Advancements in the manufacturing process allow companies to produce better quality recycled products with a reduced environmental impact. individuals can do to help sustain it,” Perillo adds. It is one thing for a company to claim their products are sustainable, but an independ-ent, third-party certification is necessary to guarantee manufacturer assertions. “There are different levels of certification offered by many companies like Green Seal and EcoLogo,” notes Mark Ray, direc-tor of marketing for Kruger Products. “Certification avoids a companyʼs chance to greenwash — it weeds that out and facil-itates trust between consumer and manu-facturer,” Ray concludes. cost of using a product in a real-world situ-ation, is what is truly important. “There has often been a ʻstigmaʼ with recycled products as being brown, stiff and low-quality; however, because of major advancements in manufacturing technolo-gy, recycled paper products have become a more desirable option for consumers as well as distributors in the JanSan market,” proclaims Perillo. Todayʼs paper product offerings are, as Ray puts it, “green quality” and offer per-formance comparable to that of traditional, 100 percent virgin fiber products. Smear campaigns by certain organiza-tions have tried to paint a misleading pic-ture of manufacturers and the paper prod-ucts they produce. Through research and education, adept facility managers can see through whatev-er form of greenwash may be taking root around them. One cannot judge a product by its pack-aging and purchasing from an assumption can be a detriment. Play the role of intelligent facility manag-er and select paper products that not only have minimal adverse effects on the envi-ronment, but also help ensure the cleanli-ness and health of facilities and building occupants. CM Good, Better And Best Options According to Mike Kapalko, environmental services manager for SCA Tissueʼs Tork brand, “Good options have high recycled content and are processed chlorine-free. Better options will not only be 100 percent recycled, but will limit consumption and eliminate waste at the source. The best option is working with companies with a proven focus and track record, [such as] a company that focuses its entire operation on sustainability, rather than just a select ʻgreenʼ line of products.” With high-quality paper, less product is needed to achieve desired goals. In terms of paper towels, a higher quality offering comes in a larger sheet size and is more absorbent, meaning an investment in a quality product will yield better results over a longer period than a bargain offering will; the contrapositive is true of inferior quality towels. As Ray asserts, cost in use, or the actual Circle Product Information no. 216 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com Photo courtesy of SCA Tissue 47
CMM – Archives Oct 2009: 47
