Ampad Achieves FSC Chain-of-Custody Certification

RICHARDSON, Texas, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a broad commitment to
social responsibility, Ampad is pleased to announce it has achieved the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody Certification across all product
categories and in its manufacturing facilities including those in Mattoon, IL
and Morristown, TN.

"Ampad's commitment to the environment extends beyond recycled products as we
are constantly looking for new ways to conserve and promote environmental
stewardship," said J. Kevin Coughlin, Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing. "Part of our social responsibility is to ensure that we conduct
business in a way that assures a positive ecological impact on the
environment. Ampad's SFI(R) Certification enables our customers to make an
educated environmental choice about the office products they buy."

FSC certification means that Ampad can identify which products have come from
an FSC-certified forest and tracks those materials as they leave the forest
and become products downstream. This chain-of-custody aspect of the system is
the basis for any credible certification system and is the link between
consumer preference and responsible, on-the-ground forest management.

"Deforestation and illegal logging are taking a huge toll on our planet,
wildlife, and communities," says Corey Brinkema, president of Forest
Stewardship Council-US. "But today, there is a groundswell of businesses like
Ampad that, by becoming FSC Chain-of-Custody certified, are helping to advance
responsible forest management around the world -- for the benefit of forests
and people. We commend Ampad for its leadership."

About the Forest Stewardship Council

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international nonprofit
organization of more than 500 environmental groups, businesses, forestry
professionals, social scientists and civic groups that have collectively
developed a set of rigorous international forest management standards and a
corresponding FSC certification. The FSC currently identifies 10 principles
and 57 criteria to ensure well-managed forests. These include provisions for
protecting biological diversity and fragile ecosystems. FSC-certified areas
continue to grow at a high rate all over the world and now represent an area
equal to 7 percent of the forests used primarily for production purposes.

About Ampad

American Pad & Paper is a premier manufacturer and distributor of writing
pads, filing supplies, retail envelopes and specialty papers that serves many
of the largest and fastest-growing office products retailers and distributors
in North America including Wal-Mart and Staples. Ampad brands include Gold
Fibre(R), Evidence(R), Envirotec(TM), efficiency(R), and Embassy(R).

Additional information on Ampad can be found at http://www.ampad.com.

Contact:

Rob Rosson
(972) 578-2000 x4303

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SOURCE Ampad

Rob Rosson of Ampad, +1-972-578-2000 ext. 4303