Global warming is continually a hot topic in New Zealand. The interest in climate-smart product choices is growing and recently SCA’s environmentally sound efforts are being recognized in many of the country’s media channels.
Mark Stevens is Head of Sales in Australia and New Zealand for SCA Hygiene Australasia, Away From Home.
SCA is the only local producer of tissue in New Zealand, which involves toilet paper, paper toweling and facial tissues that the Away-from-Home segment sells through distributors to such bulk users as hotels and hospitals.
Mark Stevens, SCA Hygiene Australasia’s Head of Sales Australasia, contends that SCA’s well-known international environmental profile has not yet solidly captured the attention of New Zealanders. However, a change is now under way. For the past two months, SCA has been conducting a campaign to increase environmental awareness about how the company works to minimize its environmental impact.
“We are an extremely green and clean country, but with regard to making green product choices confusion reigns,” says Mark Stevens. “We want to educate people about what an environmentally sound choice is.”
Eco-labeled products
To explain which considerations on which its own environmental work is based, SCA has listed ten fundamental criteria. These include information about where the raw material for the product is acquired, how the forest is harvested, what chemicals are used in the production processes, how much waste is created and similar information, which is also the basis for certification processes. Many of SCA's products in the country are labeled with the country’s eco-symbol, Environmental Choice, a label approved by the government authorities.
Mark Stevens notes that a common misconception is that paper raw materials must be recycled to be considered environmentally sustainable.
“This is, of course, a major issue in Europe, but if we used solely recovered paper we would be forced to import it as there is not sufficient available in the region for our purposes,” he says.
Fresh fiber from the forest
Instead, the paper in SCA’s products is mainly made of fresh fiber from forests growing in New Zealand. No long transports from distant countries are necessary.
“And we use residues from felling that otherwise would not be used,” says Mark Stevens.
He views SCA's long tradition of environmental work as an obvious advantage in marketing the products. The current campaign has attracted substantial press coverage and SCA’s seminars on the topic are popular with the customers.
“In the end, development is driven by what the customers want – and most want to act responsibly,” says Mark Stevens.
Text: Susanna Lidström