UPM has been awarded the EU Ecolabel Communication Award 2012 in the Producer/Retailer category. UPM Paper is the largest producer of newsprint, graphic and copying papers with the EU Ecolabel. Third-party ecolabels prove the environmental quality of products and support customers in their choices.

"With so many different environmental labels currently existing, producers and consumers know that having the EU Ecolabel is the best way to prove throughout Europe that their products have excellent environmental performance", says Michele Galatola, EU Ecolabel Coordinator, DG Environment, European Commission.

The EU Ecolabel Communication Award recognises holders of the EU Ecolabel that have shown outstanding achievement in increasing public awareness and knowledge of the EU Ecolabel through promotional campaigns. The jury is composed of the European Commission, representatives of several Competent Bodies, as well as the press and a representative of an NGO.

“Our consistent work with e.g. resource efficiency has made it possible to meet the EU Ecolabel requirements. With the EU Ecolabel we have been able to further promote paper and print as a sustainable solution and communications platform. By increasing public awareness and knowledge of EU Ecolabel through different communications and promotional campaigns we can support our customers’ daily work, says Thomas Ehrnrooth, Vice President, Marketing, UPM Paper.

UPM offers EU Ecolabelled paper products from 16 paper mills in Austria, Finland, France, Germany and the UK. In 2012, UPM became the first company to produce newsprint with the EU Ecolabel.

“We want to encourage our customers to start to utilize EU Ecolabel in their own products. UPM cooperates with Printing house Lönnberg who applied for the EU Ecolabel for their printed products - now UPM’s Annual Report 2012 is one of the first printed products with EU Ecolabel”, comments Thomas Ehrnrooth.

The EU Ecolabel is the European Union's official indication of the most environmentally responsible products. It is the most recognised environmental label.