What if healthy food, clean drinking water, a living income, education, and medical assistance were not a given? PaperWise is produced in factories in India and South America; regions where, unfortunately, significant poverty still exists. Fortunately, there is growing awareness that things can be different, that we must take responsibility, and together create a sustainable future for everyone.

Would you like to actively contribute to this? Then you can decide to purchase products from sustainable companies, such as PaperWise, which are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PaperWise contributes to a better world and positively changes the paper industry. PaperWise focuses on people and the environment, using the SDGs as a compass. By setting a good example, PaperWise motivates the paper industry, politicians, companies, and consumers to change along with them. To contribute together to a better world for everyone.

DONATION POLICY

In line with this vision, PaperWise has maintained a donation policy since 2022. Annually, between 3% and 5% of net profit (after tax) is donated to projects in the regions where PaperWise is produced. In doing so, PaperWise contributes to improving the living conditions of disadvantaged communities in these regions. After all, does everyone not deserve a better world? By choosing PaperWise, you contribute to the social, ecological, and economic development of these regions. The more companies and people choose PaperWise > the larger the amount to be donated > and the greater the impact.

PROPAL FOUNDATION DONATION

The total amount donated by PaperWise is distributed proportionally among the various paper mills where PaperWise paper and paperboard are produced. PaperWise consults the factories regarding development projects in their regions. Through this channel, PaperWise came into contact with the Propal Foundation in 2022. A private, social foundation in Colombia, it rolls out development programs to improve the quality of life for impoverished communities in local regions. During PaperWise’s visit to the factory in Colombia last year, PaperWise founder Peter van Rosmalen (left) and Eduardo Posada (right), Executive Director of the Propal Foundation, met. On behalf of PaperWise, Peter presented the first $5,000 donation to Propal.

Filling a glass with clean drinking water from the tap. Sufficient fresh fruit and healthy nutrition for young children and pregnant mothers. Having one’s own market stall to sell locally made goods and thus earn a living income. Free medical assistance from the medical center established by Propal. These are all concrete examples of facilities that have been realized by the Propal Foundation since its inception 30 years ago.

The Propal Foundation focuses on four social development programs: “Health”, “Young Children”, “Income Generation”, and the “Good Neighbors Program”. Through these programs, the foundation contributes to the economic, social, and ecological development of local communities in the vicinity of the paper mills. Naturally, the foundation cannot do this alone. Propal collaborates with the Colombian government, NGOs, (inter)national parties, regional industries, and universities to create as much impact as possible. In the medical center, for example, more than 50 medical students from the University of Cali—the second-largest city in Colombia with 4 million inhabitants—are active.

The donation from PaperWise has directly benefited the social development program focused on healthy nutrition for young children and pregnant mothers. The goal of this project: to combat malnutrition in this poverty-stricken area and to educate the community on the importance of healthy nutrition in collaboration with parents and teachers. Good nutrition is essential for strong cognitive and physical development, particularly in the first 6 years of a child’s life. The PaperWise contribution has been invested in the nutrition project, in which approximately 500 boys and girls (0-6 years) and pregnant mothers from the Cauca region will participate in 2023.

As a social enterprise, PaperWise is conscious of its vision every single day: contributing to a future-proof world. Every day, PaperWise looks at how it can best fulfill this vision within its capabilities. By connecting with the Propal Foundation and donating funds, PaperWise contributes alongside the foundation to several SDGs: 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 17 (Partnerships).

PaperWise is merely the connecting link. It is the customers of PaperWise who choose to have their printed matter and packaging made from PaperWise paper and paperboard. It is these customers who make the donations possible. All customers who have already chosen PaperWise, and all new customers yet to come, are contributing. Connection strengthens and accelerates the path to a future-proof world. Together, we can make a difference.