Premier puts environmental issues at top of agenda

The Premier Paper Group continues to enhance its corporate strategy on environmental responsibility with new initiatives that help the company to improve its environmental position and also provide its customers with a helping hand in attaining FSC, PEFC and Carbon Neutral certifications.

Recently achieving carbon neutral status is proof that Premier Paper Group is once again the leading environmentally conscious and friendly merchant, as it says it is the first paper merchant to obtain this certification.

Together with The CarbonNeutral Company and The Carbon Trust, via their appointed agency EMTEC, Premier has completed a full analysis of its carbon emissions and has instigated a substantial programme of internal energy savings. These savings are scheduled to yield reductions of 11% of energy costs in 2007.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, Premier will be working with The CarbonNeutral Company to support a number of carbon offset programmes that meet strictly assessed criteria.

This is not the first time that the Premier Paper Group has led the market on an environmental initiative. Back in 1997 Premier was the first merchant to gain ISO 14001. Since then they have achieved ISO 9001, followed by the attainment of both the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate in 2005 and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) in 2006.

Premier is also the second merchant to join the Corporate Responsibility Group, a forum which brings people together from a range of business sectors committed to adopting a social, ethical and environmentally responsible approach to business practice. This membership strengthens Premier’s commitment to corporate responsibility, allowing the company to share experiences, develop strategic thinking and introduce new initiatives to improve its business operations to the benefit of customers, employees, local communities and most importantly the environment.

A Personal Touch

The Premier Paper Group understands the complexities that come with environmental matters; for example, what the new certifications mean, how printers and publishers can attain them, what commercial impact they can have on a business and the true value they add.

As a result, Premier has set up a team dedicated to environmental issues. Headed by Alan Venn, corporate social responsibility director and Paddy Byrne, corporate social responsibility manager, customers are able to seek guidance on a range of environmental issues. For further information, please drop an email to environment@paper.co.uk.

Helping customers to be more successful

Premier believes that it is not sufficient to be a mere supplier. It wants to become an integral and valuable part of its customers’ business, providing goods, services, advice and every possible assistance.

In everything it does, from the choices of papers and boards that it sells, to the development of new and different services, Premier’s efforts are directed by a clear objective: helping its customers to be more successful.

As an FSC, PEFC and Carbon Neutral company, Premier realises how daunting and confusing gaining certification can be. As a result, it has launched an environmental consultancy service to help its customers.

Headed by Paddy Byrne, the consultancy service is available to all customers wishing to gain FSC, PEFC and Carbon Neutral certification.

For a small fee, Premier will expertly prepare its customers through every stage of the process, understanding their desire to seek certification and to ensure that the process is hassle free, professionally executed in consultation with the customer, whilst also providing guidance on the use of certified grades.

Simplifying Products

Premier remains one of the UK’s leading suppliers of environmentally responsible papers and boards. From Recycled, FSC and PEFC, coated, uncoated and speciality grades, the company has a comprehensive portfolio suitable for a wide range of print applications.

Among Premier’s comprehensive portfolio of FSC products are well known brands such as Cypher, Gemini and Evolution. Its PEFC portfolio includes Galerie Art and Dito.

The company continues to work with suppliers to improve the environmental credentials of its product range. Accurate product information is available to customers to make informed decisions via a local sales branch or through the website.