SPOKANE, Wash., Mar 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) announced today that the company
will be the first U.S. tissue supplier to offer consumer products from
responsibly managed Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests
and be awarded Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification by the Rainforest
Alliance's SmartWood program.
"Today's consumer wants assurance that the products they buy come from
sustainable sources, and savvy companies recognize that," said Tensie
Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "We are pleased that
Clearwater Paper is leading the way in offering FSC-certified tissue
products to US consumers nationwide."
FSC Chain-of-Custody certification ensures that the pulp used to make
Clearwater Paper's FSC-labeled tissue products comes only from suppliers
who exercise environmentally and socially responsible forestry practices
following FSC's high standards. Clearwater Paper is the first major U.S.
manufacturer of consumer tissue products to become FSC certified for
tissue products sold at retail grocery.
"We are very pleased to be able to offer consumers a new choice when
making important decisions about their family's use of tissue products,"
said Gordon Jones, president and CEO of Clearwater Paper. "Clearwater
Paper has been a pioneer in FSC-certified wood fiber-based products,
offering the first full line of FSC-certified paperboard products to the
packaging industry in 2006. Now with private-label consumer tissue
products available to our customers, the company has made huge strides
in furthering our commitment to supply certified products to consumers."
Clearwater Paper's private label tissue products are made from premium
quality fiber that is comparable to national brands in softness,
absorbency and strength. The company will begin offering certified
facial tissue products during the latter part of the second quarter of
2010. Clearwater Paper plans to expand its certified product offering to
premium and ultra grades of bathroom tissue later in the year.
"Clearwater's Chain-of-Custody certification is an important achievement
and is further evidence of the increased demand for environmentally and
socially responsible products," said Corey Brinkema, president of the
Forest Stewardship Council-US. "Clearwater's reach to the U.S. consumer
is a tremendous leap forward for our forests and forest communities."
Starting in June, FSC-certified facial tissue will be available to
retail grocery stores. Clearwater Paper is the nation's largest supplier
of private label tissue products to national retail grocery chains.
"Many of our retail grocery customers have been asking for FSC-certified
tissue products and are excited to be able to offer their private label
products to consumers while maintaining the same Clearwater Paper
quality with the added assurances of FSC certification of high
environmental standards," said Bob DeVleming, vice president of
Clearwater Paper's consumer products division.
Certification allows retailers to add a valuable component to their
private label products. Because the company has passed its
Chain-of-Custody certification, many of Clearwater Paper's private label
customers' products will soon have the option to proudly display the FSC
logo and the well-known Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.
"FSC certification provides consumers credible, independent assurance
that our products are made from responsible, well-managed forests,"
added DeVleming. "Today's consumers expect that the products they use
are environmentally sound, and also demand the same high quality
standards of premium tissue products to which they are accustomed."
ABOUT FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global nonprofit organization
that encourages responsible management of the world's forestlands.
ABOUT THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure
sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business
practices and consumer behavior. The Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood
program is the leading FSC certifier.
ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER (FSC C051250)
Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, bleached
paperboard and wood products at six facilities across the country. The
company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retail
grocery chains, and also produces bleached paperboard used by
quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's
2,400 employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer
partnerships through quality and service.
For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our Web
site at www.clearwaterpaper.com.
Inquiries about Clearwater Paper tissue products can be made to tissue@clearwaterpaper.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains, in addition to historical information, certain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the market
for Clearwater Paper's products, the availability of and plans for
Clearwater Paper to offer certain products, and the acceptance of
Clearwater Paper's products by customers and consumers. These forward
looking statements are based on Clearwater Paper's current expectations,
estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change.
Clearwater Paper's actual results of operations may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements
contained in this release. Important factors that could cause or
contribute to such differences include the risk factors described in
Item 1A of Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2009, as well as the supply of FSC certified
wood fiber, the ability of Clearwater Paper and its suppliers to remain
FSC certified, and changes in customer and consumer preferences.
Forward-looking statements contained in this release present Clearwater
Paper's views only as of the date of this release. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE: Clearwater Paper Corporation
Clearwater Paper
Matt Van Vleet, 509-344-5912
Copyright Business Wire 2010