Standardising chemical information communication in the pulp and paper value chain has been the focus of a dedicated working group combining forces from the members of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) and the European Pulp and Paper Chemicals Group (EPGC). The group has been developing a next-generation Pulp and Paper Value Chain Information System (P&P-VIS) and an advanced Pulp and Paper Industry Harmonized Questionnaire. This new system aims to increase transparency, maintain compliance with regulatory and customer requirements, and manage risks related to chemical use. The platform is built on software provided by StacksData.
The Pulp and Paper Value Chain Information System welcomes new users!
Power of collaboration
The Pulp and Paper Industry Harmonized Questionnaire consists of a comprehensive dataset of chemicals and establishes an industry standard for communicating chemical compliance information. According to Kaisa Herranen, Director, Product Stewardship at UPM and a member of the PP-VIS working group since the beginning, the most valuable result of this multi-company cooperation has been the formulation and agreement on questions, the exchange of information, and an understanding of current and future regulatory requirements. With over 150 questions in the questionnaire, the working group has become a forum where experts and specialists knowledgeable about chemicals and evolving legislative regulations can exchange views from both sides of the table.
Join the working group!
The PP-VIS welcomes new companies to join in the working group. Both the working group and the software are designed to be scaled up. Becoming part of the working group is free and it is open to any company, without limitations on competition. Companies supplying materials or chemicals, paper and board producers and all companies within the value chain are welcome. “In addition to UPM, there are several well-established companies as members, such as Sappi Europe, Saica, Kemira and Solenis,” Kaisa explains. Costs are only incurred if companies wish to contribute to the development of the Stacksdata IT tool, and if they wish to reuse the data that they have already incorporated into the system.
Preparing for future EU Legislation
The P&P-VIS has successfully established a framework - the Harmonized Questionnaire and a method for companies to share information. Simultaneously, the EU Commission is renewing the EU Food Contact Materials Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. As part of this renewal, a system for sharing chemicals, compliance information, and possibly limited composition information related to food packaging materials is planned. “The P&P-VIS group’s work appears to be ahead of the game, anticipating the EU’s likely demand for greater transparency and centralised portals for information on food contact raw materials, intermediate products, and final articles,” Herranen explains.
The road ahead
The pulp and paper industries face increasingly stringent environmental and sustainability guidelines in both the EU and beyond. Regulators will soon require mandatory nature-related disclosures from companies. The chemical sector also plays a key role in contributing to a progressive regulatory and policy environment by engaging with policymakers and joining ambitious business coalitions. The cooperation within the P&P-VIS group will ease the transition to mandatory EU-wide legislative requirements as we move into the future.
Is your company the newest member? Ask for more information!
You can read more by visiting the CEPI website or contact directly the PP-VIS Working Group chair persons: Torborg Christian, or Abdessamad Arbaoui.
