As part of its commitment to operating sustainably, Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced that its Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine, has been certified by Center for Resource Solutions’ Green–e® Marketplace program. The Somerset Mill secured this qualification through new investments in renewable energy generation. Sappi invested $49 million this past fall to upgrade the Somerset pulp mill’s recovery boiler and related equipment.

Prior to this recent investment, Sappi Fine Paper North America has led the industry in the use of renewable energy and already has the lowest reported carbon footprint among domestic coated paper suppliers, with more than 85% of the total energy being derived from renewable resources at its coated fine paper mills.

Under the Green–e certification, 100% percent of the electricity used to manufacture Opus web paper at the Somerset Mill is Green–e certified renewable energy that is generated onsite by Sappi. Opus web now joins the line–up of Sappi Fine Paper North America’s current Green–e certified product offerings: Sappi’s McCoy web, sheets and digital; Opus sheets and digital; Opus 30 web; and Flo sheets and digital; all of which have been Green–e certified via renewable energy generated at the Cloquet Mill in Minnesota.

Green–e is the nation’s leading, independent, third–party certification and verification program for renewable energy, ensuring that strict environmental and consumer protection standards are met.