Brussels, Belgium, – International Paper, the world's largest paper and packaging company, has announced that PRO-DESIGN, International Paper's flagship colour laser paper from its Saillat Mill has reached new heights, with sales figures as at the end of October in the UK & Ireland increasing by 50% year on year.

PRO-DESIGN's new improved quality, upgraded packaging and increased product range, which included a new 300gsm grade, has really excited its customers and stockists.

The PRO-DESIGN improvements were announced earlier this year as part of a major product re-launch, which also included new packaging features, encompassing a recyclable paper wrap displaying the grade's environmental credentials and further endorsing its high environmental performance. The product packaging now carries the PEFC logo, EU Ecolabel, along with details of International Paper's Saillat mill in France. The Saillat mill is one of the best in the world in terms of CO² emissions, with just 122kg per tonne as declared in the Paper Profile.

The Saillat mill has achieved a 78% reduction in CO² emissions since 1990, (which is better than both the CEPI reduction requirement of 27% and also the Kyoto Protocol guidelines of 8%).

The high environmental credentials of the Saillat mill put the production facility amongst the best in terms of environmental reliability. The mill was also among the first in Europe to achieve PEFC Chain of Custody certification in 2003, with its wood supply coming from local sustainably managed forest sources within a 120km transportation distance.

As a result of the recent sales achievements and reaction to product developments, International Paper has said that it plans to invest heavily in its marketing activities for 2011, to continue its growth in this sector.

Mike Robertson, Country Manager for UK & Ireland commented "We are extremely pleased at how well our sales have increased this year and how well our stockists (UK - PaperCo, Premier Beswick, Coral8 Group - IRELAND - Realt Paper, Premier Paper and Swiftbrook Paper) have responded to customer requirements and demand."