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SANITARY
PAPER PRODUCTS
GECA
13-2007 Standard (PDF) |
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Queensland Tissue
Products
QTP
offer retail and commercial sanitary paper products
produced from post consumer and pre-consumer fibre.
A range of widely recognised consumer brands are
manufactured by the Queensland Facility. |
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Product Marketing Name:
Queensland Tissue Products Use and Application: Sanitary
Paper Products
Date of Certification: 4
June 2008
1.
Description of the
Technology.
ABC Tissue products is Australian
owned and managed. ABC has invested heavily in
manufacturing facilities in Australia and New Zealand.
We have also developed significant export markets,
taking Australian tissue products to the world.
2. The Products
Toilet Tissue (QTP Single, Two Ply,
Interleaf, Jumbo)
Hand Towel (QTP Standard, Interleaf, Centrefold)
Facial Tissue (QTP 100, 224)
Softex and EarthCare Ranges of Sanitary Paper Products
Core Environmental Criteria Tested:
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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
3.1 Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their
intended application. Certain standards of quality and
durability are implicit in the Label and the manufacturer must
ensure that the product is fit for its intended purpose. |
Queensland Tissue Products has
been in operation on the Australian market for several decades
delivering a range of both own branded and external branded
Sanitary Products. There are no relevant Australian Standards
for this product category. The quality assurance related to this
product is production line based with suitable tolerance
requirements for the paper mix, heating, moisture content and
production sample analysis for tear strength and form. The
product range is generally supplied in a retail environment with
some commercial sales. Standard return policy applies to this
product line. |
3.2 Material Requirements
3.2.1 Fibre Source Post-consumer recycled fibre is exempt
from this requirement. The geographical origin of pre-consumer
recycled and virgin fibre material must be documented, allowing
confirmation of origin throughout the supply chain. Virgin pulp
from sources that are not certified under a recognised
certification scheme (e.g. FSC or AS 4708 - 2007 (AFS)) as being
sustainably managed shall not originate from illegal harvesting,
genetically modified organisms, or uncerfified high conservation
value communities |
All fibre sources for the
nominated range are pre or post consumer waste fibre. Therefore
this criteria is not applicable. |
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3.2.2 Recycled Content
Requirements Certified products must incorporate at least
90% by weight preferably sourced fibre content. "Preferably
sourced fibre" may include any combination of pre- or
post-consumer recycled fibre or forestry residues, as defined
above. Toilet paper must incorporate at least 25 % by weight
post consumer recycled content. |
Queensland Tissue Products sources
recycled fibre from a diverse range of sources. These include:
- Post Industrial non
conforming paper and sanitary paper products from other
manufacturing facilities including their ABC plant in Sydney,
NSW.
- Post Consumer fibre from a variety of local supplier
including: a) Paper Reclaim b) Shred-X c) Waste Recyclers (Fuji)
d) Mackay Security (Ramford) e) Ecoshredding f) Suncoast Eco g)
Mackay
The manufacturing site rotates
a mix of brands and respective fibre sources into its ongoing
production mix depending on schedules of production. It was
critical for this assessment to ensure that enough recycled
paper was purchased to ensure a balance between purchased
recycled fibre and recycled fibre content of sanitary paper
production records.
The assessment demonstrated
that an extensive record of recycled paper procurement has
existed for the last 12 months for the site.
The production run schedule
also confirms that each distinct production batch records the
source of fibre used allowing a documentary trail of evidence
confirming recycled fibre mix.
The toilet tissue, hand towel
and facial tissue are recycled content mix of 100% post consumer
and post industrial. The softex range of Sanitary Paper Products
is 50% Post Consumer/ 50% Pre Consumer. The EarthCare Range of
Sanitary Paper Products is 100% Post Consumer Fibre Source. |
3.3 Emissions Requirements
This section applies to all paper production regardless of
fibre source (e.g., virgin or recycled). The combined emissions
from the production of both pulp and paper production
(apportioned to the product being licensed) must: o achieve
weighting results for COD and sulphur (S) discharge in
accordance with the limits set in Table 1 below, and o achieve a
final weighting of not more than 4 using Table 1, representing
the sum of emissions from unbleached pulp and paper production,
and o be weighted on the basis of an annual mean of the test
results derived from at least one sample per week with regard to
COD and at least one sample per month with regard to sulphur. |
The site emits water via a
controlled release valve directly to the council sewer system.
The amount of water released is relatively small in comparison
to the overall water use in the production cycle. The release
valve and pipe is controlled by Council officers which take
regular samples of the water discharge on a periodic basis. GECS
has been supplied with a range of test sample reports covering a
12 month period generated by Council. These reports are the
basis of council charges for water emissions.
The site typically generates
some 40,000 kl of water emission waste that enters the Council
sewage system. The water emission are tested for: Chemical
Oxygen Demand (COD), and Sulphate (SO4.). In order to calculate
the discharge of Sulphur the atomic weight proportion was
calculated. S = approx.16 and O = approx 8. The SO4 were divided
by one third to give the Sulphur proportion.
The awarded points on the basis
of this criterion are 2 points based on an annual average of
1.9925kg of COD per ton of paper produced and approx. 0.61 kg of
Sulphur per ton of paper produced. |
3.4 Hazardous Substances
This section applies to all paper production regardless of
fibre source (e.g., virgin or recycled). 3.4.1 Surfactants When
surfactants are used in the manufacturing process, such as for
the de-inking of recycled paper input, where quantities ? 100
g/ADT (summed over all the surfactants used in all the different
formulations used in de-inking return fibres), each surfactant
shall be readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD test
method No. 301 A-F. Where such surfactants are used in
quantities < 100 g/ADT, each surfactant shall be readily
biodegradable or ultimately biodegradable in accordance with
OECD test method No. 302 A-C. Foam inhibitors used for chemical
recycling are exempted from this requirement. Alkylphenol
ethoxylates (APEO) or other alkylphenol derivates (APD) shall
not be used. |
Review of MSDS's provided by
Queensland Tissue products indicate no surfactants are used.
This was confirmed during the site assessment. The site employs
a unique proprietary mechanical de-inking method to achieve the
whiteness of the final product.
The site assessment extended to
an investigation of each aspect of the production line and a
thorough review of the chemical and warehouse storage facilities
to confirm the chemicals used in production.
Chemical additives are
incorporated into the mechanical de-inking process to achieve
the desired outcome, and are all compliant. |
3.4.2 Bleaching
The manufacturer must not use the following bleaching agents
at any stage in the production of virgin fibre, or in the
processing of recycled fibre: o Elemental chlorine o Halogenated
bleaching agents that produce elemental halogens in-situ o
Optical brighteners o Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or
its derivatives. Note: NaCl is specifically included in the
second dot point. |
The chemical lists used in the
plant have been assessed for the purpose of establishing
compliance to this criterion. Only one ingredient of relevance
was identified which was Sodium Chloride. This ingredient is
however not applied to any stage of the production process
related to bleaching or de-inking but rather applied as a water
softening agent in the clarifiers for the purpose of water
quality treatment. The ingredient does not establish
non-compliance. |
3.4.3 Dyes and Additives
3.4.3.1 Prohibited Dyes
The following dyes shall not be used: 4- aminodiphenyl
benzidine 4-chloro-o-toluidine 2-naphtylamine o-aminoazotoluene
2-amino-4- nitrotoluene 4-chloroaniline 2,4 - diaminioanisole
4,4 - diamino diphenylmethane 3,3 - dichlorobenzidine 3,3 -
dimethoxybenzidine 3,3 - dimethylbenzidine 3,3 dimethyl- 4,4
diamino diphenylmethane p-cresidine 4,4 methylene-bis-
(2-chloroaniline) 4,4-oxidianiline 4,4 - thiodianiline
o-toluidine 2,4-toluylene diamine 2,4-diamino toluene 2,4,5 -trimethylaniline
o-anisidine 4-aminoazo benzene |
The manufacturing process relevant
to the nominated product lines does not require the addition of
dyes. The product range is uncoloured with no printing used. |
3.4.3.2 Risk Phrases
3.4.3.3 No dyes, pigments, lotions or fragrances shall be
used on pulp, paper or the product as a whole that is assigned
or may be assigned at the time of application any of the
following risk phrases (or combinations thereof) in accordance
with EU Directive 67/548/EEC: R50: Very toxic to aquatic
organisms R51: Toxic to aquatic organisms R52: Harmful to
aquatic organisms R53: May cause long-term adverse effects in
the aquatic environment R56: Toxic to soil organisms R58: May
cause long-term adverse effects in the environment |
A review of the MSDS's has
indicated no substances of a nature as indicated above. No
additives classed as dyes, pigments, lotions or fragrances are
added to the nominated product range. |
3.4.3.4 Heavy Metals
No dyes, pigments, lotions or fragrances shall be used that
contain lead, copper, chromium, nickel, aluminium or cadmium as
constituent parts. Copper phthalocyanine dyes or pigments are
accepted. The levels of ionic impurities in the dye stuffs used
shall not exceed the following: Ag 100 ppm; As 50 ppm; Ba 100
ppm; Cd 20 ppm; Co 500 ppm; Cr 100 ppm; Cu 250 ppm; Fe 2 500 ppm;
Hg 4 ppm; Mn 1 000 ppm; Ni 200 ppm; Pb 100 ppm; Se 20 ppm; Sb 50
ppm; Sn 250 ppm; Zn 1 500 ppm. |
A review of the MSDS's has
indicated no substances of a nature as indicated above. No
additives classed as dyes, pigments, lotions or fragrances are
added to the nominated product range. |
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3.4.3.5 Antibacterial Additives
Antibacterial agents, such as organic chlorine carriers (e.g.,
triclosan), shall not be actively added to sanitary paper
products. |
A review of the MSDS's has
indicated no substances of a nature as indicated above. No
antibacterial agents are added to the nominated product range
during production. |
3.4.3.6 Carcinogenic Substances
No additive of any kind may be used which has been
identified as a carcinogenic substance in categories 1 or 2A as
classed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer -
http://www.iarc.fr. When tested using EPA test method 8315, or
equivalent, paper products shall not contain more than: 1 mg /
dm2 formaldehyde. 1.5 mg / dm2 glyoxal. |
The ingredient list for the
product manufacturing process has been assessed for compliance
to this criterion. No ingredients were identified as
non-conforming. |
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3.4.4 Solvents and Cleaning
Agents Solvents used in the cleaning of production equipment
must be free of halogenated hydrocarbons (including CFC, HCFC
and HFC) and alkylphenol ethoxylates or other alkylphenol
derivates (APEO's). Testing equipment is excluded from this
requirement. Solvents used to clean production equipment must
not contain ozone depleting substances as listed in Annex A, B
or C of the Montreal Protocol, or subsequent amendments. |
A review of the MSDS's has
indicated no substances of a nature as indicated above. |
3.5 Waste Management and Energy
Use
The manufacturer must have effective policies and procedures
to minimise waste, including measures to recycle waste materials
from the production process. The manufacturer must have a
contract with a registered hazardous waste contractor for the
environmentally responsible disposal of any hazardous waste
produced during the production process. The applicant is
requested, on a voluntary basis, to provide information on
energy and water use during the manufacturing process. Data
gathered during the implementation of this version of the
standard will be used to draft energy use criteria in future
versions of the standard. |
QTP have two primary waste streams
from the manufacturing facility and a number of minor waste
streams.
The primary waste streams are
water discharge into the Council sewage system and material
collected in the clarifier and the water treatment plant which
is solidified and taken off site.
The emission of water from the
site is regulated by the local Council and suitable periodic
testing is performed. The discharge is regulated by a Permit
with Ipswich Water.
A registered waste contractor
has been appointed to deal with solid waste. A suitable range of
invoices were provided to confirm the waste management
arrangement. The waste is not classed as hazardous waste. The
waste contractor holds a Certificate of Registration for the
purpose of the following registered activities: - ERA 83(a)
Regulated Waste Transport - transporting regulated waste
commercially or in quantities of more than 250hg in a load - for
other regulated waste for 36 or more licensed vehicles.
The landfill site is managed
under the following authority: - ERA 75(b)(iv) - Waste disposal
- operating a facility for - disposing of regulated waste (
other than limited regulated waste) whether alone or in
combination with any waste mentioned in paragraph (a), if the
facility is designed to receive waste at the rate of 200 000
tonnes or more per year.
Cardboard on site is recycled.
Plastic packaging on site is recycled. Non conforming product is
reintroduced back into the production cycle.
The site contains some old
industrial waste, drums and equipment in the basement of the
De-inking Plant. It is recommended that they are disposed off
appropriately. The current procedures in place demonstrated an
investment and management commitment to the minimisation of the
waste stream from the operation. It is recommended that the
current procedures are documented and a formal policy enacted.
The applicant has supplied a
wide range of energy use data for the site as well as advice as
to energy efficiency measures that have been established to
date. These include the decommissioning of energy intensive
processes and careful regulation of the manufacturing process to
ensure energy efficiencies. It is recommended that these be now
documented and a formal energy efficiency policy enacted. |
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3.6 Packaging Requirements
Chlorinated or halogenated plastics must not be used in product
packaging. Used packaging shall be able to be recycled by local
recycling systems. |
A review of MSDS's indicates that
the plastic used in packaging is polyethylene. Invoices have
been provided for the sale of plastics. |
 View
Queensland Tissue Products EPD
3. Environmental and Social Regulatory Obligations:
GECA also found the Queensland Tissue
Products range to
be fully compliant with their obligations under Labour,
Anti-Discrimination, and Safety Regulations. The company
has not been the subject of prosecution in relation to
compliance with labour, anti- discrimination, safety
regulations and environmental regulations.
Additional Information
Good Environmental Choice Australia
recommends these products to green purchasing officers,
specifiers, and every day Australians seeking to
purchase products and services on the basis of
functional and overall environmental and human health
performance.
For more information contact Queensland
Tissue Products directly:
Queensland Tissue Products
Address: 45 Antimony Street, Carole Park QLD 4300
NSW Address (ABC Tissue Products): 34-36 Redfern St, Wetherill Park
NSW 2164 Australia
Ph: +61 (02) 8787 2222
Fax: +61 (02) 8787 2280
Web: www.abctissue.com/site/productList.asp
You can go to the company's web site here:
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ABC Deluxe 1 Ply
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ABC Premium 2 Ply
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Softex Range
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Style Deluxe Interleaved Hand Towel
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Style Facial Tissue
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