New panel to tackle recycled paper falsification

The Japan Paper Association will form a panel to set criteria for the component ratios of waste paper to be used in recycled paper products and for ways to clearly display them to consumers.

Shoichiro Suzuki, chairman of the Japan Paper Association, speaks about the recycled paper falsification scandal at a news conference Monday. KYODO PHOTO

The association made the decision at its first board meeting since it was revealed that numerous papermakers, including the top six companies, have been exaggerating the amount of waste paper used in their recycled paper products.

Association officials said there are no clear-cut mandatory definitions for recycled paper, such as the percentage of waste paper that should be contained to allow a product to be described as "recycled paper."

The lack of mandatory definitions has allowed products containing only a small percentage of used paper to be marketed as recycled.

The envisioned panel will work on such issues as the percentage of waste paper that should be contained in a "recycled" product.

The falsification was apparently due to the failure of the companies' technology to maintain quality in recycled paper products.

Papermakers have been accused of falsifying the ratios to give the impression they are serious about manufacturing environmentally friendly products.

Association Chairman Shoichiro Suzuki told a news conference Monday that the group will report the details of the falsification to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Environment Ministry after the six big papermakers disclose data for their products by Wednesday.

The association will then arrange a meeting of the new panel Friday, he said.

"It is truly regrettable," said Suzuki, who is also chairman of industry leader Oji Paper Co. He suggested he intends to continue as chief of the association.

Oji admitted Friday it had also been involved in the dubious practice. It said the ratio of used paper in its recycled printing paper was 5 percent to 10 percent, against its claim of 50 percent, and that the falsification began more than 10 years ago.

Last week, Japan Post Holdings Co. accused major papermakers of falsifying the ratios of waste paper in its New Year's greeting cards.

In addition to Oji, Nippon Paper Group Inc., Daio Paper Corp., Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd. and Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co. have admitted to the practice. The falsification scandal has spread to other products, including copier and printer paper.

The six companies dominate the domestic market with their combined production accounting for about 80 percent of overall output in 2006.

The ministries have said the falsification could constitute a violation of a law against false labeling.