Environmental Leadership

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20 Year Green Performance

SMART Papers has an extensive history as a proven paper industry leader in the production of premium papers using recycled fibers.

Over half a century ago, we installed specialized equipment to reclaim fiber from coated paper waste; today, we are one of the largest users of coated paper waste that would otherwise be land-filled.

And 25 years ago, we produced the first 100% Recycled Premium Text and Cover paper brand; today, we use recycled fiber throughout our entire product line of fine papers.

We currently use Forest Stewardship Council approved pulps and recycled fibers and all of our Kromekote and Knightkote papers are FSC certified.

SMART Environmental Initiatives

SMART Papers is committed to the strictest standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility in our manufacturing process, as well as the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities where we do business.

Fiber / Pulp
  • We process approximately 50 tons per day of coated mill broke for use as reclaimed fiber source in the manufacture of recycled papers.
  • We currently purchase an average of 500 tons per month of post-consumer recycled PCW fiber for use in recycled papers. All post-consumer recycled fiber is purchased from suppliers using 100% de-inked office waste.
  • All post-consumer fiber supplied to SMART Papers is process chlorine free.
  • The paper machines located at our facility process from 15% to 50% pre-consumer fiber during the manufacture of all paper products. Post-consumer recycled fiber content varies from 30% to 50% depending on grade.
  • All virgin pulp (Northern Hardwood, Northern Pine) purchased by SMART Papers is produced by facilities that use Elementally Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching methods.
  • All virgin pulp suppliers to SMART Papers participate in the Forest Sewardship Council or American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative forest management performance measurement systems.
  • SMART Papers does not use chlorine or chlorine containing bleaching compounds to brighten pulp fibers as part of the papermaking process.
Chemicals
  • We are committed to the safe use of chemicals in our processes and products. A Material Ordering Policy requires the review of all new materials brought into the company’s facility. The review determines how the material can be safely used as well as its environmental impact.
  • SMART Papers has no PCB transformers on its properties.
  • Asbestos containing materials are managed to ensure the asbestos fibers do not pose a health risk to our employees or the public.
Power Generation
  • Our facility was the first local industrial facility to enter in to a cooperative program with Cinergy (Cincinnati Gas and Electric) aimed at opting out of purchasing power during peak demand summer months.
  • SMART coal fired boilers are operated at about 75% of the allowable emission rate for sulfur dioxide and less than 30% of the allowable emission rate for particulate matter.
  • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) control technology installed on the largest of the coal fired boilers during 2001 and 2002 has reduced the emissions of NOx by approximately 60%.
Employee Safety & Health
  • We consider our employees to be our most valuable resource. To this end, we have designed an incident investigation process that is used for every near-miss incident, injury, property damage incident, chemical release, etc. This process includes input from all affected employees and tracks the corrective actions through completion.
  • Our SMARTWeb Intranet provides our employees links to environmental, health and safety policies, procedures, MSDSs for products used in our processes, as well as other valuable information about our facility and company.
  • An internal Web-based Safety Concern reporting system has been implemented to help our employees focus on a safety related issue that they believe needs to be addressed.
  • Our Web-based training programs allow our employees to complete the necessary EHS training in a self-paced manner that documents their success and their understanding of the materials presented.
Solid Waste
  • 100% of coal fired boiler ash is recycled as raw material in Portland cement production.
  • We maintain our status as a Small Quantity Generator of Hazardous Wastes through diligent management of raw materials.
Wastewater Treatment
  • We operate a primary wastewater treatment facility that removes more than 96% of the papermaking waste solids prior to discharging the wastewater to the City ofHamilton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  • The ash produced by our coal-fired boilers is recycled into cement.
  • The sludge from our wastewater treatment plant is recycled in a number of ways, including the manufacture of other paper products, animal bedding in the agricultural community, and reclamation of coal mining areas.