Our commitment to the environment includes: source reduction, resource recovery and recycling.  Our controlled-use dispensing systems promote source reduction and discourage paper waste by controlling the amount of toweling dispensed at each use.  Several of our controlled dispensing systems offer a pre-determined amount of toweling to promote using only the toweling that is needed.

Our EcoSoft™ towels and tissue are made entirely from 100% recycled fibers.  EcoSoft™ products contain a blend of pre- and post-consumer wastepaper.  Many EcoSoft™ products exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for post-consumer waste.  This is important because using high-levels of post-consumer materials will divert a greater amount of waste from landfills.  Some of the recycled materials used to produce EcoSoft™ towels and tissue are: office wastepaper, newspapers, corrugated containers and printer rejects and trimmings. 

Several of our EcoSoft™ products have obtained certification as environmentally preferable by Green Seal, Inc. of Washington, DC (www.greenseal.org).  These EcoSoft™ Green Seal® products are the first and only complete line of towels and tissue to be certified by Green Seal.  To achieve and maintain the Green Seal certification, our towel and tissue products are continually subjected to rigorous evaluation and testing, along with a quality-control audit of our papermaking processes at our mill in Middletown, Ohio.

Our papermaking and recycling processes also demonstrate our commitment to the environment.  During the bleaching and de-inking operations, our Middletown mill uses an environmentally friendly process free of chlorine and other harmful chemicals and compounds.  In addition, the Middletown facility has a wastewater treatment plant where over 2,000,000 gallons of water a day are treated and returned to the de-inking operation, eliminating the need for additional fresh water and conserving natural resources.  Our Harrodsburg facility works to “close the loop” in recycling by diverting office wastepaper, corrugated containers, and post-converting scrap from the waste stream for return to our Middletown mill to be used in the papermaking process.

‘Green’ Associations
We are a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  The USGBC is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders for promoting and advancing buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to work.  As the first paper company to join the U.S. Green Building Council, Wausau Paper can directly support the goals of the Council and our customers working to achieve “green” status for their buildings with our EcoSoft™ Green Seal® products. (www.usgbc.org)

Wausau Paper is also a proud member of the “Green” Hotels Association®.  The “Green” Hotels Association® encourages, supports and promotes ecological consciousness in the hospitality industry.  As the first and only paper company to be offered membership in the “Green” Hotels Association® as an ally vendor, we can support the hospitality industry’s need for ecologically responsible products through our offering of EcoSoft™ Green Seal® towels and tissue. (www.greenhotels.com)