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Billerud’s product responsibility is a cornerstone of the business. The company’s products and services are developed to fulfil the highest demands in terms of quality, function, safety and the environment.

Product safety means that products must be safe to use for humans and the environment. Many applications, such as food packaging and medical applications, place specific requirements on product safety.

Billerud’s product responsibility

Billerud’s customers are predominantly companies that make packaging, known as converters, and Billerud’s responsibility towards them is:

that the product does not contain hazardous substances
that the right product is sold for the right purpose
that the product information is correct

A number of management systems make working on product responsibility easier:

ISO 14001 (environment)
ISO 9001 (quality)
BRC IoP (hygiene)
FSC/PEFC (raw materials selection)

RESPONSIBILITY SHARED BY THE MILLS AND THE BUSINESS AREAS

The mills are responsible for ensuring that various product safety requirements are met.

The business areas are responsible for ensuring that the right product is sold for the respective application and that specific guidelines for packaging on different markets are complied with.

In 2010 a product safety council was set up comprising members from mills and business areas to coordinate and develop work on product safety.

Billerud is constantly working to raise awareness of product safety in the organisation. Employees in the business areas and some of the mills’ production and development staff have been trained in the rules on product responsibility and product safety in 2010.

SAFE AND CORRECTLY LABELLED PRODUCTS

Billerud’s products must be safe to use and must not be harmful to people’s health or the environment. The products must meet the requirements set for the respective area of use – food packaging, medical applications and toys. As far as packaging which comes into contact with food is concerned – over 50% of Billerud’s production – the mills must undergo extra stringent checks, primarily for the chemicals and other inputs used in production. The products are also tested for chemical purity, smell and taste.

Billerud complies with relevant requirements from customers and product safety legislation. Customers and the authorities require documentation that guarantees that the products are safe for consumers and the environment. Third party laboratories are used to issue third party certificates. Customer requirements, and therefore needs, vary depending on the product and the market.

During the year Billerud was not involved in any incidents regarding product safety or incorrectly labelled products leading to complaints, legal action or similar.

Forest-certified products

In 2010 42% of the raw materials that Billerud bought in was FSC or PEFCcertified. This means that Billerud in turn can sell a corresponding amount of paper and pulp labelled as such. It is the responsibility of the business areas to ensure that sales of the allocated volumes of FSClabelled products are not exceeded and it is the mills’ responsibility to ensure that the transport documents contain the correct information.

Basic training on FSC/PEFC for the sales offices commenced in 2010.

Market communication

The Code of Conduct contains principles on how employees should behave towards the company’s stakeholders, including customers, suppliers and business partners. Strict requirements are made of employees regarding privacy.

Central purchasers of market communication were trained in the new common European marketing legislation and comply with the rules on good marketing practice.

Billerud has never been reported for any form of infringement in the field of market communication.

MEDICAL PACKAGING

The combination of high strength and well-balanced porosity makes paper suitable for medical packaging. Billerud’s paper allows sterilising agents to pass through while providing long-term protection against microorganisms. In addition, high-quality papers have extremely low linting characteristics, which means that the paper does not release fibres that could end up on the sterilised content.

PIZZA BOXES

Many of Billerud’s products come into contact with food. Such applications are subject to multiple laws and regulations, meaning stringent demands on thorough control of the chemicals and other input materials used. The products must also be tested for purity, smell and taste. Billerud’s liner and fluting, used in pizza boxes, for example, are approved under FDA and BfR guidelines for packaging intended for food.

The following are examples of legal requirements that must be met in the work on product safety:

FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA)
BfR (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany)
EU regulations (the general regulation for materials, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, there is no specific regulation for paper)
EU regulation 2023/2006, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), inkl. Annex regarding set-off
REACH (Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals)