BANGKOK,30th  May 2007

Suan Dusit Poll and  Access Economics (AE) report  on Customers awareness of paper production and its environmental benefits , found  Double A paper made from Farmed Trees the most environmentally sound paper production method globally .

A Suan Dusit Rajabhat University the leading Thai survey institute better known as the Suan Dusit Poll  Suan Dusit Poll Director, Dr. Sukhum Chaleysub revealed the result of its survey conducted on 484 people in greater Bangkok metropolitans during March 9th -12th, 2007.The survey points out that 41.32 per cent are unaware of what raw materials are used in producing paper while 46.69 per cent of corporation sectors do concern about the raw materials, used in paper production.

Meanwhile, 94 per cent believe that they are able to do more for environment while at their workplace and 96 per cent stated that they would choose Double A Paper made Farmed Trees. Paper from Farmed Trees are considered as good choice for environmentally friendly copy paper as it helps minimize environmental problem such as deforestation which impacts global warming.

Farmed Trees are different from plantation trees or old growth natural forests trees. Double As Farmed Trees are planted in the gaps between farmers rice, cassava and corn crops, thus no land clearing takes place to plant the trees. Over one million Thai contract farmers take part in the Double A farmed trees program.

Double As senior executive vice president, Thirawit Leetavorn, has expressed his concerns regarding the rising environmental problems. He reasons that the environmental problems can be managed and minimized by both the manufacturers and the consumers.

 Despite the emergence of office technologies, office workers are increasingly paper-dependent, so it is imperative that more paper manufacturers manage their environmental impact, said Mr. Leetavorn.

We encourage companies to reduce their carbon emissions and the first and easiest step is to stock offices with Double A paper made from farmed trees. Mr.Leetavorn added.

Access Economics a highly reputable Australian research, economic consulting, and advisory firm- issued a report on the environmental lost of paper production.The AE report used an environmental cost model to compare eight leading paper manufacturers environmental impact such as USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia, Indonesia and Double A.

Access Economics developed its environmental cost model based on a range of benchmarks including deforestation, water consumption, effluents, contribution to landfill and carbons emissions and analyzed the environmental impact of major paper manufacturers around the world and found Farmed Trees as the most environmentally friendly option in producing paper.

 Double A, making its paper from Farmed Trees was found to be the most environmentally sound of all, with an environmental cost of AUD 0.04 per ream. A leading Australian paper manufacturers environmental impact was priced at AUD 0.20 per ream, while the worst environmental performer, in Indonesia, was priced at AUD 0.39 per ream.

The environmental impact of paper production has been largely ignored over the years in countries all over the world, especially when paper manufacturers set their product price, said Steve Brown, director, Access Economics.

This failure to account financially for their environmental impact has allowed paper manufacturers to implement the most cost efficient production processes, but these processes are not the most environmentally friendly. It was a pleasant surprise to see the results, where a company produces a product from natural resources that has such a low environmental impact. AEs director said.

Despite increased environmental awareness, Access Economics stated that 17 per cent of the worlds paper is made from logging natural forest and left to regenerate without human assistance, while37 per cent of paper is made from natural forest that is logged and then re-generated via seeding, and 29 per cent of paper is sourced from managed plantations, while one per cent of paper is still sourced from tropical rain forest.

The report demonstrates that some mills are still sourcing their wood from environmentally damaging sources, like natural forest. Double A takes its mandate to be environmentally responsible very seriously, said Double A senior executive vice president, Thirawit Leetavorn.

There are a myriad of ways for copy paper producers to responsibly manage their environmental impact. It is important that paper is sourced from environmentally sustainable sources, but manufacturers have to also manage their resource consumption and carbon emissions more carefully.

Climate change is a serious global concern, so it is time for paper manufacturers to measure their environmental impact against their bottom line. Mr. Leetavorn said.