Vancouver-based Canopy works with publishers, printers and paper producers to grow awareness of their impact on the environment and make environmentally-friendly choices.  According to Rycroft, almost all paper products made in Canada come from ancient forests even though alternatives exist. Globally, the world is using 50 per cent of its old-growth forest to produce paper.

Through education, Canopy has galvanized change and support from 700 publishers including Canada’s The Globe and Mail and National Geographic. It’s biggest change initiative was greening the final Harry Potter book, which was printed on ancient forest friendly paper in 24 countries including the United States  — that alone prints 12 million copies.

It was only in 2001 that the first ancient forest friendly paper for books was produced — led by Canopy and Raincoast books (the Canadian Harry Potter publisher) —and Rycroft says its impact is astounding.

“It catalyzed this transformation within not only the paper industry but also the book publishing industry and demonstrated that there was strong market demand for environmental papers and that it was possible for publishers to actually catalyze a change in their supply chain,” she says. 

Now Canopy is focusing energy to develop what Rycroft refers to as the next systemic solution piece for the paper industry that could turn the tide on the loss of forest systems.

Called the Second Harvest campaign, Canopy is working with partners to develop paper made from flax straw, a byproduct of harvested grain. The straw, which is often burnt or disposed of by farmers, makes excellent paper with half the ecological footprint, says Rycroft.

"The volumes that we are aware of is that we could offset 400 million trees from being logged in North America every year by using straw to make paper as part of the fibre basket for paper production rather than continuing to rely exclusively on trees,” she says, adding straw paper could be produced at commercial scale within three to five years.

Based on past experience, Rycroft says she’s confident the paper and printing industry, when made aware of the alternative, will choose to make a difference.

“In my experience, some of the most powerful advocates for environmental change over the last 12 years have been business executives and people that work within institutions that have significant purchasing influence.”

Read article on Axiom News.