1. Issues of relevance in the revision of paper PGs
CB Forum Meeting
EUEB Meeting
16 and 17 June 2015, Brussels
Carla Pinto
DG ENVIRONMENT / EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2. CURRENT VALIDITY: 31 December 2018 (OJ L 142, 6,6,2015, p. 32).
Upcoming Revision
Revision of EU Ecolabel criteria established for
tissue paper, copying and graphic paper and newsprint paper
OBJECTIVE: Revise ecological criteria established in Commission Decisions 2009/568/EC (tissue paper), 2011/333/EU (copying and graphic paper) and 2012/448/EU (newsprint paper).
NOTE: Due to the similarities of copying and graphic and newsprint paper EU Ecolabel criteria, it was considered suitable the merging of these two product groups.
CURRENT VALIDITY: 31 December 2018 (OJ L 142, 6,6,2015, p. 32).
TIMELINE FORESEEN:
1st AHWG Meeting
2nd AHWG meeting
Vote
May 2016
December 2016
November 2017 2

3. by the Revision Project
Scope Covered
by the Revision Project
Scope of Commission Decisions 2009/568/EC, 2011/333/EU and 2012/448/EU
Product Group
Scope
Tissue Paper
(2009/568/EC)
Comprise sheets or rolls of tissue paper fit for use for personal hygiene, absorption of liquids and/or cleaning of soiled surfaces. The tissue product consists of creped or embossed paper in one or several plies.
The fibre content of the product shall be at least 90 %.
The product group does not comprise any of the following:
(a) wet wipes and sanitary products;
(b) tissue products laminated with other materials than tissue paper;
(c) products as referred to in Directive 76/768/EEC.
C&G Paper
(2011/333/EU)
Comprise sheets or reels of not converted, unprinted blank paper and not converted boards up to basis weight of 400 g/m2.
It shall not include newsprint paper, thermally sensitive paper, photographic and carbonless paper, packaging and wrapping paper as well as fragranced paper.
Newsprint Paper
(2012/448/EU)
Comprise paper made from pulp and used for printing newspapers and other printed products.
It shall not include copying and graphic paper, thermally sensitive paper, photographic and carbonless paper, packaging and wrapping paper as well as fragranced paper. 3

4. EU Ecolabel Statistics (as of the March 2015 reporting period)
Current Statistics
EU Ecolabel Statistics (as of the March 2015 reporting period)
Product Group
No of Licences
No of Products
National CBs
Tissue paper
135
5 793
Austria (1), Belgium (1), Bulgaria (2), Czech Republic (2), Denmark (1), Finland (1), France (14), Germany(40), Italy (34), Lithuania (1), the Netherlands (3), Poland (2), Portugal (2), Slovakia (2), Slovenia (1), Spain (15), Sweden (6) and United Kingdom (7)
C&G Paper 52
3 721
Austria (6), Finland (5), France (8), Germany(15), Italy (1), the Netherlands (1), Norway (2), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Slovenia (1), Spain (3), Sweden (7) and United Kingdom (1)
Newsprint Paper 5 32
Austria (1), Finland (2), France (1) and Spain (1)
TOTAL
192
9 546
20 Countries 4

5. * — Criteria Areas Criteria Area TP C&GP NP
EU Ecolabel criteria areas established for
tissue paper, copying and graphic paper and newsprint paper
Criteria Area TP
C&GP NP
Emissions to water and air
(COD, P, S, NOx, AOX and CO2)
Energy use
[Electricity, Fuel (heat)] *
Fibres: sustainable forest management
Hazardous chemical substances/Excluded or limited substances and mixtures
[Chlorine, APEOs, Residual monomers, Surfactants in de-inking (formulations for recycled fibres), Biocides, Azo dyes, Metal complex dye stuffs or pigments, Ionic impurities in dye stuffs, Wet strength agents, Softeners, lotions, fragrances and additives of natural origin]
Waste management
Product safety —
Fitness for use
Information on the packaging
Consumer information/Information appearing on the Ecolabel 5

6. Requests Made When Positive Opinion Was Given by the EUEB
Points requested to be further investigate
on the occasion of the next revision processes
Horizontal Points
Strengthen the requirements on energy use, CO2 emissions and AOX emissions (refer to the most up to date BREF document).
Investigate higher content of recycled fibres.
Investigate higher content of certified fibres.
Find a more general approach in defining "Sustainable Forestry".
Evaluate the appropriateness of the certification schemes FSC and PEFC referred in the A&V of the criterion on "Fibres: sustainable forest management".
Define minimum requirements to which equivalency can be measured when referring to "FSC, PEFC or equivalent".
Evaluate whether the criterion on surfactants used in the de-inking could apply to all surfactants.
Tissue Paper
Compactness of the product.
C&G Paper
Include newsprint paper in the scope of the criteria with a mandatory requirement on minimum amount of recycled fibres.
Newsprint Paper
——————————————————————————————— 6

7. Other Issues to be Investigated
Scope
General
Consider the possibility to clearly state that intermediate products (e.g., pulp) are entitled to hold an EU Ecolabel licence.
C&G Paper
Consider the inclusion of paper board (paper with weight above 400gm-2) in the scope.
Consider the inclusion of non-wood fibres (e.g., straws) in the scope.
Tissue Paper
Consider printed tissue paper to be excluded from the scope.
Consider coloured tissue paper to be excluded from the scope.
Consider fragranced tissue paper to be excluded from the scope.
Assess the inclusion of toilet paper treated with sporogenous bacterial strains in the scope.
Promote toilet paper rolls without cardboard tube inside. 7

8. Other Issues to be Investigated
Technical Issues
Consider the development of a common database of chemicals complying with applicable EU Ecolabel criteria (and respective suppliers).
Establish a clear definition of what can be considered "recycled fibres".
Provide guidance on how to document and calculate the percentage of certified and controlled wood.
Clarify in which cases the provision of data concerning emissions to air and water should cover the whole mill, i.e., in respect of the total production of the plant.
Consider the exception when phosphorous occurs naturally in the wood pulp in the limits established for P emissions.
Assess the concentration limits establish for residual monomers in polymers.
Assess the relevance of having a requirement on "Waste Management".
B2B Communication
Reflect on requirements concerning B2B communication.
On-Site Inspection
Reflect on the obligation for the CB to carry out an on–site inspection to check compliance with the criteria before awarding the EU Ecolabel licence. 8

9. Thank You! 9