Introduction

Environmental sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in procurement decisions across industries. While paper has traditionally been evaluated on parameters such as GSM, brightness, opacity, print performance, and price, businesses are now paying greater attention to responsible sourcing, recycled content, manufacturing practices, and environmental certifications.

In June 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) released a draft notification proposing detailed environmental criteria for paper and paperboard products under the Ecomark Rules, 2024. The draft was published for public consultation before the proposed standards are finalized.

Although these criteria are not yet in force, they provide valuable insight into the direction of India’s environmental policy for paper products.

For paper manufacturers, distributors, office supplies companies, procurement managers, and businesses purchasing A4 paper, copier paper, and other office stationery, understanding these proposed standards today can help prepare for tomorrow’s procurement expectations.

What Is Ecomark?

Ecomark is India’s official eco-label for products that meet specified environmental criteria throughout their life cycle.

The original Eco Mark Scheme was introduced in 1991 to encourage the production and consumption of environmentally friendly products.

In 2024, the Government notified the Ecomark Rules, 2024, replacing the earlier framework with a modernized certification system. The Rules establish the overall framework for certification, while individual product categories—such as paper and paperboard—require separate technical criteria.

The June 2026 draft notification proposes those detailed environmental criteria specifically for paper products.

It is important to distinguish between the Ecomark Rules, 2024, which are already notified, and the draft paper-specific criteria, which remain under public consultation.

Why Is This Proposal Important?

Paper remains one of the most widely used office consumables in India.

Every day, businesses purchase:

• A4 copier paper
• Printer paper
• Writing paper
• Office stationery
• Paperboard packaging
• Business forms
• Marketing material

Historically, procurement decisions have largely focused on:

• Product quality
• Price
• Availability
• Supplier reliability
• Print performance

Environmental performance has generally been a secondary consideration outside organisations with dedicated sustainability policies.

The proposed Ecomark criteria indicate that environmental attributes may become more visible in future procurement decisions alongside traditional quality parameters.

What Has MoEF&CC Proposed?

The draft notification focuses on four broad themes.

1. Responsible Fibre Sourcing

The proposal encourages the use of responsibly sourced raw materials.

Subject to the detailed eligibility conditions contained in the draft notification, paper products may qualify through categories such as:

• Agricultural residue-based pulp
• Farm forestry and certified domestic wood sources
• High recycled fibre content

Unlike many international markets that rely primarily on wood fibre, India’s paper industry already uses a diverse raw material mix including bamboo, agricultural residues, recovered paper and wood from farm forestry.

The proposed framework recognises these Indian characteristics while encouraging more sustainable sourcing practices.

2. Cleaner Manufacturing Processes

The draft proposes stricter environmental criteria during pulp and paper manufacturing.

Among the proposed requirements are:

• Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) or Total Chlorine Free (TCF) bleaching for applicable pulp and paper manufacturing
• Limits on Adsorbable Organic Halides (AOX)
• Restrictions on specified hazardous chemicals
• Limits on Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
• Restrictions on certain azo dyes and benzidine-based dyes in coloured paper products

Many of these practices are already recognised internationally as methods for reducing environmental impacts associated with paper manufacturing.

3. Product Traceability

One of the most notable proposals is the requirement that certified products carry a QR code.

The QR code would enable buyers to verify certification details and understand the criteria under which the product has been certified.

For procurement teams, this could improve transparency and reduce uncertainty when evaluating environmental claims.

4. Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency

The proposal also encourages greater resource efficiency through increased use of recovered fibre and sustainable raw material sourcing.

These objectives are consistent with India’s broader policy emphasis on resource conservation and circular economy principles.

Is India Simply Following Global Standards?

The short answer is no.

India’s proposed framework reflects internationally accepted environmental principles, but it has been adapted to India’s unique raw material ecosystem.

For example:

International sustainability frameworks commonly promote:

• Responsible forest management
• Recycled fibre
• Cleaner bleaching technologies
• Chemical safety
• Product traceability

India’s proposal incorporates these concepts while recognising domestic realities such as:

• Bamboo as a major fibre source
• Agricultural residue-based pulp
• Farm forestry
• High utilisation of recovered paper

Rather than copying overseas certification systems, India appears to be developing a framework that aligns with global sustainability objectives while reflecting the structure of its own paper industry.

How Does Ecomark Compare with Other Certifications?

Procurement professionals often encounter several environmental certifications when purchasing office paper and paper products.

Although these certifications share sustainability objectives, they serve different purposes.

Certification	Primary Focus
Ecomark (India)	Environmental performance of finished products sold in India
FSC®	Responsible forest management and chain of custody
PEFC	Sustainable forest certification
ISO 14001	Environmental management systems within an organisation
BIS Standards	Product quality and technical specifications where applicable

These certifications should be viewed as complementary rather than interchangeable.

For example, FSC certification focuses on responsible forest sourcing, while Ecomark evaluates broader environmental criteria applicable to the finished product.

What Standards Do Businesses Commonly Evaluate Today?

Most organisations purchasing office paper currently evaluate products based on practical performance criteria such as:

• GSM
• Brightness
• Opacity
• Smoothness
• Print quality
• Paper jam performance
• Moisture consistency
• Supplier reliability
• Price

Larger organisations may also request documentation relating to:

• FSC certification
• PEFC certification
• ISO certifications
• Recycled content
• Environmental policies

Few procurement specifications currently require detailed information regarding bleaching chemistry or manufacturing emissions.

If the proposed Ecomark criteria are implemented and gain wider industry acceptance, environmental manufacturing parameters may become increasingly relevant during supplier evaluations.

What Could This Mean for Office Paper Procurement?

While the proposal is still under consultation, businesses should consider its possible long-term implications.

Procurement teams may begin requesting Ecomark-certified products where environmental procurement policies exist.

Manufacturers may invest further in cleaner production technologies and certification systems.

Corporate sustainability reporting may increasingly incorporate paper procurement decisions.

QR-code-based certification could improve confidence in sustainability claims.

Environmental performance may gradually become another procurement parameter alongside quality, price and delivery performance.

These developments are likely to occur gradually and will depend on the final notification, market adoption, certification uptake and customer demand.

Practical Questions Procurement Teams Can Ask Today

Businesses do not need to revise procurement policies immediately.

However, organisations reviewing office paper suppliers may benefit from asking:

• What is the primary fibre source used in this paper?
• Does the product contain recycled fibre?
• Is the manufacturer certified under recognised sustainability schemes?
• Does the supplier maintain chain-of-custody documentation where applicable?
• What environmental certifications are currently available for this product?
• Is the manufacturer preparing for future Ecomark certification if the proposed criteria are finalised?

These discussions help procurement teams better understand supplier capabilities without waiting for regulatory requirements to change.

Authors Remark:

The proposed Ecomark criteria for paper and paperboard products represent more than a technical regulatory update.

They reflect a broader shift in how paper products may be evaluated in the future—not only for print quality, durability and cost, but also for responsible sourcing, manufacturing practices and environmental performance.

For businesses purchasing A4 copier paper, printer paper, writing paper and other office supplies, this is an opportunity to better understand how sustainability is gradually becoming part of modern procurement.

While the draft notification remains under public consultation and the final criteria may evolve, one message is already clear:

The future of paper procurement is likely to balance quality, performance, price and environmental responsibility more closely than ever before.