Fine Paper

South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Triple Green Range of Products

Introduction
Triple Green is a range of paper products produced by Sappi Fine Paper, a division of Sappi
Limited. A world-first Sappi innovation, Triple Green is the most environmentally-sound paper
range currently available in the world.

The following questions and answers are designed to give clients and other interested
parties a comprehensive insight into the product range and important issues relating to its
production. They are also designed to provide important information on related corporate
governance issues.

Many of the questions listed have been submitted to Sappi by independent parties and,
together with the answers to them, are made available here as part of Sappi’s overall
commitment to transparency and ethical corporate governance.

For ease of reference, the questions are categorised as follows:

• Questions About Sappi Limited and Sappi Fine Paper

• Questions About Triple Green

• Questions About Sustainability and Environmental Impact

• Questions About Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Investment

Further detail about any of the FAQs listed here, or about any other issue relating to Triple
Green, may be obtained from [Insert Name] by e-mailing [Insert e-Mail Address].

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Questions About Sappi Limited and Sappi Fine Paper

Who is Sappi Limited?

Sappi is the world's leading producer of coated fine paper, which is used in the production of
printed communications such as glossy magazines, calendars, annual reports and
brochures. Whilst coated fine paper accounts for approximately two-thirds of Sappi's total
sales, the group also has significant businesses in uncoated fine paper, coated speciality
paper, dissolving pulp (chemical cellulose), packaging, and the production of lignin chemicals
from production effluent.

Sappi Forest Products, the forests, pulp, packaging and newsprint part of the business, is the
world’s largest single producer of dissolving pulp, which is used in the manufacture of
viscose fibre, consumer goods and pharmaceutical products.

Sappi is a global company with more than 15,000 employees, customers in over 100
countries, and production facilities in nine countries on four continents. Its headquarters are
situated in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the group originated.

Sappi is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (share code SAP), the New York Stock
Exchange (SPP) and the London Stock Exchange (SAZ).

Who is Sappi Fine Paper?

Sappi Fine Paper is the fine paper division of Sappi Limited, and is responsible for the
production, marketing and distribution of Sappi’s fine paper products. It supplies 25% of all
fine paper used in the western world, and has a 15% global market share.

Page 2 of 18
Questions About Triple Green

What is Triple Green?

The term “Triple Green” refers to both the fully-integrated procurement practice and the
manufacturing process at Sappi Stanger Mill in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province, as
well as to the products produced using these unique protocols. The name derives from the
fact the entire procurement and production process is based on three environmental “pillars”,
which ensures that the paper produced at Sappi Stanger Mill is the most environmentally-
sound currently available in the world.

What are the three “pillars” on which Triple Green is based?

These are the facts that:
• the primary source of pulp used in the production of paper products at Sappi Stanger Mill
is sugar cane fibre, a post-industrial resource obtained from local suppliers
• the wood fibre used in the production process is obtained from sustainable and
internationally-certified afforestation, using independently-audited chains of custody for
incoming fibre (an electronic document on sustainable afforestation is available on
request)
• the bleaching process is elemental chlorine free

What is sugar cane fibre?

Sugar cane fibre is a by-product of sugar production, being the fibrous material remaining
after raw sugar has been extracted from sugar cane. As such, it is not only an annually-
renewable resource but, as a by-product of another production process, is also a recycled
raw material.

Sappi Stanger Mill is one of only a few mills in the world that uses sugar cane as its primary
source of fibre. On average, all products produced at the mill have a 60% sugar cane fibre
content.

How is sugar cane fibre used in the manufacture of Triple Green paper and paper
products?
Together with wood fibre derived from sustainable and certified sources, sugar cane is used
to create the pulp from which Triple Green paper and paper products are made (see
Questions About Sustainability and Environmental Impact for more).

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What is elemental chlorine-free bleaching?
This is the process whereby pulp is bleached without the use of elemental chlorine in the
form of chlorine gas (see Questions About Sustainability and Environmental Impact for
more).

When was the Triple Green range launched?

Triple Green was launched in South Africa in April 2006.

Why was it launched?

Triple Green was launched in response to the growing market demand for environmentally-
sound pulp and coated paper. Companies such as Woolworths, Investec, Bidvest and
Volkswagen are now using Triple Green for the production of their printed communications
materials, and a number of magazine publishers have converted to the range as well.

Which Sappi Fine Paper products are Triple Green?

Every product produced at Sappi Stanger Mill is manufactured according to the principles of
Triple Green. These include the Avalon Supreme, Avalon Silk, Dukuza Hi White, Crystal
Triple Green and Platinum Label coated fine paper ranges, as well as Stanger tissue
wadding.

What is coated fine paper used for?

Coated fine paper is typically used in high-quality publications such an annual reports,
catalogues, brochures, coffee table books, labels, leaflets and magazines.

What is tissue wadding and what is it used for?

Tissue wadding is bulk tissue, which is produced in various grades and grammages and
supplied in reel form. This is then converted by consumer goods manufacturers to meet end-
use demand for such products as facial tissues, serviettes, industrial wipes, roller towels and
toilet paper.

Who uses Triple Green fine paper and tissue wadding?

Corporations and large companies, in particular, can now choose an environmentally-sound,
locally-manufactured coated fine paper for their annual reports, brochures, information
leaflets, catalogues, newsletters and similar printed communications. Sappi feels this will be
especially important to the companies listed on the JSE’s Social Responsibility Investment
(SRI) Index, as well as to other companies pursuing, or already implementing, sustainable
development principles.

Page 4 of 18
Given the many environmental benefits of Triple Green, both the fine paper and tissue
wadding produced at Sappi Stanger Mill are likely to be used by corporations, large
companies, publishers, printers and consumers who support the use of recyclable,
biodegradable and acid-free local paper that has been produced from certified and
sustainable raw materials.

Triple Green is also targeted at designers and advertising agencies who may wish to specify
environmentally-sound paper for their clients.

Are there any other environmental benefits associated with Triple Green?
Triple Green significantly reduces the impact of papermaking on the environment, and also
ensures that sustainable forestry and procurement practices are maintained.

Firstly, the cane fibre used at Sappi Stanger Mill is sourced from local suppliers, many of
them previously-disadvantaged growers. This practice supports the development of
entrepreneurial enterprise, and contributes to the KwaZulu Natal region’s socio-economic
growth and stability.

Local buying also eliminates the need for long-distance road transport, reducing wear and
tear on the country’s roads, fuel consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases from
haulage trucks. The resulting cost savings have a positive influence on pricing as well.

In addition, the use of cane fibre in papermaking consumes less energy than traditional
methods, which is very important given increasing world-wide concerns about energy
sustainability (see Questions About Sustainability and Environmental Impact for more).

How is Triple Green being accepted by users?

Since all paper produced at Sappi Stanger Mill was certified “Triple Green” in February 2006,
there has been an enthusiastic response to Triple Green products, and they are being used
extensively throughout South Africa.

Triple Green has also recently been launched into the Australian market, where it is
marketed under the product name Harvest, and has been very equally well received. The
product range is currently being launched into the European market, and will be launched
into other international markets in due course.

Page 5 of 18
Is there a pricing premium on Triple Green products?
There is no pricing premium on Triple Green products, and they cost the same as other
paper products produced using more traditional methods. Fluctuating interest and exchange
rates do, however, impact on the final selling price of products from time to time.

What is the difference between Triple Green products and paper produced in more
traditional ways?
As far as quality, durability, performance and selling price are concerned, there is no
difference between Triple Green and other papers. However, Triple Green products are
produced in a more environmentally-sound way than other papers, and this is a unique
feature that is very important to many users (see Questions About Sustainability and
Environmental Impact for more.)

Are there any notable defects in Triple Green products as a result of the production
process?
When compared to paper produced in more traditional ways, Triple Green exhibits no visible
or latent defects. However, as recycled fibre is a significant component, there is a slight risk
of the paper being marginally less white than papers produced in a more traditional way, and
of it having occasional small particle spots.

How can one identify a Triple Green product?

Triple Green fine paper and pulp is supplied in bulk, and is labelled with the distinctive Triple
Green logo, showing three green leaves. Many manufacturers and end users also indicate
on their material that it has been printed on Triple Green.

Page 6 of 18
Questions About Sustainability and Environmental Impact

What is Sappi’s policy on sustainable development?

Sappi’s approach to sustainability is to concentrate on the responsible execution of its core
business activities, while simultaneously contributing to individual and community
development, and the overall preservation of the natural environment. A Charter on
Sustainable Development in line with international best practice gives structure to this
approach, and provides operating guidelines for all business units.

What is the aim of this policy?

Sappi’s aim is to make sustainability a way of life. Based on the principles of “Prosperity,
People and Planet”, the group’s sustainability policy aims to ensure broad-based wealth
creation, the on-going enhancement of human capabilities, and continuous improvement in
environmental management.

What does Sappi do to manage the impact of its business on the environment?
Sappi is committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing emissions,
conserving water, maximising energy usage and decreasing waste. It is also committed to
using sustainable and ethically-produced raw materials, and to ecologically-sound land
management. It uses credible, independently-certified environmental management systems
and standards at all of its plantations and mills.

What is Sappi’s policy on environmental management?

Sappi has an official Environmental Policy and is committed to adhering to its provisions in
every respect. The policy covers such issues as compliance with local and international
environmental standards, procedures to reduce emissions and other waste, optimum usage
of water and electricity, compliance monitoring, staff and contractor training, and
communication with all stakeholders on environmental issues.

Together, Sappi’s Charter on Sustainable Development and its Environmental Policy

encapsulate the group’s integrated approach to sound corporate governance and
environmental management.

What is Sappi's response to global warming?

Both the Charter on Sustainable Development and the Environmental Policy commits Sappi
to managing its activities responsibly, and to mitigating the business’s impact on the
environment. Emissions and energy consumption, which are two of the primary causes of
global warming, are key areas of focus for the group.

Sappi's European mills all fall within the National Allocation Plans of the European Emissions
Trading Scheme, and have specified CO2 reduction goals to meet in terms of the Kyoto
Protocol.

In South Africa, the group has a dedicated manager in charge of the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) response to global warming. A number of projects are currently underway
in this regard, and the first of these to reach its emission targets is the one at Sappi Tugela
Mill, just north of Sappi Stanger (see below for more detail on this project).

What energy saving measures are in place at Sappi’s mills and paper processing
plants?
In the first instance, the manufacturing process itself produces energy, so Sappi does not
depend on the national grid for all of its electricity requirements. In addition, all of the group’s
plants are designed to be energy efficient, and especially to maximise their capacity to re-use
energy generated during the manufacturing process.

Energy efficiency and emission reduction projects have been implemented throughout the
business, and include such examples as the Sappi Saiccor Amakhulu Project. The aim of this
project is to increase the percentage of electricity generated by the plant itself to 70% of total
and, concurrently, to reduce coal consumption by 20% through the recovery of dissolved
wood solids for steam and power generation.

Another example is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project at Tugela Mill, in which one of
the mill’s older boilers has been converted from coal to biomass usage. The biomass used in
the boiler, which previously had to be sent to a landfill site, is a by-product of the
manufacturing process.

In what way, if any, do Sappi operations in South Africa adhere to the provisions of the
Kyoto Protocol?
Under the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol, the use of bark as a form of biomass fuel
constitutes a net reduction in fossil fuel greenhouse gases. The Sappi Tugela Mill
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project therefore qualifies for registration as a Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM) under the provisions of the protocol.

With this project, which has been registered by the executive board of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, Sappi will be amongst the first companies in
Africa to be able to receive and trade in carbon credits. The group has also developed a
strategy for rolling out this CDM to its other operating units.

In what other ways is Sappi enforcing energy saving at its operating units?
In southern Africa, Sappi generates approximately 50% of its own energy requirements.
Other energy saving measures include daylight switching on lighting circuits, the use of
variable speed drives on many process applications, the use of energy efficient lighting and
motors, the use of power factor correction equipment, and the use of storage facilities that
allow for pumping and other operations to take place during off-peak periods.

Does Sappi participate in any load shedding in order to conserve energy?

As paper making is a continuous process industry, there are unfortunately very few
opportunities for load shedding at Sappi operating units.

Does Sappi Stanger Mill have any independent environmental certification?

Yes, Sappi Stanger Mill is ISO 14001 certified for environmental management, FSC (Forestry
Stewardship Council) certified for its label grades, PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of
Forest Certification) certified for its chain of custody processes, and ISO 9001:2000 certified
for its product development processes.

The mill has also undertaken an Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP), which focuses
on maintaining the levels and quality of ground water, improving the quality of effluent, and
reducing emissions. In line with this, an upgraded Copeland scrubbing system was recently
installed at the mill in order to achieve improved emissions specifications, and a process for
the continuous monitoring of emissions on the boilers has been commissioned.

Does Sappi liaise with the local community in terms of environmental management
and preservation?
Yes, Sappi liaises with interested and affected parties (I&APs) through the Sappi Stanger
Environmental Liaison Committee (SSELC). The mill also supports three local conservancies
and a number of environmental clubs in local schools, participates actively in community-
based environmental activities, and has established a bird hide on effluent lagoons that is
open to both bird clubs and the public in general.

Specifically with regard to Triple Green, how many tons of sugar cane is required to
produce one ton of Triple Green coated paper at Sappi Stanger Mill?
Approximately 17 tons of sugar cane is required to produce one ton of Triple Green pulp or
coated paper.

How much sugar cane fibre is produced annually in South Africa?

In 2006, South Africa produced approximately 2,7 million tons of sugar from 21,5 million tons
of sugar cane. Domestic sugar sales account for approximately 1,6 million tons annually,
while exports account for approximately 1,3 million tons (Source: United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN report (2005) ).

How sustainable is sugar cane production?

Sugar cane is an annually renewable resource and, as South Africa is a net exporter of
sugar, cane production is sustainable on both an environmental and economic basis.

How environmentally-sound is sugar cane production?

As responsible custodians of large tracts of agricultural land on South Africa’s eastern
seaboard, the sugar industry has long recognised its responsibility to manage the
environmental impact of cane growing and sugar production on the environment, and has a
history of commitment to best practices in this regard.

In 2006, for example, the South African Sugar Association (SASA) signed a memorandum of
agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), committing its members to the
promotion of biodiversity in and around sugar plantations. While it cannot legislate
compliance with this or with the operational guidelines it sets down, the association’s
environmental mission is “to encourage its members to promote and take responsibility for
the resources utilised within the boundaries of the sugar industry” and “to adhere to the laws
which govern all relevant environmental issues”.

To which environmental laws does the Sugar Association’s environmental mission

statement refer?
Principally, it refers to the National Water Bill of 1998 and the Conservation of Agricultural
Resources Act No. 43 of 1983. These acts legislate, for instance, the protection of wetlands
and riverine areas, the content and quality of agricultural effluent, and impact of such
practices as agricultural burning.

If the Sugar Association can’t legislate its members’ compliance with laws and
guidelines, what are individual growers and millers doing to comply with these?
In the growing sector, individual farmers have introduced a number of innovative and
acclaimed environmental management systems in line with SASA’s mission. These are
focused on the protection of soil resources, the preservation of wetlands, the re-
establishment of flora and fauna in riverine areas, the reduction of air and water pollution
from such activities as cane burning, factory emissions and pesticide use, and the reduction
of cane spoilage.

In the milling sector, companies focus on sustainable best practice through adherence to ISO
14000 certification requirements and the NOSA integrated five-star safety, health and
environmental management system.

SASA supports its members’ efforts with communications initiatives such as the development
and distribution of printed and electronic material promoting environmental awareness.

In addition, sugar industry Local Environment Committees (LECs) have replaced the now-
defunct government soil conservation committees that were dissolved a decade ago. These
LECs play an invaluable role in environmental protection at local level, focusing on such
issues as the eradication of alien plants, the creation of water buffer zones between riverine
areas and cane plantations, and the responsible handling of workshop waste such as petrol,
diesel and oil.

How is the wood fibre used in Triple Green products produced and procured?
Sappi tracks and verifies the sources of all incoming wood fibre to ensure that it has been
produced in renewable tree plantations, has not been derived from ancient, rare, indigenous
or rain forests, or been illegally obtained from any areas of significant ecological or cultural
importance.
The wood fibre used at Sappi Stanger Mill is independently certified by either the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)1, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
(PEFC)2, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)3, or the Canadian Standards Association
International (CSA)4.

These are the world’s foremost forestry certification programmes, and are based on a
comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures that have been
developed co-operatively by industry, environmental organisations and social bodies. Their
aim is to ensure that sustainable afforestation is practiced in synergy with the long-term
preservation of the environment, the conservation of flora and fauna, and the overall socio-
economic welfare of the broader community.

Further, all Sappi tree plantations in South Africa and Swaziland are ISO 14001, ISO 9001
and OHSAS 18001 certified.

How is incoming wood fibre certified?

In order to receive certification from any of the organisations mentioned above, wood
products must go through a rigorous “chain-of-custody” auditing process, confirming their
origin.

Sappi is strongly committed to using only certified source fibre, and to preserving indigenous
forests and other areas with a high conservation value. It does not use wood fibre from
poorly-managed and/or non-certified plantations (an electronic copy of Sappi Stanger Mill’s
pulp chain-of-custody manual is available on request).

What does ‘chain of custody’ mean?

A ‘chain of custody’ implies that the raw materials used to manufacture the final product can
be traced back step-by-step to the source of the original raw materials. Certification of
incoming raw material makes this possible.

1
The FSC is an international network that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests (see
www.FSC.org).
2
PEFC promotes sustainable forest management through independent third party forest certification (see
www.PEFC.org).
3
CSA International tests products in the USA, Canada and internationally for compliance with national and
international environmental and legislative standards, and issues certification marks for qualifying products (see
www.csa-international.org).
4
SFI is a sustainable forestry programme that ensures the protection of forests. The SFI programme was
developed by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) in order to test and document compliance of its
members and licensees with the highest levels of sustainable forestry practice see www.SFI.org).
What is “sustainable afforestation”?
The term “afforestation” refers to the planting of forests (also referred to as “tree
plantations”), usually for commercial purposes. Wood fibre derived from these forests is used
in the production of paper, tissue wadding and dissolving pulp.

The term “sustainable afforestation” refers to the fact that this form of forestry is renewable
and sustainable, with more trees being planted than being harvested. It also refers to forest
practice that does not make use of trees from ancient, rare, indigenous or rain forests.

Do tree plantations impact negatively on the environment, particularly in a water-

stressed country like South Africa?
The wise use of water and the sound management of environmental impact are essential for
successful and sustainable development in South Africa. Trees are a crop like any other
agricultural crop and, from a water usage and biodiversity perspective, have a similar
environmental impact. Sappi is committed to managing this impact in full accordance with
international standards of best practice.

Overall, timber plantations use approximately 3 percent of the total amount of water used in
South Africa. In terms of the Water Act, forestry is carefully scrutinised and, as the only
designated streamflow reduction activity in the agricultural sector, it is the only one that pays
for the water it uses.

In terms of broader impact, Sappi does not plant trees in riparian zones, namely in or near to
rivers and wetlands, and often makes use of land unsuitable for other purposes. Sappi
Forests has, in fact, implemented a number of protocols to ensure that trees are removed
from riparian zones, and is actively involved in preserving biodiversity in conservancy areas
adjoining the group’s plantations and operating units.

In addition, timber plantations not only sequester significant amounts of CO2, ameliorating the
impact of global warming, but act as a natural water filtration system. The quality of run-off
from tree plantations is generally very good, and is usually notably better than that from land
being used for other agricultural purposes.
Do tree plantations have a positive impact on broad-based socio-economic
development and sustainability?
According to a June 2005 Department of Trade and Industry (dti) report5, the forestry, timber,
pulp and paper industries in South Africa account for an estimated 170 000 jobs, and
contribute R12 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2003, the sector also accounted
for R7 billion in net foreign exchange earnings, and so makes a significant contribution to the
South African economy.

In social terms, a large number of the workers employed in the sector are minimally skilled,
and concentrated in rural areas with high levels of unemployment where they have few other
employment opportunities. Sappi is committed to developing a healthy, sustainable company
in a healthy, sustainable and equitable socio-economic environment, and so provides job-
specific training and skills transfer for these and all of its other workers. It also funds a
number of large corporate social investment programmes focused on building up the
communities from which its workforce is drawn.

With this in mind, the sector has been identified for accelerated growth by government, in line
with its Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative (ASGISA), and may certainly be regarded
as having a positive impact on broad-based socio-economic development and sustainability.

What is elemental chlorine-free bleaching?

The term “elemental chlorine free bleaching” (ECF) refers to the fact that no elemental
chlorine is used in the process of bleaching the pulp and paper produced at Sappi Stanger
Mill.

What is the history of elemental chlorine-free bleaching at Sappi Stanger Mill?

On 1 February 2005, Sappi Stanger Mill discontinued the use of elemental chlorine in its
bleaching process. Until October of the same year, when the current DEP protocol was
introduced, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide were used as bleaching agents instead.

In November 2005, the DEP process, which makes use of chlorine dioxide and hydrogen
peroxide for bleaching, was commissioned. This protocol is internationally recognised as
being elemental chlorine free (see below).

5
Department of Trade and Industry GENESIS Report: Part 1, released 29 June 2005.
What are the benefits of elemental chlorine-free bleaching?
ECF bleaching has the following benefits:
• the bleaching process is generally benign to the environment, and paper treated in this
way is more easily recyclable
• the use of chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching process is
internationally recognised as being more environmentally sound than the use of chlorine
gas, and complies with the stringent environmental regulations of USEPA (United States
Environmental Protection Agency) and WHO (World Health Organisation)
• the use of the ECF process results in the strongest of paper fibres, ensuring that primary
fibre sources are optimally utilised
• the ECF process provides the highest yield of any bleaching process, also serving to
ensure optimal use of raw materials

Why is the use of chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide regarded as more
environmentally sound than the use of elemental chlorine?
In the elemental chlorine-free (ECF) process, environmentally-neutral oxygen is used in the
pre-bleaching stage to reduce the lignin content in the pulp. During the bleaching process
itself, the use of chlorine dioxide and/or hydrogen peroxide is used in preference to the use
of chlorine gas (elemental chlorine), as they minimise the generation of hazardous
organochlorides during bleaching. There are some mills that use a total chlorine-free (TCF)
bleaching process, in which no organochlorides are generated, but this process is not
suitable for use with all types of pulp.

But aren’t chlorine and hydrogen peroxide hazardous chemicals?

Both chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide are certainly hazardous chemicals, and should
always be treated with caution. However, Sappi Stanger Mill’s DEP protocol is specifically
designed to minimise the risks to both human life and the greater environment associated
with the use of these chemicals. Many years of research and testing have gone into
developing the protocol.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the World Health
Organisation (WHO) legislate the levels of chemical compounds allowed in mill effluent, and
are satisfied that the responsible use of these bleaching agents is generally benign to the
environment.
What is the difference between elemental chlorine and chlorine dioxide?
While chlorine dioxide has the word “chlorine” in its name, its chemistry is very different to
that of chlorine gas (elemental chlorine).

A chlorine molecule is made up of two chlorine atoms, while a chlorine dioxide molecule is
made up of one chlorine atom and two oxygen atoms. Approximately half of the atomic
weight of a chlorine dioxide molecule is made up of oxygen.

When using chlorine gas in the bleaching process, the chlorine combines with the lignin in
the wood (the substance that holds the wood fibres together), and creates chlorinated
organics that end up in mill effluent. In contrast, the chlorine dioxide used in ECF bleaching
actually breaks apart the lignin, leaving behind organic compounds that are water soluble
and very similar to those occurring naturally in the environment. The ECF process virtually
eliminates dioxins in mill effluent.

But isn’t total chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching preferable to elemental chlorine-free (ECF)
bleaching?
According to the International Institute for Environment and Development, “there is no
appreciable environmental difference between TCF and ECF”. Research carried out at the
universities of Gottenburg and Stockholm showed that the effects of mill effluent on water
systems are the same, regardless of which chlorine-free bleaching method is being used,
and have declined to classify TCF as more environmentally-sound that ECF.

In addition, the TCF process increases wood consumption by approximately 2,5 percent, and
converters have to use up to 10 percent more TCF pulp in their production processes.

How have the effects of mill effluent on water systems improved since the
introduction of ECF bleaching?
In the United States and Canada, the USEPA and Environment Canada have recorded
significant improvements in aquatic eco-systems since the introduction of elemental chlorine-
free bleaching:
“Releases of effluent from the pulp and paper sector have been reduced to below the
measurable concentration level as per the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
regulations, which is in keeping with the objective of virtual elimination. For this sector, for
release to water, no further additional work is recommended.”
- Environment Canada
The reduced impact of ECF bleaching on water systems in South Africa is still being
researched, but results are expected to mirror findings in the US and Canada.

What do the experts say about ECF bleaching?

Here is what some environmental experts have to say about ECF bleaching:

“ECF is an excellent example of enlightened industrial response to an environmental

concern, and should be embraced by the environmental community.”
- Professor Don McKay, former member of the International Joint Commission of the Great
Lakes Science Advisory Board and its Virtual Elimination Task Force

“Chlorine dioxide is a solution to dioxin and other persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic

substances in mill waste water.’
- Dr Robert Huggett, former USEPA Assistant Administrator, Research and Development

What is the demand for ECF-bleached pulp and paper?

Worldwide, ECF production exceeded 63 million tonnes in 2002, accounting for
approximately 75 percent of global demand for bleached pulp and paper. In the United
States, the production of ECF pulp has increased by 5,000 percent since 1990, accounting
for 96 percent of the bleached chemical pulp market in that country.

TCF production, in contrast, has stalled at approximately 5 percent of the world output, and
accounts for only 1 percent of US demand. In Germany and Sweden, former TCF mills have
been converted to ECF processing to meet market demand.

Why is wood and sugar cane fibre bleached?

Natural fibre obtained from wood and sugar cane is brown in colour. White paper can only be
produced from white fibre. Bleaching is the process whereby brown fibre is converted into
white fibre.
Questions About Corporate Governance and Corporate Social
Investment

How does Triple Green reflect Sappi’s corporate strategy?

Sappi is committed to sustainability in all aspects of its business. It demonstrates this
commitment by promoting sustainable procurement practices, environmentally-sound
production processes, long-term socio-economic development, the preservation of the
natural environment, and the well-being of staff and the communities in which they live.

What else is Sappi doing to preserve the environment?

Through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and Corporate Environmental Investment
(CEI) Programmes, Sappi supports many environmental initiatives. Those operating close to
Sappi Stanger Mill include the Sappi / WWF TreeRoutes Partnership, the Ixopo Bee-Keeping
Project, the Project Grow small timber growers scheme, the Sappi / Endangered Wildlife
Trust Blue Swallow Working Group and the Sappi Stanger Mill Environmental Liaison
Committee.

Does Sappi invest in communities as well as in the environment?

Sappi believes in a promoting a balance between people and the environment. For this
reason, it supports many educational and community projects as well as environmental
projects. Group-supported educational projects in KwaZulu Natal include the KwaDukuza
Resource Centre, several branches of PROTEC (Programme for Technological Careers), the
NR Mandela Inanda Seminary and the Sappi Community Libraries Programme.

Sappi feels that investment in communities is as fundamental to long-term sustainability as

good corporate governance and environmentally-sound production. The group’s approach is
to seek integrated solutions to the challenges facing its business, its staff, neighbouring
communities and the environment.

What about recruitment from local communities?

Sappi actively recruits from the communities in which its operating units are based. It
provides vocational exposure for learners on an on-going basis, and regularly recruits school
leavers into its apprenticeship and training programmes. Skilled workers are offered access
to a wide range of career development programmes.

ends.