The paper merchant is formalising its social, environmental and economic initiatives to measure how successfully the company is managing each area.

Alistair Gough, managing director of PaperCo and chair of the CR committee, said the firm had been working with "key clients to deliver against their own CR policies, particularly the environmental aspects".

He added the strategy would allow PaperCo to "further develop our own CR initiatives" and to position the firm for future audits on the social, environmental and economic elements of the operation.

As part of the development, Veronica Heaven will take on strategic development of CR and environmental affairs, while the firm's group supply director Chris Grice heads up the environmental policy group.

The FSC- and PEFC-certified merchant recently raised the green credentials of its 9lives coated recycled paper by moving production from the Burgo Group to Arjowiggins.

Through its DeliveryCo operation, which initiated a vehicle routing system to improve vehicle use, the firm has claimed to have cut carbon emissions by more than 200 tonnes a year.