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The medium is the message — and that’s pulp fact for Mohawk Fine Papers.
Environmentally conscious companies are realizing the paper they use for corporate reports sends a strong message. That’s why many are turning to Mohawk Fine Papers for papers that set a new “green standard.” Mohawk Options, Strathmore Script, and Mohawk Color Copy offer high quality options that are 100 percent recycled, elemental chlorine-free and manufactured using renewable wind power.
Just look on the inside back cover on select corporate reports of companies like FedEx, Kinkos, IBM, and GE. Some include statements that the report was printed on Mohawk paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), using wind power. The Sierra Club recently purchased the environmentally friendly paper to use as packaging for distribution of a DVD about the oil drilling controversy in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge. Even readers of the Harry Potter series are being introduced to the Mohawk brand at an early age via the textured cover dust jackets.
As the largest manufacturer of premium printing and imaging papers in the United States, Mohawk has also become an industry leader in sustainable manufacturing practices. Based in Cohoes, NY, the privately held company has made a serious commitment to being a leader in environmental innovation—not easy in an industry dependent on huge amounts of energy, water and wood.
The most visible sign of this commitment is the 45 million kWh purchase of wind-generated electricity, the annual output of 11 wind turbines (equal to the amount of energy used to power approximately 5,000 average U.S. homes per year). The company participates in the Green-e program, a third party program that certifies purchases of saleable Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from accredited production sources.
Last fall the company was a recipient of the EPA-issued 2005 Green Power Leadership Award in the category of Green Power Purchasing. “This award put us in a different category of recognition and we’re very proud of that,” said Joe O’Connor, Mohawk senior vice president.
The company is a third-generation family-run business that doubled its revenues last year and projects continued growth, in part, because of a strategy it calls “creating value through sustainable manufacturing.” Mohawk has recognized that companies committed to progressive environmental policies often choose to do business with others who share their philosophy.
Green — inside and out
It isn’t enough for Mohawk to provide its customers with paper that comes with the highest regard for the environment; the company has made a commitment that its mills will also become leaders in energy conservation — inside and out.
Mohawk’s environmental management system is modeled on the CERES Principles and incorporates process-oriented standards developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO). In the early 1990s the company, at a considerable expense, voluntarily replaced the aging steam plants in its two New York mills with low-emission natural gas fired boilers. Cost savings have followed as they reduced fuel consumption by 14 percent and reduced combustion emissions by 43 percent.
“When you focus on sustainability you can drive costs out of your business,” said O’Connor. “Sustainability is about accomplishing more with less.”
As part of their environmental program, they also removed all underground storage tanks, all PCB electrical devices and upgraded the wastewater treatment system and chemical storage and delivery systems. They also stopped using pulp bleached with elemental chlorine.
To further its commitment to energy conservation, the company has taken other steps:
- Voluntary participation in grid-based electric demand reduction programs
- Participation in New York state sponsored energy research and conservation programs
- Agreement to permanent emission caps for New York mills
- Use of GE-designed energy monitoring system that allows for real-time consumption analysis
- Creation of a cross-disciplinary team that meets regularly to identify energy conservation opportunities
The environmental commitment was then extended to reducing waste created in the manufacturing process. Mohawk has found ways to recover most of the fiber from the wastewater treatment systems for reuse within the mills, or ships it to a composting facility where it is mixed with other organic waste to produce high-grade compost that is applied to cornfields.
O’Connor calls his company’s commitment to conservation “an evolution” and while he is an evangelist for environmental stewardship, he cautions other businesses “it has to be economically sensible for you.”
Maintaining the integrity of its supply chain is critical since the company purchases all its wood fiber from others. These suppliers are required to provide documentation demonstrating sound environmental practices and sustainable forestry management.
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