Paper is in harmony with nature say three Icelandic companies pointing out that European forests are growing.

Representatives of the companies, Iceland Post, Oddi and Umslag, delivered the first boxes of paper to Skógarborg kindergarten today. This donation of paper is only the first of many similar gifts to all kindergartens in the country that will be distributed over the next two months. The donation is a part of an environmental project that focuses on the responsability of paper producers who have been at the forefront of the enlargement of European forests for more than half a century. Each day, new forests are planted covering an area corresponding to 4.363 football fields.

The time has come for environmentally conscious people to stop feeling guilty about using paper, for the paper used in Iceland is environmentally sustainable. This is the message that Iceland Post, Oddi and Umslag are delivering to the public. Paper has been the focus of unjust attacks and urban myths and the time has come to dispel these myths the companies' representatives say. We can feel guilty about a number things that are not environmentally sustainable, but the use of paper is not one of them.

To mark the campaign "Sustainable Paper" the three companies will donate paper to the country's kindergartens. In total more than four tons of paper will be distributed throughout the country to children in kindergartens over the next few months. The paper donated will undoubtedly come in handy, especially in light of cost cutting that kindergartens around the country have had to undertake.

A few facts about paper:

• Paper does not threaten rainforests - not one sheet of paper comes from rainforest - instead agriculture is the culprit.
• Paper used in Iceland comes from European manufacturers who are leading the world in sustainable use of forests.
• Each day in Europe forests are planted covering an area corresponding to 4.363 football fields.
• 50% of the wood fibers in new paper is from recycled paper.
• The other 50% stems from the by-product of timber processing for building construction and furniture making and the necessary thinning of forests.
• Only a small percentage of paper comes from utilitarian forests, or the forests which are growing every year.
• The United Nations has declared that the wood- and paper industry plays an important role in mitigating climate change.