The index rates paper producers in terms of their global ecological footprint, assessing them on a range of environmental criteria such as production, sourcing and reporting.

In its second paper company index, the WWF analysed 19 producers within the fine paper, tissue and packaging sectors.

The two highest-scoring participants in the latest index came from the packaging category with SCA Containerboard scoring 85.55% and Mondi with 75.45%.

"At SCA Containerboard we are extremely proud to be named among the best scoring companies in the Environmental Paper Index of WWF International, said Stefano Rossi, vice president and managing director, of SCA Containerboard.

They added: "For a long time we have devoted relentless energies to offering environmentally-sound products."

Arjowiggins Graphic emerged as the strongest performer within the fine paper category with 73.86%, SCA Tissue achieving 65.13%, the highest scorer in the tissue category.

Emmanuelle Neyroumande, manager of WWF International´s global pulp and paper work, participation in the index demonstrated that the companies were taking "environmental and social responsibility seriously".

The full list of participants in this year´s Index are:

Fine paper category: Arjowiggins Graphic, Burgo, Cascades, Domtar, Fedrigoni, Mondi, M-real, Stora Enso, Suzano, UPM;

Packaging category: Cascades, Korsnäs, Mondi, SCA Containerboard;

Tissue paper category: Arjowiggins Graphic, Metsä Tissue, Renova, SCA Tissue, Sofidel

WWF is encouraging companies to take part in the next index, which will be assessed in two year's time. For more information on this year's index, visit www.panda.org/PaperCompanyIndex