PAPERWISE CELEBRATES MILESTONE WITH B CORP™ CERTIFICATION SUSTAINABILITY TRANSPARENT AND MEASURABLE

Great news! PaperWise is a certified B Corp™ and has successfully completed the extensive audit focused on sustainability. In a world where resources are being depleted, biodiversity is declining, the climate is changing, and more than 3 billion people live below the poverty line, action is required. Action from companies that create a positive impact for people, society, and the environment alongside profit. B Corp™ makes sustainability transparent and measurable, providing insight into the sustainable performance of organizations. Where does PaperWise make an impact as a company, and how does it benefit you?

BACKGROUND

The story begins in 2015 when we launched a new type of paper on the European market under the brand name PaperWise. At PaperWise, we believe the paper industry can and must become even more sustainable. To achieve that goal, the course was radically changed, and PaperWise presented paper made from agricultural waste for packaging, printing, and office supplies. Agricultural waste consists of plant residues such as stalks and leaves left over after the harvest of food crops like wheat, barley, rye, rice, hemp, and sugarcane. These secondary raw materials provide significant environmental benefits in addition to extra income for farmers in developing countries where PaperWise is produced. The environmental impact of PaperWise is 47% lower than paper from trees and 29% lower than recycled paper.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

In 2015, PaperWise still lacked quality marks or certifications. Interest in environmentally friendly PaperWise paper has been enormous since its introduction, but customers demand quality marks, certifications, and proof. Independent environmental comparative research in the form of a life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrated the significant environmental gains of 47% and 29% between PaperWise, paper from trees, and recycled paper. This was quickly followed by certifications for industrial composting EN 13432, home composting DIN CERTCO, food safety EC 1935/2004, recycling, and now the certification for sustainability as a
certified B Corp™.

WHAT IS B CORP™

In addition to a sustainable product, customers also want to know how sustainable the organization behind the product is. B Corp™ makes the sustainability of PaperWise transparent and measurable. All PaperWise processes, policies, governance, certifications, and claims have been verified through an intensive audit. The B Corp™ certification is an additional guarantee for customers that sustainable claims and assertions are true and that processes within PaperWise are sustainable. It is only awarded to for-profit companies that have proven to have a significant positive impact on people and the environment. All companies united under the B Corp™ banner are driven by a shared mission to improve the world.

GOAL OF B CORP™

B Corp™ stands for ‘Benefit Corporation’. Building together toward a society where everyone and everything benefits. Since its founding in 2006, the B Global Network has grown into a powerful global movement with more than 8,500 B Corp™ certified companies across 162 industries in 98 countries. B Lab™ is the organization behind the B Corp™ certification. To become B Corp™ certified, you must successfully complete the B Impact Assessment. In addition to the B Impact Assessment, B Lab™ also develops standards, policies, tools, and programs in the field of sustainability. B Lab™ encourages a global movement of companies that do not just pursue profit, but also generate a positive impact for people, society, and the environment.

B IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The heart of the B Corp™ movement is the B Impact Assessment, a very comprehensive and thorough study that evaluates companies on their social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. In the B Impact Assessment, the impact of PaperWise was measured through more than 300 in-depth questions regarding governance, environment, community, employees, and customers. Full transparency regarding business processes and policies is of great importance in this process.

TRANSPARENT AND MEASURABLE

PaperWise successfully completed the B Impact Assessment and achieved an excellent score of 100.3 points. Based on this score, a sustainability profile has been created which is publicly presented on the B Corp™ website. You can find the PaperWise profile via the following link: PaperWise B Corp™ page. The validity period of the B Corp™ certification for PaperWise is 3 years, a great period to make our organization even more sustainable so that the score can be higher next time.

THE RESULT

For PaperWise, the B Corp™ certification means more than just recognition. It is a confirmation of the contribution to a better world for everyone. A world where companies measure success not only in profit but also in their impact on the future. As a B Corp™, an organization shows that it is taking the lead in transforming the global economy for the benefit of people and the planet. As a B Corp™, PaperWise embraces a new chapter of growth, responsibility, and inspiration.

“As a certified B Corp™, we not only reinforce our motto ‘Wise With Waste’, but we also demonstrate our overall positive impact on the world and society. Wise With Waste, together.”

-Peter van Rosmalen, CEO PaperWise-