"We now offer five different eco-friendly grades in multiple configurations under our Align brand," said John Lafave, SVP, pulp and paper sales and marketing. "Customers have even more choice of paper grades that reduce fiber consumption and save money without sacrificing the quality of their printed product."
Specific grades that will be added to the Align umbrella include Hybrid Smooth, Hybrid Vellum, Hybrid Envelope, Alternative Book, Alternative Offset, and Alternative Opaque produced at the company's Calhoun, Tenn., mill, as well as Alternative Offset and Alternative Book produced at the Alma, Que., Canada, mill. Align's Hybrid grades are high-yield, opaque offset papers used for commercial printing such as comics, direct mail, directories, envelopes, inserts, and manuals. Align's Alternative Offset papers are designed for a variety of print applications, including book publishing, financial printing, annual reports, and direct mail.
Resolute's Calhoun mill made significant advancements in reducing its environmental footprint in 2013, which qualify certain of its products to become part of the Align family. One of the most important changes involved shifting Calhoun's energy source from coal to natural gas, considerably reducing the mill's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Align papers are made with up to 50% less wood fiber compared with freesheet paper, and have an environmental footprint 35% to 85% smaller than the average freesheet grade, including some containing recycled content. In addition, by delivering higher opacity and bulk at a lower basis weight than traditional freesheet, Align helps reduce paper, postage, and transportation costs.
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