Privacy Policy for Birch Fine Paper
1. Introduction
At Birch Fine Paper, accessible via birchfinepaper.com, we are firmly committed to safeguarding the privacy and personal information of our customers, users, and site visitors. We understand the importance of data protection and are dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the personal data we collect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other applicable data protection laws.
2. Scope of Policy and Data Controller Role
This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data collected through your interaction with birchfinepaper.com, including when you browse our website, create an account, engage with customer support, or make a purchase. Birch Fine Paper is the data controller as defined under GDPR and is responsible for the handling and safeguarding of personal data under this policy.
For inquiries regarding data protection, you may contact us at [email protected].
3. Categories of Data Processed
We collect and process various categories of personal data, including:
a. Usage Data
Includes information about how you use our website, such as your IP address, browser type, browsing patterns, time zone settings, referring URLs, and interaction data (pages visited, clickstream data, session durations).
b. Account Data
Includes your name, email address, telephone number, postal address, and any other information provided at account registration or checkout.
c. Profile Data
Includes your purchase history, saved items, preferences, behavior patterns, loyalty rewards, and marketing interactions.
d. Communication Data
Includes your correspondence with Birch Fine Paper, including customer support queries, feedback, and communication history via forms or emails.
e. Technical Data
Includes device identifier, operating system, technology configurations, screen resolution, and other metadata associated with how your device interacts with our site.
f. Transaction Data
Includes payment details (limited to non-sensitive identifiers as we use third-party processors), billing and delivery addresses, order confirmations, and fulfillment records.
g. Preference Data
Includes your preferences regarding marketing communications, product notifications, interests, and newsletter subscriptions.
We do not knowingly process sensitive personal data as defined under GDPR or CCPA.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
We process your personal data based on the following lawful grounds, where applicable:
– Performance of a Contract: Processing necessary for the execution or preparation of contractual agreements, such as fulfilling an order.
– Legitimate Interests: Processing in furtherance of our legitimate interests, such as improving website functionality, enhancing user experience, preventing fraud, or ensuring network security, provided such interests do not override individual rights.
– Consent: Where legally required for certain uses, including marketing messages and cookies, we rely on your clear, affirmative consent.
– Compliance with Legal Obligations: Processing necessary to comply with legal requirements, such as tax reporting and regulatory obligations.
5. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, particularly under GDPR and CCPA, you have the following rights in connection to your personal data:
– Right of Access: Receive details of the personal data we hold about you.
– Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
– Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request the deletion of data where no longer necessary or where consent is withdrawn.
– Right to Restrict Processing: Limit processing of your personal data under specific circumstances.
– Right to Data Portability: Receive a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and transmit it to another data controller.
– Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
– Right Not to Be Subject to Automated Decision-Making: We do not engage in automated decision-making that produces legal effects.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to verified requests in accordance with applicable law.
6. Security Measures
Birch Fine Paper employs appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include but are not limited to:
– Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for all data transmission.
– Role-based access controls and authentication protocols.
– Regular system backups and security audits.
– Staff training on data protection procedures and breach response.
While we take all reasonable precautions, no digital transmission method is 100% secure. Users should likewise ensure the security of their own devices and credentials.
7. International Transfers
Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your jurisdiction, including countries that may not offer the same level of data protection as your home country. In such cases, we ensure appropriate safeguards including the use of EU Standard Contractual Clauses, adequacy decisions by the European Commission, or equivalent legal mechanisms.
By using birchfinepaper.com, you acknowledge and consent to such international transfers of your information.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this policy or as required by law. Typical retention periods include:
– Account and Profile Data: active account duration plus 2 years.
– Transaction and Payment Data: 7 years (for compliance with financial regulations).
– Communication Logs: 3 years after final user contact.
– Usage and Technical Data: up to 2 years for analytics and diagnostic purposes.
– Preference Data: retained as long as consent is valid and not withdrawn.
Post-retention, your data will be securely deleted or anonymized.
9. Cookie Policy
birchfinepaper.com uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance site functionality, analyze navigation patterns, and improve user experience. Categories of cookies used include:
– Essential Cookies: Required for the core functionality of the website (e.g., shopping cart, account login).
– Functionality Cookies: Enable enhanced features like remembering user settings and personalized content.
– Performance and Analytics Cookies: Collect information on how users navigate the site to help us improve performance (e.g., Google Analytics).
– Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements based on your interests and browsing behavior.
For further details, please refer to our Cookie Notice available on our site.
10. Cookie Management and Legal Compliance
You may manage or withdraw your cookie consent at any time through our cookie preferences tool, accessible from our website footer. Most browsers also allow control over cookie behavior via settings. We comply with GDPR consent requirements in the EU and honor CCPA rights and “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” signals for California residents.
11. Protection of Children’s Privacy
birchfinepaper.com is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have incorrectly collected data from a child, please contact us at [email protected].
12. Policy Updates
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, technology, or our data processing practices. All revisions will be posted to birchfinepaper.com in this section. Significant changes to how we handle your personal data will be communicated to you directly via email or through our website, where required by law.
13. Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights, please reach out to our Privacy Team at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://birchfinepaper.com
We are committed to complying with applicable data protection laws and fostering transparent, respectful relationships with our users. We welcome your feedback and will promptly address any privacy-related concerns.