Indian publishers ABP and Bennett Coleman & Co are among companies backing a project to lift education of paper damage issues.

They are part of a cross-industry collaboration to share expertise on one of ths industry’s biggest sources of waste. Representatives from the whole supply chain from mill, through transport, storage, handling and printing are seeking to establish a best practice tool and global reference.

Manfred Werfel, deputy chief executive of WAN-0Ifra – which initiated the project with the print Process Champions group – says no organisation, company, country or continent can now do this alone: “This collective approach will deliver cost effective international synergies to answer needs in both mature and emerging markets.”

The two have been joined by the European Rotogravure Association, Idealliance paper transit group and the Nordic Offset Printers Association. Initial sponsor companies include ABP, Bolzoni Auramo, Earthpac, Goss International, KBA, LHG, Sonoco-Alcore, Stora Enso, Times of India and UPM, with further participation anticipated.

PPC’s Nigel Wells says the goal is to identify and communicate global best practices as a reference manual delivered at no cost to users. It will include modules on transportation, storage, roll and pallet handling, preparation for printing, inspection, diagnosis and reporting, much of which information already exists.

An update of the 1990s ‘Newsprint and news ink guide’ has been under consideration by WAN-Ifra committees for some time.

UPM’s Martin Schorn says the new guide will bring all existing information together – UPM is contributing content from its cargo handling manual and encouraging others to do the same.

Project team contacts include Werfel (email manfred.werfel@wan-ifra.org), Wells (vimw@wanadoo.fr), PPC facilitator Erik Ohls (erikwohls@gmail.com), David Stenhardt of North America: IDEAlliance Paper Transit Damage Working Group (dsteinhardt@idealliance.org) and industry representative Schorn (martin.schorn@upm.com).