SMART PAPERS WINS FULL FSC CERTIFICATION FOR KNIGHTKOTE® MATTE PREMIUM COATED PRINTING PAPERS

HAMILTON, Ohio, January 22, 2009—SMART Papers’ Knightkote® Matte, long respected for its high recycled fiber content, is now fully Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.  Corporations and graphic design professionals have immediate access to the company’s extensive lineup of environmentally responsible coated matte printing and packaging papers.

Knightkote Matte is manufactured with 50% recycled fibers, including 30% post-consumer fibers.  That is the highest recycled and post-consumer fiber content in a premium coated paper produced and sold by any North American papermaker.  New FSC certification gives Knightkote further industry-leading positioning and makes it a top choice for corporations, higher education and other non-profits who need environmentally responsible printing papers.

SMART Papers, North America’s largest independent manufacturer of premium cast coated, matte coated and uncoated printing and packaging papers offers the most extensive selection of FSC-certified brands including Kromekote®, Genesis®, Synergy®, Pegasus®, Solutions®, Skytone®, Proterra®, Feltweave®, Nekoosa® Linen and now Knightkote® Matte.  Several brands are available with 100 percent post-consumer fibers.

The growing collection of FSC-certified papers underscores SMART Papers’ longstanding commitment to sustainability in its premium branded papers and manufacturing operations.  Recently the company broke ground on a $30 million energy production facility to be powered by 100% cellulosic biomass fuel, primarily waste wood waste.  By late 2009, all of the company’s products will be fully carbon neutral and produced fossil fuel-free.

“We will continue striving to exceed customer expectations when it comes to environmental stewardship,” said Doug Gruber, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SMART Papers.  “With the addition of Knightkote, SMART Papers continues to grow its offering of premium papers that are manufactured with high levels of post-consumer fiber and are FSC certified.”

“Sustainability is a choice,” added SMART Papers Chairman Tim Needham.  “We’re offering our customers the choice of having it all—the broadest range of high quality, value priced, environmentally responsible FSC-certified printing papers.”

He cited the company’s investment toward 100% fossil-fuel free production now underway at its Hamilton, Ohio manufacturing center.  No other North American printing paper manufacturer is currently transitioning all of its operations to fossil-fuel free production.

Knightkote Matte:  Matte Coated Papers
For Environmentally Responsible Print Projects

Knightkote Matte is available in two shades—a cool white and an elegant crème.  It comes in two unique embossed finishes and a comprehensive selection of text and cover weights, including a high-yield return card and a 130 lb. heavy weight cover.

In addition to offset printing, Knightkote Matte is guaranteed to perform on digital presses from Xerox, Kodak and HP Indigo as well as a large variety of production-rated color copies produced by all top OEMs worldwide.

Uses for Knightkote Matte include corporate print collateral, brochures, direct mail advertising, books, magazines, premium bag, carton and other packaging applications.

About SMART Papers

Hamilton, Ohio-based SMART Papers is the largest North American manufacturer and marketer of environmentally responsible, premium cast-coated, matte-coated and uncoated text, cover and writing papers.  The papers, used primarily in offset and digital printing as well as high-end packaging, are marketed in North America, Europe and Asia.

Brands include Kromekote®, Knightkote® Matte, SMART Digital™, Pegasus®, Carnival®, Synergy®, Passport®, Genesis®, Magna Carta®, SMART Brights®, Feltweave®, Nekoosa® Linen, Nekoosa® 25% Cotton, Nekoosa® Bond, Skytone®, Solutions® and Proterra®.  Many of the papers contain up to 100% post-consumer fibers and all are chlorine free.

By late 2009, the company’s Hamilton manufacturing center will produce all of its papers using 100% cellulosic biomass, primarily tree, yard and wood waste.  This will eliminate the use of fossil fuels and enable all papers to be designated fully carbon neutral.  All pulp used in papermaking is certified by one or more of the following third-party organizations:  the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

SMART Papers supplies branded and specialty papers for a wide range of applications including corporate brochure and identity programs, annual reports, consumer labels and tags, high-end consumer packaging, stationery, greeting cards, invitations with matching envelopes, direct mail, security papers and more.  Please visit www.smartpapers.com, call 800-443-9773 or contact your local paper merchant for more information.  Customers may also order papers in any quantity at www.smartpapersstore.com.

Contact:  Doug Gruber, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing,
SMART Papers, 513-869-4207