Domtar says paperboard sustainability promotion will continue

South Carolina-based paper producer Domtar, which opened a recycled-content containerboard mill in Kingsport, Tennessee, earlier this year, says paper and paper-based packaging manufacturers in the United States have renewed their commitment to sharing the industry’s successful sustainability story by continuing support for the Paper and Packaging Board program.

According to Domtar, in a recent referendum, 53 percent of domestic manufacturers and importers—who represented 53 percent of the volume of paper and paper-based packaging voting in the referendum—voted in favor of continuing the Paper and Packaging Board program.

The Paper and Packaging Board was created in 2014 as an oversight board for the paper industry’s national promotion campaign. The board is funded by paper manufacturers with operations in the United States, including Domtar, as well as importers of paper and board.

The organization’s How Life Unfolds campaign was launched in 2015 and, in 2021, the campaign began messaging focused on the sustainability benefits of paper products and paper-based packaging, including the Box to Nature program.

“[Paper and packaging producers] are investing billions today to keep tomorrow’s promises and maintain our position as one of the most recycled materials on the planet,” says Mary Anne Hansan, president of the McLean, Virginia-based Paper and Packaging Board.

“[The Paper and Packaging Board] plays an important role in promoting our industry’s story,” says Domtar Senior Vice President Rob Melton, who leads paper and packaging sales for its parent organization, the Paper Excellence Group. Melton also serves as vice chair of the Paper and Packaging Board.

“It’s more important than ever that we do everything we can to influence people to choose renewable paper whenever possible.”

Recent research shows the message is getting through, according to the organization. In a survey earlier this year conducted through the Paper and Packaging Board program, roughly two-thirds of U.S. adult consumers believe recycling paper is worth it, and 60 percent felt that recycling is easy.

“Our research shows that consumers understand the value of recycling paper,” Hansan says. The organization executive also says the winter holidays marks an important time to promote its “papertarian way,” or choosing paper and paper-based packaging as a sustainability option.

“The holidays are a very paper-intense season, so we wanted to capture and grow [consumer] interest with practical and fun ways to make the holidays more earth-friendly,” she says. “Since paper and paper packaging can be recycled up to seven times [the] abundance of paper during the holidays makes it a great time to build better recycling habits for families.”