Argentinian Agribusiness Leader Ledesma Announces Verified Carbon Footprint for Its Office Paper

EMERYVILLE, Calif., December 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ - SCS Global Services (SCS), a global third-party certification body, announced today that Ledesma SAAI, an Argentinian agribusiness company that produces 40% of the nation’s printing and writing paper has earned Carbon Footprint Verification for its Office Ream paper product. This internationally recognized verification demonstrates Ledesma’s strong commitment to product transparency as part of its overall leadership in product stewardship and environmental sustainability.

“Ledesma’s decision to validate the GHG emissions of its office ream paper sets an important example for the region’s paper production industry, and establishes a benchmark for further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from paper production,” said Jaime de Monasterio, SCS’ Regional Director for Latin America.

SCS conducted an assessment of the Carbon Footprint (CF) for Ledesma’s Office Ream paper based on the requirements of the WRI GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-3. The product – general office paper for consumers in Argentina – is manufactured at Ledesma’s mills primarily from bleached bagasse pulp (~92%) and softwood pulp (~8%). The verification considered the “cradle-to-grave” greenhouse gas emissions of the product, from raw material extraction through production, transport, use and recycling or disposal.

Bagasse, the spent sugar fiber leftover from sugar cane harvest, comes from Ledesma’s sugar mill operations. The company operates the largest sugar mill in Argentina, producing refined sugar, corn syrups, ethyl alcohols, and other sugar products.

For its softwood pulp, Ledesma is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody program. “We have been FSC certified by SCS since 2014,” said Marcos Uribelarrea, Paper Business Director at Ledesma. “Our policy to source FSC-certified materials and to use our own waste products in paper production not only meets our sustainability values, but helps our bottom line. Through use of these sources, we are demonstrating our commitment to serving our customers for the long haul.”

FSC certification and waste reuse initiatives are only part of the company’s sustainability leadership. Ledesma has made great strides in reusing water in its operations, installing closed-loop systems, and also designating more than 60% of its owned land as conservation areas, with support from the Argentinian government.

About Ledesma
Ledesma is an Argentinean agribusiness company committed to the development of the country. With more than 7,500 employees, Ledesma leads in the marketplace for sugar, printing paper, notebooks and school supplies. Its paper production alone is more than 700,000 metric tons per year. It also has a significant market share in the fruit and juice concentrates, meat, cereals, alcohol and ethanol, and corn syrups and starches. Its varied products have been satisfying customers and transforming markets for more than 100 years. Ledesma is built upon a legacy of family leadership, dedicated workers and suppliers, and the natural resources and communities found in the Yungas Forest and surrounding area.

About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services has been a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, power generation, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, with a dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.