U1 einzeln

Foto von Eugen Pell
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The president of the Association of the Austrian
Paper Industry reports on the achievements in
sustainability in 2005 and comments on the
business development of the past year.
In your hands you are holding the 2005 Annual Report
of the Austrian paper industry, which at the same
time is also our third sustainability report.
The Paper Industry in a Diff icult
Business Environment
Last year, domestic paper production rose by
100,000 tonnes, or two per cent, to almost five million
tonnes, but without having a greater impact on
the environment. Nevertheless, European economic
growth continued to be weak last year, which was
viewed critically by most of the companies in the
industry. In particular, dramatically higher energy
costs led to enormous pressure on returns. In addition,
there was growing concern about maintaining
an adequate supply of the raw material wood
at competitive prices. Minor growth in quantities
and urgently needed price increases that failed to
materialise led to sluggish turnover, despite the high
efficiency and productivity of facilities. This confirms
frequently cited concerns about framework conditions,
especially in the fields of climate, environment
and energy policies, which impose the same burdens
on highly efficient companies as on less-efficient
ones. In the global market this weakens the competitiveness
of mills in Austria compared with other
countries and has a negative influence on decisions
related to future investment.
The current general optimism with regard to
economic trends will prove correct only if the most
important location factors can be rapidly and visibly
improved. In addition, we must succeed in the current
year in implementing necessary price increases in
order to compensate for rising costs.
The Challenge of Sustainability
Apart from the “Nordic” countries of Finland, Sweden
and Canada, Austria has the highest per-capita
production of paper world-wide. That underlines the
great importance of the paper industry to our country
papierausösterreich JB 2005
and indicates that in pursuing their activities domestic
producers must accept their responsibilities to our
society and environment. With regard to the harmonious
three-pillar model for sustainable development,
we must again recognise how difficult it is to guarantee
the further success of the social and the ecological
pillars without corresponding economic success.
Nevertheless there is positive news, including a higher
number of apprentices, a reduction in workplace
accidents and further increases in efficiency in the use
of environmental resources.
The sustainability of an industry has nothing to
do with producing as few products as possible; it has
everything to do, however, with producing them in
such a manner that consumers of today and tomorrow
can buy, use and dispose of these products gladly
and unhesitatingly because they meet the consumers‘
ecological, social and economic needs. The added value
thus produced serves society, promotes environmental
protection, and strengthens many businesses
in the supply chain. In the public-relations work of our
organisation, we document the daily efforts of our
member companies in implementing these principles.
For our 2004 Annual Report, we received the Austrian
Sustainability Reporting Award, an honour we view as
both a reward and a challenge. With our 2005 Annual
Report we are again making progress, especially in
providing expanded statistical material and an extensive
section of dialogue, which this time is dedicated
to the role of the paper industry in the wood supply
chain.
The 2005 Annual Report was created jointly with
the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development
and rated by that institute according to the GRI Index.
For the photos in this report we would like to express
our gratitude to the students of the graphic-design
school Höhere Graphische Bundes- Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt
in Vienna. This year once again, it was
extremely pleasant to work with these young people,
the graphic designers of the future. ■