Deinking Mill Receives Chlorine Free Certification

Cascades’ Auburn Fiber Inc. mill, located in Auburn, Maine, has completed the Sustainable Manufacturing & Marketing Initiative Totally Chlorine Free Processed Chlorine Free requirements, making it the first mill in the United States to receive it. The mill had a ranking of 1217 out of a possible 1350.

This certification guarantees Cascades Auburn Fiber's customers that the product they purchase meets or exceeds the stringent guidelines needed to make the PCF claim and to protect the environment: its production does not require any chlorinated product.

"Thanks to Cascades Auburn Fiber, this deinked pulp in now available to paper mill customers in the Northeast US that are looking to support a wide range of sustainability issues. Mills that purchase pulp from Cascades Auburn Fiber are now offered a product which provides third party accountability", said Archie Beaton, executive director of CFPA.

"When Cascades bought this mill, they envisaged that recycled pulp would be a growing market. Today, we can say that they were right. Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, Recover - an integral part of sustainability. These are the major avenues that we intend to continue promoting through innovation and commitment to all of our customers, said Paul Deraiche, mill manager. The CFPA accreditation is another step towards our goal of responsible citizenship, improving our quality of life and preserving the resources that will enable us to support the needs of society both today and tomorrow."

In an unrelated note, Cascades’ Tissue Group acquired the assets of Newstech MD, LP, located in Hagerstown, Md. The assets, opened in 1995, has been idled singe 1997. The facility, with two deinking pulp lines, has a capacity of 400 metric tons per day.

Suzanne Blanchet, president and CEO of Cascades Tissue Group, stated: "This transaction enables us to acquire excellent production equipment at a very attractive price. Over the next few months, we will use them either to improve our production of deinking pulp or in the production of tissue paper."