A clear sign of forward thinking is the development of products to both meet current demands and anticipate future industry needs. Wausau Paper, Mosinee, Wis., accomplished both with its Eco Select® baking pan liner, having seen the writing on the wall with sustainability and social responsibility in food.

It provides bakers an alternative material that has documented sustainability advantages, is an immediate drop-in replacement for current liners, and is cost-neutral to traditional, bleached pan liners.

Eco Select is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified; made with natural, unbleached fibers from forests managed according to FSC guidelines, which means the wood is sustainably harvested and processed. It ensures forestry is conducted using sustainable and certified practices, and FSC certification permits customers to support their sustainability initiatives using recognized third-party certification.

The pan liner also incorporates fewer chemicals and is considered totally chlorine free (TCF) without sacrificing functionality. The lack of bleaching chemicals actually sometimes presents a perception problem for the product.

“The Eco Select pan liner looks different than the traditional bleached sheet,” says Bob Frazier, director, food sector. “Sometimes it was a challenge getting people past the difference.”

But bakers who use the product don’t take long to warm up to the off-white color. Having the product tested against international compostability standards and providing users the documentation to support the sustainability claims allows bakers to make informed decisions.

Since used pan liners contain food residue, they cannot be recycled–the next best option is to compost the used paper.

“We engaged throughout the supply chain to identify needs and how to meet them,” Frazier says. “We find that collaborative innovation directly with end users and brand owners provides unfiltered information on needs and thus allows us to provide innovation that meets their requirements and brings groundbreaking solutions to market faster.”

Any baker using traditional pan liners should be able to take advantage of Eco Select pan liner. Wausau Paper encourage bakers to test any pan liner in their specific application to assure proper performance, as there may be unique requirements in their specific application.

“Of course, a baker who appreciates the environmental value of Eco Select pan liner will find the greatest benefit,” Frazier adds.