Two papermakers took part in a major public exhibition in December and ran alongside the UN Paris Climate Change conference, also known as COP21.

APP and Arjowiggins are involved in Solutions COP21, a free privately funded public-facing event held at the historic Grand Palais, which featured an exhibition, conferences and round-table discussions, looking at solutions to climate change.

Both companies  showcased their efforts to lower carbon emissions and outline challenges they face as high energy users, while gaining exposure for their brands. This involved a series of events at the free show, which ran until 10 December. French papermaker Arjowiggins is also an official partner of COP21 for the first time and is demonstrating a real-life application of the circular economy while providing all of the 100% recycled paper being used at the Bourget and Grand Palais sites, as well as providing 4 million sheets of 100%-recycled A4 paper to be used by negotiators and attendees.

This means that if an agreement is forged between the 190-plus nations at the conference, it will be signed on Arjowiggins graphic paper.

Jean-Charles Monange, commercial and marketing director, Arjowiggins Graphic, said: “What’s unique about our campaign in Paris is that we’re able to provide an immediate demonstration of this approach at the COP21 event.

“La Poste will collect and sort the waste paper which will then be directly transported to our Greenfield mill, just 100km away, to be deinked and transformed into a high white paper pulp, which will be reproduced at Le Bourray mill into office paper reams. 

“Not only does this enable us to promote our papers to stakeholders, business, media and governments, it also allows us to showcase the principles of the circular economy in action.”

APP is also organising an event, held today, on deforestation, at which Aida Greenbury, APP’s managing director of sustainability is due to speak.