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Paper Products Used in the Preparation of Food (GC-08)

Second Edition-January 7, 1997
Copyright © 1997 Green Seal, Inc.

1. Scope - This criteria document establishes environmental requirements for paper products used in the preparation of food, also known as "indirect food additives."

2. Definitions - For the purpose of this criteria document, the following definitions apply:
   

   2.1.   Paper Products Used in the Preparation of Food or "Indirect Food Additives": Paper products as defined by Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66, Components of Paper and Paperboard in Contact with Dry Foods.

   2.2.   Unbleached Paper: Paper products produced without undergoing any chemical whitening or lightening process.

   2.3.   Bleached Paper: Paper products produced with a chemical whitening or lightening process.

   2.4.   Postconsumer Materials: Those finished products, packages or materials generated by a business or consumer that have served their intended end uses, and that have been recovered from or otherwise diverted from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling.

3. Performance Requirements - The product must be made in accordance with reasonable industry practice with respect to quality and performance.
   

4. Product Specific Environmental Requirements - The product must meet the requirements under either Section 4.1 or Section 4.2.
   

   4.1.   Non-Whitened Products or Unbleached Products Requirements

   1. Product must not be whitened or bleached through any chemical processes.

   4.2.   Whitened or Bleached Products Requirements

   1. Neither chlorine nor any of its derivatives shall be used in the bleaching agent if bleaching is employed in the manufacturing of virgin pulp used in the product or in the manufacturing of the product itself.

5. Packaging Requirements
   

   5.1.   Toxics in Packaging: The sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium present in any package or packaging component shall not exceed 100 parts per million by weight.

   5.2.   Recycled Content: Products packaged in fiberboard packaging must contain a minimum of 15% postconsumer materials.

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Appendix A: Labeling Requirements for Certification by Green Seal

Unless otherwise approved in writing by Green Seal the following labeling requirements shall apply.

1. The Green Seal certification mark shall appear on the package.

2. Wherever the Green Seal Certification Mark appears on a package, the package shall contain a description of the basis of certification. This description shall be in a location, style, and typeface that are easily readable by the consumers. The description shall read as follows for unbleached products:
   "Product manufactured without bleaching. Recycled content may have originally been bleached."

   For whitened or bleached products, as applicable:

   "No Chlorine Bleach used to manufacture this product. Recycled content may have originally been bleached with Chlorine."

   Product bleached with Oxygen.

   "Recycled content may have originally been bleached with Chlorine."

3. The description should also include a reference to the packaging material, using similar terms as in section 2 for unbleached, whitened or bleached packaging as appropriate.