demonstrates that we are thinking about the environment and about our customers rather than the misconception that it’s just about price.”

With customers across the magazine publishing, direct mail and travel industry sectors, and also increasingly within the print management sector, it is important that Media Paper’s services not only offer value, but advice on issues such as the environment, including the use of certified stock, recycled papers and reducing wastage where possible.

Media Paper has also taken advice on setting a meaningful and achievable target date to achieve carbon neutrality, which will lead it to become the first merchant in its sector to achieve this environmental landmark.

Robertson goes on to explain: “Achieving Carbon Neutral status means assessing our CO2 emissions through an audit, and taking steps that will offset those emissions to a net zero.”

By undertaking this landmark step, Media Paper Management Ltd is clearly demonstrating its environmental stewardship of the business, and at the same time achieving an industry first for a company in its sector.

“We want to lead the way on this issue wherever possible,” says sales director David Norton. “Apart from the fact that it’s the right thing to do for the environment, more and more of our customers are demanding this service from us, so there is also a commercial advantage to be gained.”

An important aspect of Media Paper’s business has not only been the development of relationships with its customers, but also the depth of its extensive list of strategic suppliers, an important issue when customers demand a variety of stocks to varying requirements.

The company has strong relationships with most of the leading European paper manufacturers, including M-real, Stora Enso, Myllykoski, Burgo, Sappi, UPM, Norske Skog and Perlen Papier.

Further developments and improvements to its paper service offering have also been undertaken by Media Paper, one of which has been the new TOPS2 system that has been developed in conjunction with Denmaur Papers plc, based in Sittingbourne.

TOPS2 will not only improve access to useful information for the company’s customers, but also provide details on forecasts, wastage, recoverable over-usage, stock management, and end of year audits.

In addition a new website called ‘The Media Paper Workshop’ is due for launch in September this year, which has been designed specifically as a daily tool for its clients.

“Like most people I find it frustrating when I’m trying to navigate websites with impressive graphics but no substance – we have designed our website to be of daily use to our clients, with a concise, relevant menu and useful interactive facilities,” says Jessop.

Examples of some of the items that have been included on the new website are:

• A paper calculator – an ‘at a glance’ guide to tonnage required given a set specification
• A print quote estimator – an opportunity to receive costings for a specific print requirement
• A product comparator – a full listing of all publishing grades available and how the technical specifications compare
• Paper management – client access to their orders online with usage reports etc
• An Environmental guide – a guide to recycled papers and environmental accreditations held by Media Paper Management Ltd
• Paper Health Checks – an opportunity to receive a free paper health check
• Printers – details of useful printer contacts throughout Europe
• Dummies & samples – online dummy and sample ordering facility.

“As our business has grown we have always liked to keep ourselves ahead of the pack, and offer something that goes the extra mile,” says Jessop.

With a business considered to be a “onestop solution for paper”, it is no wonder that Media Paper’s clients continue to benefit from its expertise and innovation.