TAPPI - 3/15/2010

TAPPI’s Sustainability Forum Focuses on The Science Behind Sustainability

In the movie Jerry McGuire, Tom Cruise made famous the line, "show me the money!" Today the call could 
just as well be "show me the sustainability!" But unlike money, sustainability is more difficult to quantify. To 
bring practitioners up-to-date on the latest efforts to bring some consistency to this important area, a one-day 
Sustainability Forum (May 4) has been added as part of TAPPI's PaperCon 2010 event, May 2-5, 2010 in 
Atlanta, GA.

"It's going to be unlike anything that's been done before," says Forum co-chairperson Laura Rowell, Director, 
Sustainable Packaging for MeadWestvaco (MWV). "There aren't many opportunities for people to hear - in a 
one-day session - exactly what's going on in the world today that affects their packaging. It will cover what we 
do, how we talk about what we do, and how we measure it." 

The one-day Forum will be divided into three sessions and will focus on the more technical aspects of 
sustainability: Session 1 will feature expert speakers on Standards, Metrics and Labeling; Session 2 will cover 
Scorecards, Databases, and Tools; and Session 3 will address the future in terms of Inks, Adhesives, Coating 
and Laminates. 

Not So Easy Being Green 
In the 1980s, being perceived as "green" was fashionable. In the 1990s, "greenness" morphed into 
sustainability but without any consistent ways to prove whether you were or you weren't. Today we are in the 
age of "show me the data," says Rowell. "The difference between being green and being sustainable 
requires taking into account the social and economic aspects of packaging. In the past the green package 
wasn't necessarily one that sold well but rather one that just did well in the environment. Today, if social and 
economic needs aren't addressed, you don't have a package that can go forward in the marketplace. 

"Every company says it is sustainable, but how do you prove you are? That's why things like scorecards, 
metrics and guidelines, and standards have emerged," says Rowell. "In our Forum, we'll review and discuss 
these standards that are fast becoming game-changers for our industry." 

Lack of consistent standards and methodology has put a burden on the entire supply chain, according to 
Rowell.  Currently different companies use different techniques to describe their global footprint, which 
confuses retailers and end customers alike. The Global CEO Forum Package Project, which will be discussed 
during the Forum, was developed in response to attempts by companies like Wal-Mart, to quantify their 
sustainability efforts. "The industry supply chain was being inundated with scorecards, surveys and 
questionnaires, and companies not only had to answer multiple questions, but also in multiple formats," 
says Rowell. "The hope is to develop a common set of metrics, definitions and methodologies that can be 
used across the entire packaging supply chain." 

Greenwashing and Mislabeling 
Another major topic to be discussed at the Forum is the prevalence of "greenwashing" or the practice by 
some companies of exaggerating or not being clear about the environmental benefits of their products. The 
justification for such widespread use of greenwashing is: everyone else is doing it, why can't I? 

Greenwashing can create a competitive advantage for a company as consumers can be misled into 
purchasing its product. But, the practice is considered to be deceptive and misleading advertising, and as 
such is illegal. "Unfortunately, the FTC has not been able to enforce the laws on the books," says Rowell. 
"They try sporadically, but not often enough to be effective. If the FTC prosecuted the ten largest violators 
and published the heck out of it, the practice of greenwashing would probably go away overnight." 

Another real concern, according to Rowell, is the increasing emergence of third party certification bodies. 
While most of these organizations are credible and legitimate, there are some whose certification standards 
were created under questionable circumstances and are issuing certifications that are essentially meaningless. 
The difficultly is in knowing who is credible and who is not. "Who certifies the certifiers?" asks Rowell. The 
Forum will include a presentation on an industry effort, through the Keystone Center, to address this problem. 

The Sustainability Forum 
"I'm excited about the potential of the Sustainability Forum to get this information out to the industry," says 
Rowell. "MeadWestvaco is engaged in a lot of the activities we are going to talk about, and I believe these 
could be game-changing initiatives. 

"When we started planning the program we considered using case studies. But the more we talked, the more 
we saw the need to talk about things that directly impact the industry," says Rowell. "So we asked our 
customers, brand owners and retailers--those who are actively involved in these initiatives--to present at the 
Forum. The goal in this one-day meeting is to share a lot with our industry about what's going on out 
there--about initiatives that are underway and that are going to affect their businesses." 

PaperCon 2010
PaperCon is the industry’s premier event, merging excellent peer-reviewed papers and invited speakers from 
PIMA, TAPPI Coating & Graphic Arts and TAPPI Papermakers.   The Technical Program includes CEO Panel, 
State of the Industry presentations, and presentations focusing on this year’s theme of Talent, Technology 
and Transformation.  In addition, the conference will also feature an exhibit area and social activities.

www.tappi.org

TAPPI - 2/3/2010

Northeast TAPPI and PIMA Sections Unite

Empire State TAPPI and New York/Canadian PIMA have joined to form Empire State TAPPI/PIMA. The
mission of the new organization is to provide service to individuals working in the Pulp and Paper, 
Corrugated, Nonwovens and Packaging industries in the New England area as well as parts of Quebec 
and Ontario.

“This combination is part of our continued streamlining of TAPPI and PIMA to better serve our members,” 
said Larry N. Montague, President of TAPPI. “The two organizations are to be commended for taking this 
important step in the future growth of TAPPI.”

The announcement culminates more than three years of planning between the two groups, forming a single 
entity that represents partners in collaboration and will further create meaningful programs, social events and 
services to members.

“Because we have joined these two organizations we are now in a better position to provide more services, 
better programs and true value to our membership,” said Eric Ouderkirk of Nalco, immediate past Chair of 
Empire State TAPPI and previous Chair of New York/Canadian PIMA.  “The paper industry has been 
under stress for a number of years. In the case of Empire State TAPPI and the NY/Canadian Division of 
PIMA, our spirited collaboration over the past several years has resulted in a deliverable to the local paper 
industry that is being valued and most importantly, utilized. We should have done it sooner.”

The organization has created a new logo that combines identities from both associations, solidifies the 
relationship and details the geographic area that will be served. It includes Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, 
New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ontario and Quebec. The newly designed logo includes the brands of 
both TAPPI and PIMA and represents the combined interests served by the local section.  

To formalize the combination of Empire State TAPPI with the New York/Canadian Division of PIMA, the
decision was made by the heritage PIMA officers to gift our remaining funds,” Ouderkirk said. “Based on the 
geography served, funds will be gifted to the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres and SUNY College of 
Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse in support of scholarships.  Both institutions provide higher 
education in the engineering and technical aspects of the pulp and paper industry.  They are fitting choices 
for the gifted funds.”

“The combination provides new energy for the new organization and allows us to preserve PIMA traditions 
such as the Spring Golf Outing which goes back nearly 50 years,” said Dennis Mikkelson of Voith and board 
member of NY Canadian PIMA. “It also allows us to continue our Paper Makers Memorial Scholarship.”

TAPPI is the managing body of PIMA at the national level and joining the two groups together in the New 
England area is one of the first to take place at the local section level.  Since 2006, the local section leaders 
have worked closely with officers and representatives from national TAPPI to ensure that this combination 
was completed within the guidelines of TAPPI by-laws.

www.tappi.org

TAPPI - 2/2/2010

TAPPI “PEERS” is New Name for Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference

TAPPI today announced “TAPPI PEERS Conference” will be the new name for the TAPPI EPE Conference 
(Engineering, Pulping and Environmental) held annually in the fall.  The “PEERS” acronym refers to the 
technical areas addressed at the conference, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and 
Sustainability.  

“The name more accurately captures the broad range of technical topics discussed, plus highlights the 
important peer-to-peer networking that happens there, ”  according to Danny Haynes of Eka Chemicals, 
current Pulp Manufacture Division Chair.  The new name also means enhancement to the program in 2010.   
David White of the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center and Engineering Division Chair said, “We 
plan to continue the tremendous technical sessions offered at EPE, plus add more bioenergy and business 
content to address the interests of our attendees.”  

The 2010 TAPPI PEERS is scheduled for October 17-20 in Norfolk, Virginia USA. It will include an extensive 
program of technical papers, invited speakers and workshops.  A call for papers has been issued with a 
deadline of March 9, 2010.   Co-located with TAPPI PEERS this year is the 9th Research Forum on Recycling, 
co-organized by TAPPI and PAPTAC. This event is held every three years and attracts the world’s experts 
in the area of recycled fiber usage, de-inking, stickies and raw materials management.  Presentations, invited 
speakers, roundtables and a mill tour will highlight the program.   To accommodate tight budgets, 
one registration fee will allow attendees to access both conferences.   For more information about TAPPI 
PEERS and the 9th Research Forum on Recycling, visit www.TAPPIPEERS.org.

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries and 
co-publisher of Paper360° and TAPPI JOURNAL. Through information exchange, events, trusted content, 
and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that 
lead to better, faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business. PIMA operates as the Management 
Division of TAPPI and has been providing management training and networking to the industry’s leaders for 
90 years.

www.tappi.org

TAPPI - 10/20/2009

Specialty Papers Conference Creates Strong Response, Change of Venue

TAPPI events are enjoying an unprecedented attendance by paper producers and converters.

Specialty Papers 2009 - coproduced by TAPPI and Pira International - is planning compelling program 
content for the specialty papers industry. Response has been so great for the event that it has outgrown the
original meeting space at the Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown/Lakefront. Instead, the conference 
sessions on November 4-5, 2009 will occur just a few blocks away at the Doubletree Hotel Chicago 
Magnificent Mile.  

Delegates will learn first hand about an important range of current industry topics like:

·       North American specialty papers- an overview of the manufacturing base 

·       The effect of current  and emerging developments on the specialty papers business 

·       The role of private equity and outside investors in Specialty Paper businesses 

·       High performance latexes for aqueous barrier coatings

·       Collaborative NPD in specialty papers product development


Industry leaders will be presenting. They include representatives from Hewlett Packard, American Securities, 
Neenah Paper, and Mallard Creek Polymers, among others. Many more will attend the conference thereby 
creating an environment for technical information exchange and professional networking opportunities. View 
the complete agenda at www.specialtypaperconference.com. 

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries and 
publisher of Paper360°. Through information exchange, events, trusted content, and networking 
opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, 
faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business.

www.tappi.org

TAPPI - 6/2/2009

CorrExpo Micro Site Launched

A special event micro site has been developed by TAPPI at www.correxpo.org to showcase the activities 
and opportunities available at CorrExpo taking place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Sept 1 - 2, 2009. 

“The micro site will be updated frequently with current exhibitors and new program content,” said Kristi 
Ledbetter, TAPPI Converting Division Manager. “This will be an easy way for industry professionals to 
always have the most current information on the events surrounding the conference and exhibit.” 

Users of www.correxpo.org can register for the conference and exhibit, find the latest schedule of events 
and locate exhibitors who will participate in the trade fair. 

This year, CorrExpo’s program has been expanded to reach an even broader audience with a management 
track, as well as several general sessions that will apply to any member of your box plant or converting 
facility. The popular small group technical track will also be repeated this year.

“The program committee continues to add expert speakers and we are also encouraged by the enthusiasm 
of our supplier community,” said Ledbetter.

www.tappi.org

TAPPI - 5/22/2009

TAPPI’s Coating and Graphic Arts Division Spotlights Outstanding Members

Dr. John Husband and Bob Carlson receive technical, leadership awards; 
student scholarship awards go to Lauren Turner, Ben Halka, Nicholas King and Ryan Long

TAPPI’s Coating and Graphic Arts (C&GA) Division will shine the spotlight on several outstanding members 
and student members during the PaperCon ’09 Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, May 31 through 
June 3, 2009. The following awards will be presented or recognized at the conference: 

Dr. John C. Husband, Lead Paper Research Scientist for Imerys, has been named recipient of the 2009 
Technical Award and Charles W. Engelhard Prize. The Technical Award recognizes outstanding 
accomplishments or contributions that have advanced the industry’s technology. The Charles W. 
Engelhard Prize is a $1,000 honorarium made possible by a gift to TAPPI from Engelhard Corporation. 

John joined English China Clays (ECC) in 1969 and became part of the Imerys Paper Business Unit after its 
1999 acquisition of ECC. As Lead Paper Research Scientist at Imerys, John studies the application of 
minerals in papermaking and coating and participates in customer support activities. In the last 20 years, 
he has filed 12 patent applications.  

A TAPPI member since 1995, John has contributed to the revised Paper Technology Series published by 
TAPPI PRESS. He was jointly awarded the Silver Medal from the Institute of Printing in 2003 for an article 
on paper surfaces for printing. John is also a member of the U.K. Paper Industry Technical Association and 
the Royal Society of Chemistry. He holds an M.S. (1993) and Ph.D. (1998) from the Paper Science 
Department of the University of Manchester.  

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Robert W. (Bob) Carlson, a Principal Scientist at the 
MeadWestvaco (MWV) Center for Packaging Innovation, has been named recipient of the 2009 Leadership 
& Service Award and DuPont Soy Polymers Prize, which carries a $1,000 honorarium made possible by a 
gift to TAPPI from DuPont Soy Polymers. 

Bob’s distinguished career started in 1973 with Beloit Corporation, where he received patents in blade coating 
and metered size press technology. In 1989, Bob began work with Boise Cascade Research in Oregon, 
leading the Surface Development Group and working on curtain coating projects. He joined Mead Research 
in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1999. In 2006, MWV’s Technical Group moved to the Center for Packaging Innovation 
at North Carolina State University, where Bob focuses on process developments for coating and calendering.

Bob joined TAPPI in 1971 as a student member and has continued his involvement for the past 37 years. He 
graduated through chairs in the Basestock Committee and chairs of the C&GA Division. He has also been a 
member of the Technical Program Committee for the past twenty years. In 1997, he received a Certificate of 
Outstanding Merit from the C&GA Division. He holds a B.S. (1973) from the Western Michigan University 
Paper School. 

Lauren Turner, a junior at the University of Washington in Seattle, has been awarded the 2009 Robert W. 
Hagemeyer Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. A student in the Paper Science and Engineering program, 
Lauren also plans to major in Chemical Engineering. 

Lauren has gained experience in the paper industry through internships and plans to continue in the industry 
upon graduation. She serves as the public relations officer for the student branch of TAPPI at the University 
of Washington.

Benjamin (Ben) Halka, a senior at Clemson University, has been awarded a C&GA Division Scholarship in the 
amount of $1,000. He is working toward a B.S. in Packaging Science with a minor in Business Administration. 

Ben has been recognized on the President’s List for the past two semesters and is a member of Clemson’s 
Packaging Science Club. His packaging interests include package design for consumer applications and 
finding ways to replace plastics with paper and paperboard in common packages. 

Nicholas King, a junior at North Carolina State University (NCSU), has been awarded a C&GA Division 
Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. He is pursuing a double major in Paper Science Engineering and 
Chemical Engineering.  

Nicholas first discovered Paper Science as an engineering discipline while studying high school chemistry in 
Huntersville, North Carolina.  After seeing NCSU’s pilot paper machine in operating during freshman orientation, 
he chose Paper Science as his field of study.  To solidify his knowledge and interest in the paper industry, 
Nicholas has worked as a summer intern with Procter & Gamble, as well as a research intern with NCSU’s 
Department of Wood & Paper Science.

Ryan Long, a junior at Miami University, has been awarded a C&GA Division Scholarship in the amount of 
$1,000. Ryan is majoring in Chemical Engineering and Paper Science Engineering. 

Working with faculty last summer, Ryan conducted a research experiment on the transport and fate of 
nanoparticles through a porous medium at the Environmental Protection Agency in Cincinnati. For the 
summer of 2009, Ryan will participate in an internship with Verso Paper at its Bucksport, Maine, paper mill. 
After graduation, he plans on pursuing a career in research and process control with a pulp and paper 
company.  


For more details and registration information on PaperCon ’09, visit www.papercon.org.

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries and 
co-publisher of Paper360° and TAPPI JOURNAL. Through information exchange, events, trusted content, 
and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that 
lead to better, faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business. PIMA operates as the Management 
Division of TAPPI and has been providing management training and networking to the industry’s leaders 
for 90 years.

www.tappi.org