25.05.11 BS25999 Certification

Paramount Packaging is pleased to inform our customers that we have recently been awarded the BS25999 Business Continuity Standard.

 

This standard outlines the processes and procedures implemented by our company to ensure that we can continue to operate our essential activities in the event of a disruption.

It also establishes contingency plans to facilitate a swift return to normal operation, with as little disruption to our customers as possible.

BS25999 is a commitment to our customers that we value their business, their stock and their intellectual property.

Please see the BS25999 certificate on our front page. If you would like more information on how our achievement of this standard benefits you, our customer, please feel free to contact a member of our team.

We have also successfully passed our ISO 9001:2008 Quality Standard and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Standard audits, both of which have been re-certified.

Please find all three certificates here

24.05.10Paramount Packaging Ltd is pleased to announce its' association with the Grainger Sawmills’ sponsored Cork GAA site www.hoganstand.com/cork for 2010.

06/01/2010 - Possible Plastic Bag Levy Increase - Update

We have had extensive communication & a meeting with the Dept of Environment on this issue since September. In December we received clarification by letter as to the position. Accordingly we are happy to confirm to our customers & suppliers the key points as outlined to us by the Department.

 

1. The current legislation will not allow for the Minister to increase the levy beyond 22c.

 

2. Accordingly new legislation has to be introduced which the Green Party are pressing to include in a New Environmental Bill which is now expected before the Dail around mid 2010.

 

3. The legislation will allow for the maximum to be increased but does not increase the levy itself.

 

4. The Minister can, once this legislation is enacted increase the bag levy by ministerial order, without further recourse to legislation BUT can only do so in line with the consumer price index and regard to the consumption of plastic bags. With current deflation it is unlikely that the Minister will be in a position to increase the tax in the short to medium term.

 

5. The Department commissioned a report in 2008 on this subject & the findings & recommendations of that report will be used to frame & implement the new legislation. This report can be viewed on the web at: www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/Environment/Waste/WasteManagement/FileDownLoad,21599,en.pdf

 

6. The minister may set the maximum levy at 44c or even higher – However this is only a maximum figure & the levy can only reach this level by way of multiple increases over a number of years. We estimate between 5 & 10 years based on the formula to be employed- Namely

A) The minister can only increase the levy if suitable economic circumstances prevail – In other words he should not do it in the current economic climate.

B) In any one year he may increase the levy by (& neither should it be increased every year) the equivalent of the current CPI plus a maximum of up to 10% of the base levy in that year.

C) So if we take a view that CPI for 2010 may be 2% the maximum the levy can be increased to in 2010 would be 22c + 2% = 22.44c (plus 10% of the base levy of 22c = 2.2c ) – so the most the levy can increase to in 2010 is 25c ( rounded to the nearest cent).

D) Even if CPI ran at 4% (unlikely) and the Minister increased the levy every 2^nd year it would take 5 years for the levy to reach 35c/

 

7. We have also received assurances that any increase in the levy whatever the size will be flagged up well in advance of any implementation date & advertised to allow both suppliers and retailers adjust their stocks to take account of any proposed increase in the levy.

 

Hopefully this information will allay any fears of an imminent or drastic increase in the levy.

We would like to thank the personnel of the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government in Wexford who met with us & gave us an in depth clarification & briefing on this important issue in particular Mr William Culbert & Marguerite Ryan .

We would also like to thank all those who helped us in securing a response and clarification from the Minister - in particular Senator Liam Twomey & Paul Kehoe TD who posed a Dail question on the issue. Also the Departments Press Office who provided important clarification on the matter in the early stages.

6.1.2010
The team at Paramount Packaging would like to thank you for your custom in 2009.
Instead of Christmas gifts this year, we have made a donation to two charities, we have chosen St Vincent de Paul and Barretstown camp for children.
Best wishes to everyone for 2010.

Possible Plastic Bag Levy Increase - 20/11/09

Understandably great concern exists in the retail sector & the packaging supply sector due to a news item on national radio on 24th September regarding a possible increase in the Bag Levy. We have been in contact with the Dept of Environment, The Green Party & various Td's & Senators regarding this and would like to keep our customers up to date as to the current position.

1. The " Press Release" on the morning of Thursday 24th September was apparently not a press release but a report based on what Minister ( John Gormley ) had said at conference the night before. It seems there was quite a bit of political spin put into his comments there and the impression was given that an increase to 44c was imminent.

2. The current legislation will not allow for the Minister to increase the levy beyond 22c.

3. Accordingly new legislation has to be introduced which the Green Party are pressing to include in a New Environmental Bill which is expected before the Dail by the end of the year or in early 2010 ( more likely 2010 )

4. It is the Ministers intention for this legislation to allow for the levy to be increased to a maximum of 44c but:

     (a) The maximum may be set lower - this is still to be debated in the Dail.

     (b) The legislation only allows for the maximum to be increased but does not increase the levy itself.

5. The Minister can, once this legislation is enacted increase the bag levy by ministerial order, without further recourse to legislation BUT can only do so in line with the consumer price index and regard to the consumption of plastic bags. With current deflation it is unlikely that the Minister will be in a position to increase the tax in the short to medium term & even if he can we have been given assurances by the Minister's office that the increases will be more than likely be in the region of maximum 5c.

6. We have also had extensive discussion and email discussion with the Ministers Office a& The Depts Press Office and have received assurances that any increase in the levy whatever the size will be flagged up well in advance of any implementation date to allow both suppliers and retailers adjust their stocks to take account of any proposed increase in the levy.

Hopefully this information will allay any fears of an imminent or drastic increase in the levy.

We would like to thank all those who helped us in securing a response and clarification from the Minister - in particular Senator Liam Twomey & Paul Kehoe TD who posed a Dail question on the issue. Also the Departments Press Office who provided important clarification on the matter.

Watch this space & we will keep you posted of any further developments. 

The team at Paramount would like to say thank you to all who visited the stand at the Ploughing Championship and look forward to discussing business with you again in the near future.

20.09.2009

Paramount Packaging will be exhibiting at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Kildare from 22nd to 24th September 2009. Packaging will be available to be purchased by other exhibitors and members of the Paramount team will be available to discuss your commercial and industrial packaging needs. Please visit the Paramount team at Stand 681, Row S.