Leading up to the Sustainability Forum at PaperCon in April, a series of webinars are planned to help manufacturers and customers better understand key issues around sustainability. The first in this series reviews the updated FSC and SFI standards.

A Comparison of the FSC and SFI Forest Certification Standards
January 30, 11:00 am

Facilitated by: Katie Fernholz, Dovetail Partners

Free to attend, but you must register.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards offer two approaches to forest management certification. Both programs recently updated their standards for forest certification auditing in the United States. This webinar will review the FSC and SFI standards and some of their key differences. The information from this discussion will be helpful to land managers that are audited to these standards as well as to manufacturers and customers interested in understanding the requirements behind these eco-labels.

Learn more and make plans to participate.

Additional webinars in the series:

How to deal with misleading environmental claims related to print and paper?

 February 27, 2012 at 11:00am EST - Facilitated by: Phil Riebel, President and COO, Two Sides U.S., Inc.

March 12, 2012 at 11:00am EST - Facilitated by: Avrim Lazar, FPAC

PaperCon 2012 will take place April 22-25, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will focus on "Growing the Future"; leveraging renewable, recyclable raw materials and developing human capital to ensure value for customers, long-term sustainability for shareholders, and a future for our peers.

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TAPPI OpEx Reliability Seminar at PaperCon 2012

Monday and Tuesday, April 23-24

8:30am - 5:00pm

Maintenance and reliability are critical to efficient mill operations - and just behind fiber and labor as top cost factors. Attend the two-day OpEx Reliability Seminar during PaperCon and learn the latest reliability strategies that mills are implementing to stay competitive.

Program topics include:

• Progress in Reliability
• Mill Systems and Equipment Optimization
• Reducing Downtime/Cutting Costs
• Maintenance/Reliability Training · Reliability Panel Discussion
• Fixed Equipment Maintenance Optimization (FEMOS)

Learn more about the OpEx Reliability Seminar.

Learn more about PaperCon

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Growing the Division – A Message from the Nanotechnology Division Chairman

Hello fellow nanophiles!

I am excited to be the chairman of TAPPI's new International Nanotechnology Division, and I look forward to sharing with you regular updates on some projects that are in development, as well as exciting new opportunities to get involved and help this Division grow. There are many opportunities to get involved, and member benefits include our E-library, Standards, Event & Education Discounts, access to the Membership Directory, and much more. Visit the Nano website  for more information and how to join.

The mission of the International Nanotechnology Division is to serve as the leading global forum for the community of individuals, organizations and institutions seeking to collectively advance the responsible and sustainable production and use of renewable nanomaterials. Please consider getting involved!

Although TAPPI's Nanotechnology Division is new, it is already very active. The Division will take the lead in guiding and overseeing the development of the Roadmap for Nanocellulose Standards. Many of our colleagues have already been hard at work and produced a draft this fall. The Division has created the INSCC (International Nanotechnology Standards Coordination Committee) to formalize this activity. This committee will work on creating proposals for new Standards or test methods that will be submitted to TAPPI, ISO, and other standards development organizations. The Division is also represented in the ISO TC 229 US TAG membership group.

The "Rethink Trees" video, a video created to raise awareness about the opportunity for nanocellulose, has also been completed, and is available for download and distribution. Please visit this website and spread the word about all of the benefits of using nanotechnology.

Planning for the 2012 Conference has also begun. More information can be found at TAPPI Nano website.  Please contact Raine Hyde if you are interested in getting more involved with the conference.

Finally, The Division has also created 3 new "teams":

The Technical Team, which will focus on the Annual Conference, Symposiums, and Courses, is being lead by Robert Moon, USDA Forest Service and Yaman Boluk, University of Alberta.

The Marketing & Promotions Team, which will explore Campus Outreach (University Outreach & Student Chapter development), Industry trends (Knowledge needs), Membership (recruitment and retention), and Industry Outreach (collaboration, awareness), is being lead by John Cowie, Agenda 2020 and Professor Bruce Lyne, Royal Institute of Technology And the

Product Resources & Development Team, which will delve into Press & Publications (books, manuals, newsletter, web content), Standards & TIP Development (ISO TC229), and Education (Webinars, other needs), is being lead by Mike Bilodeau, University of Maine and one other co-chair yet to be determined.

Don't forget to visit TAPPI's Nano webiste for more information and how to join.

Until next time,

Sean Ireland

TAPPI International Nanotechnology Division Chairman

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Comprehensive Book on Papermaking Chemistry Now Available

James W. Johnston and Cornel Hagiopol, Ph. D., two Georgia-Pacific (GP) Chemicals employees, have recently authored a comprehensive review of the papermaking process. Written from the chemist's perspective, The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking is intended to supply researchers, developers and end-users with updated information on the literature of papermaking chemistry.

Supported by more than 3000 references of patents and scientific articles covering 150 years of published literature and enhanced by the authors' industrial experience, the book encompasses and covers the state of science for all facets of papermaking chemistry including retention aids, temporary and permanent wet-strength agents, dry strength resins, internal sizing chemicals, creping additives and softeners.

 "Georgia-Pacific Chemicals supported the development of this book as a resource for industry, as well as academia," said Robert McDonald, paper chemicals business manager for GP Chemicals. "It illustrates the depth of knowledge and resources available at GP Chemicals and we are proud of the years of extensive work Jim and Cornel put into its preparation."

Johnston, paper chemicals research & development manager at GP Chemicals, guides technology development strategy and execution and manages intellectual property as well as product and project resources. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF Chemical Engineering and Paper Science and Engineering Program.

Hagiopol, a research scientist, received his PhD in macromolecular chemistry from Polytechnic University in Romania and is an expert in polymer chemistry. He holds more than 20 patents.

According to the publisher, CRC Press, a respected publisher of scientific and technical work, "The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking focuses on the chemistry behind each application, on what has been done, and on what can be done." -

To view excerpts of an interview with the authors, please visit the Georgia-Pacific TV channel. For more information on The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking.

The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking is available from TAPPI PRESS.

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An Invitation to Present has been announced for TAPPI's 2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC), October 17-19, 2012 in Savannah, Georgia.

IBBC will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure and will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address:

• Feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass
• Bioelectricity using combined heat and power (CHP)
• Bioconversion technologies for wood and biomass
• Production of chemicals and transportation fuels from wood and biomass
• Policies and incentives for bioconversion projects

Presentations are sought in the following areas:

Advances in Technology: strong technical papers with a focus on presenting new findings

• Biomass Supply & Demand
• Advances in Conversion Pathways
• Biomass Harvesting & Preparation
• Advances in Bioproducts

Commercialization Activities: case studies and updates from pilot scale, commercial, and pre-commercial operations

• Biorefineries
• Repurposing the Traditional Pulp and Paper Mill
• Harvesting and Preparation ·
• Technical Economic Analyses ·
• Commercial Collaborations for Enabling Technologies
• Project Deployment Issues

Impacts of Policies and Incentives: analysis of existing or proposed bioconversion policies at State, Provincial or Federal levels

• Public policy proposals
• Pulp/paper incentives that support bioconversion progress
• Assessing common ground between pulp/paper and agricultural bioconversion policies
  

Limited space is available for poster presentations.

Abstract Submission Information:

Authors interesting in presenting a paper should upload their abstract to the TAPPI's Speaker Management System .

Abstract Requirements: Abstracts should be no more than 200 words.

Submission Deadline: March 9, 2012

Presentations Deadline: September 17, 2012

Authors will be notified of acceptance by April 20, 2012.

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TAPPI Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium Abstracts Deadline Extended

Organizers of the 12th TAPPI Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium have extended the deadline for abstracts to February 14, 2012. View the call for papers and posters.

This is a forum for academics and technologists to present their fundamental research findings and leading-edge developments related to the coating of paper substrates and the printing and converting of these products.

The symposium, September 10-12, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, will be co-located with the 16th International Coating Science and Technology Symposium (September 9-12, 2012), providing attendees and presenters with expanded learning and networking opportunities. Abstracts for full papers or posters will be accepted.

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Experts Invited to Participate in Cellulose Nanotechnology Terminology Standard Development

January 19, 2012

An initial draft has been prepared for the first cellulose nanomaterial standard: TAPPI WI 3021: Standard Terms and Their Definition for Cellulose Nanomaterials. This standard shall establish and define standard terms for cellulose nanomaterials, the different types of cellulose nanomaterials and the hierarchical structure of cellulose nanomaterial terms.

If you would like to review and comment on this initial draft, please contact World Nieh at wnieh@fs.fed.us or 703-605-4197. World will provide you with a copy of the draft and a comment review form. All comments are due by January 31, 2012.

Once a formal draft has been prepared, the official balloting process will begin. If you are interested in participating in this process, you will need to join the Standard Spcific Interest Group (SSIG). If you would like to join the Standard Specific Interest Group (SSIG) for this standard, and receive a ballot for voting when it is available, please notify the Standards Department at standards@tappi.org or by fax at +1-770-446-6947 no later than January 31, 2012. Please reference WI 3021 in your communication.

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