Monadnock Paper Mills Awarded FSC Certification

Monadnock Paper Mills Awarded FSC Certification

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC®) Chain-of-Custody Certification for it's 100% post-consumer fiber, fine printing paper - Astrolite PC 100®. The SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance®, a third-party certifier endorsed by the FSC, conducted the testing for Monadnock's Chain-of-Custody Certification.

Monadnock's Astrolite PC 100 will now be the first commercially branded recycled grade of paper sold in the United States to bear the FSC "checkmark and tree" logo, assuring environmentally conscious paper and print buyers that Monadnock Paper Mills manufactures this product in compliance with FSC standards. This goal is achieved by tracking post-consumer fiber from its point of recovery through every step of the repulping and paper manufacturing process. Only when this chain-of-custody tracking has been independently verified is the product eligible to carry the FSC logo - a globally accepted sign of environmental sustainability.

Commenting on the announcement, David E. Rousse, Monadnock Vice President of Graphic Arts Sales and Marketing, said: "We are extremely pleased that Astrolite PC 100 was deemed worthy of FSC certification. The product will now bear the FSC logo - a symbol of compliance with FSC standards - ensuring that the product, and also the process by which the paper is made, promotes environmental sustainability. FSC certification assures customers that every lot of this product is made from 100% post-consumer reclaimed material that can be traced to its source."

"FSC encourages consumers to look and ask for the FSC label when purchasing paper products," said Michael Washburn, FSC Vice President of Forestry and Marketing. "By specifying Monadnock's Astrolite PC 100 with the FSC logo, designers, printers and their corporate clients can demonstrate support for the environment as well as support for responsible companies like Monadnock that develop and implement practices that promote environmental sustainability."

Monadnock Paper Mills was awarded Chain-Of-Custody Certification for compliance with draft standards under an FSC pilot test program for reclaimed/recycled chip and fibre material. To ensure continued adherence to the FSC chain-of-custody tracking and handling procedures within the Company's operations, Monadnock will conduct periodic self-evaluations and accept random visits, at least once a year by SmartWood auditors.

About Monadnock Paper Mills
Monadnock is an independent, family-owned company making paper since 1819. It is the oldest, continuously operating paper-manufacturing site in America. Today, Monadnock applies uncompromising standards and rigorous discipline to elevate the level of craftsmanship and performance in specialty and fine paper manufacturing. The company is committed to continuing a leadership role in environmental stewardship and has been recognized by the Sierra Club and several local and regional associations for its pollution prevention efforts.

Astrolite PC 100: An advancement in the art of producing premium recycled papers, Astrolite PC 100 is the product of a new source of brighter, cleaner post-consumer reclaimed fiber and the skill of Monadnock's papermakers. It is manufactured process chlorine-free (PCF), alkaline pH and buffered for longevity in a balanced bright white shade. It is also exceptionally clean, with a smooth surface and even fiber formation. Some clients that have used Monadnock's Astrolite PC 100 in their corporate communications include: The Coca-Cola Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, S.C. Johnson, Fleet Boston Financial, PE Biosystems, New York Life Insurance Company, Christian Brothers Investment Services, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, The Earth Charter, and The Yellowstone Park Foundation.

About The Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization founded in 1993 to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. It is comprised of an alliance of environmental and social groups, forestry professionals, and indigenous peoples' organizations from around the world. To date, the strict standards of the FSC have been applied to forestlands in more than 60 countries throughout the world.

Please contact the FSC websites for further information:

International:   www.fscoax.org
United States:  www.fscus.org

About SmartWood
SmartWood is a program of the Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation organization that works to protect endangered ecosystems and the people and wildlife that live in them by transforming land use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Established in 1989, SmartWood is the oldest and most extensive global forest certification program and is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. SmartWood has eight regional offices and partners with a network of nonprofit conservation organizations. SmartWood is headquartered in Richmond, Vermont, USA. Further information about SmartWood can be found at www.smartwood.org.