Tokyo, June 24, 2002 - Nippon Paper Sales Co., Ltd., a member of the Nippon Unipac Holding Group, has announced it will commence sale of the unified coated paper and recycled paper brands of Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. and Daishowa Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd. during the period of July and August. Since it started business operations in July 2001, Nippon Paper Sales has sold paper products under the brands of Nippon Paper Industries and Daishowa Paper Manufacturing respectively. Due to the upcoming merger of the three paper business companies slated for next year, however, production and sales activities will be conducted under unified product brands.

 

The names of the unified brands have been designated as the AURORA series for coated paper products, and the RECYCLE series for recycled paper products. The core brand image to be promoted for AURORA will be one of excellent quality, as exemplified by A2 grade coated paper, while that for RECYCLE will promote the use of recycled paper made from a high content of waste paper.

 

AURORA was the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology and was selected to symbolize the dawning of a new era in coated paper. The glossy coated paper products in the series will include AURORA COAT (A2 grade coated paper), AURORA-L (A3 grade coated paper), and AURORA-S (lightweight coated paper). In conjunction with the integration, AURORA COAT will feature a quality level that is higher in terms of whiteness and gloss rating compared to conventional levels - resulting in a "best-in class" standard for A2 coated paper.

 

Meanwhile, the RECYCLE series is a consolidation of various quality types of recycled paper products manufactured to date by both companies, and is aimed at meeting the demand for recycled paper products. The integrated series will primarily feature recycled paper made from 100% post-consumer waste paper, and as the brand name suggests, it will highlight the use of recycled paper. All products in the series will conform to Japan's Law on Promoting Green Purchasing and will include the following: RECYCLE FINE PAPER (made from 70% waste paper) and RECYCLE FINE PAPER100 (made from 100% waste paper) in the FINE PAPER category, along with RECYCLE COAT 100 (A2 grade glossy), RECYCLE MATT 100 (A2 grade mat-finish), and RECYCLE COAT L100 (A3 grade coated) in the COAT PAPER category. All products designated with "100" will be made from 100 percent waste paper.

 

Production activities for products comprising of the unified brands will take place at the plants of Nippon Paper Industries and Daishowa Paper Manufacturing. As a result, the unique features of the systems and facilities in place at both companies will be fully utilized, thereby enhancing synergies.