Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 23 September 2009 – Oxford notebooks are the first paper products to be certified Paper by Nature®, the only Pan-European eco-label for converted paper products such as envelopes, notebooks and agendas. The Paper by Nature® eco-label was launched in 2009 by the Paper by Nature association, which is comprised of the major industry players involved in the converting and production of paper products - the MECSEA* and FEPE** federations and paper producers: Stora Enso, UPM Kymmene and ArjoWiggins. The goal is to make the paper converting process more environmentally conscious by integrating prevention measures and limiting the impact to the environment. The association chose Bureau Veritas Certification to conduct the audits and award the new label.

Paper by Nature®: the only eco-label to ensure all production processes for converted paper products have a limited impact on the environment.

The Paper by Nature® label responds to industry expectations in the largely international paper sector by offering companies the possibility to label their products throughout 32 European countries.
Today, Paper by Nature® is the only eco-label able to certify all production processes for converted paper products. To be awarded this eco-label by Bureau Veritas Certification, companies must comply with a very demanding set of requirements such as the origin of the fibers in the paper, the type of inks used, the handling of emissions into the air and water or the disposal of production byproducts.   
 
Oxford, the first Paper by Nature® brand

Oxford, the leading European brand in the notebook and agenda market, sought to further distinguish its brand through the incorporation of more environmentally conscious policies by being the first brand to put the Paper by Nature® label on its products.  By committing to this new approach, Oxford’s aim is to go beyond current industry standards and offer its clients products that are even more respectful of the environment. "Paper by Nature allows us to integrate environmental best practices in the production of our products, such as notebooks and agendas, thereby clearly demonstrating to our clients our overall commitment to protecting the environment”, explained Eric Joan, Managing Director of the Hamelin Group.  
  
Bureau Veritas Certification uses its expertise as a leader in forest-wood certifications to deliver this eco-label.  

Today, Bureau Veritas Certification is the only organization recognized to audit companies who would like to be awarded the Paper by Nature® eco-label.  With more than 30 million hectares of forests audited by its “Forest-Wood” division annually, Bureau Veritas Certification is one of the major players in wood sector certifications and has seen a significant rise in this area of services globally (two-fold increase in the number of certificates delivered from 2007 to 2008 in the United States, Europe, China, Africa, etc.).  Bureau Veritas Certification benefits from an international network of highly qualified “Forest-Wood” experts, whose expertise is indispensible for delivering this new eco-label. "The Bureau Veritas auditors speak the same language as our technicians, which facilitates communication during the audits”, adds Eric Joan.

* MECSEA: Manufacturers of Educational and Commercial Stationery European Association
**FEPE : Fédération Européenne des Producteurs d’Enveloppes (European Federation of envelopes manufacturer)

About Oxford
Along with Canson and Elba, Oxford is one of Hamelin’s international brands.  Hamelin is number one in Europe for office and school supplies and Oxford is the European leader in the notebook and agenda market.  Oxford has seen a strong increase in market share throughout the continent in recent years thanks to a brand strategy that continues to include segmentation, innovation and communication as well as overall excellence in offering high quality products at fair prices.  Oxford has therefore become the benchmark brand for notebooks and agendas with added value in such European countries as France, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy, Belgium and others.

About Bureau Veritas Certification
With 80,000 clients in more than 100 countries, delivering over 100,000 certificates, Bureau Veritas Certification is the world's leading certification body.
Relying on a global network of 5,700 highly qualified auditors and a vast expertise that is recognized by more than 40 national and international accreditation bodies, Bureau Veritas Certification offers a large range of customized certification and audit services in the Quality, Health & Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility fields from public standards to more customized schemes. Through these services, Bureau Veritas Certification enables all its clients to commit to ongoing processes aimed at improving their business performance as well as demonstrating their value while gaining competitive advantage. Bureau Veritas Certification (formerly BVQI) is the independent certification body of Bureau Veritas, which is an international group with a core business of conformity assessment, applied in the areas of QHSE-SR. Bureau Veritas serves more than 370,000 customers in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas employs more than 40,000 staff worldwide.


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