Alina Oprea • 24 March, 2023 at 11:51 AM
Pehart, the largest producer and processor of paper products for household use in Romania and one of the largest producers of tissue paper in Southeast Europe will invest this year approximately €8 million in projects to reduce consumption, implicitly of the carbon footprint. The company specifies that it carefully selects its suppliers and uses only certified cellulose in production, from forests specially grown for this purpose. Most of the raw material comes from far away, from Sweden, because in Romania the production of cellulose is almost non-existent.
"A forest is for the community exactly like an older brother. Forests provide society with all the support it needs to develop beautifully. We should return this favor by taking care of them", says Daniel Rusan, Procurement Manager of Pehart Grup.
The oldest paper factory in Romania, with a tradition of almost two centuries, Pehart focuses on sustainability in the entire production chain - from the raw material from carefully verified sources to the production process in which high-performance, alternative technologies are used sustainable and economical conventional practices, says Pehart's purchasing manager.
Pehart's most popular brand is Pufina. The company specifies that it rigorously selects its suppliers, and Södra, the largest group of owners in the Swedish forest industry, is the main supplier of certified pulp to the Romanian company.
"The entire area of the forest is under FSC certification. This means that it is well-managed and that there is an effective system to combat illegal logging. Compliance with the requirements of the FSC certification system effectively contributes to the preservation of the social, cultural, and environmental values that the forest represents", explains representative Pehart.
The forests are controlled through a complex computer system that provides data on flora, fauna, work to be done, and related areas. Real ecosystems are created, where cuttings are strictly controlled. Moreover, the owners have the obligation to leave 10% of the area of the virgin forest, and even the owners are not allowed to enter the protected spaces.
"The advantage of cellulose is that you don't stretch more than your duvet. If it is made from wood from a sustainably managed forest, cellulose is a raw material that does not consume more resources than those that regenerate naturally. Don't consume more than the planet can give you", explains Daniel Rusan.
As for recycled paper, in order for it to reach higher quality, the intensive use of chemical products for deserialization is necessary. "There are no mechanical processes that can remove the printing ink existing on waste paper or the various chemical or organic substances found on that waste," says Daniel Rusan.
Last year, Pehart made investments of over €10 million in innovative, ecological technologies that optimize operational efficiency. For example, in the manufacture of Pufina Natura products, which are 100% certified cellulose, no adhesives are used, but water and the packaging are made of recyclable, biodegradable film.
"Sustainability is one of the principles that underlie our activity and which we decline at the level of every department. We source pulp from safe sources and process it on production lines with industry-leading technologies that minimize pollution and optimize packaging consumption. The Pufina Natura range, for example, they are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. At the same time, we are developing community involvement programs, a direction with a long tradition at Pehart. We support local communities by offering products for hospitals and schools, by supporting sports teams, as well as by afforestation campaigns", says Raluca Păun, marketing consultant of Pehart Grup.
From the Pehart factories, the finished products reach supermarkets by train, an option that the Romanian company considers much less polluting.
"Thus, the paper trail preserves sustainable practices from end to end at Pehart, and the trend will continue this year," say company representatives.