EcoPlanet Bamboo signs Ancient Forest Friendly Policy with Canopy and commits to develop eco-appropriate sourcing for fabrics
Published:
by: Tim Lukian
- CanopyStyle
- Media release
Vancouver, October 15, 2014: Canopy is pleased today to announce that innovative leader EcoPlanet Bamboo has committed to a sourcing policy designed to offer a more sustainable option for clothing brands seeking alternatives to ancient and endangered forest fibres.
This marks a shift for Canopy, whose traditional focus has been on users and producers of forest products such as pulp and paper. In contrast, EcoPlanet Bamboo is not harvesting or using trees but is the largest global developer of certified bamboo plantations on degraded lands.
Over the past year Canopy has expanded on its successful work with customers of the pulp and paper sectors. Through the Fashion Loved by Forest initiative, the not-for-profit organization is now partnering with clothing brands and designers to end the use of ancient and endangered forests in rayon and viscose textiles and assess the potential of bamboo and other fibres as low footprint alternatives. As verified by a recent Kimberly Clark Life Cycle Analysis, bamboo grown on degraded agricultural and forest lands that are managed under Forest Stewardship Council criteria can have a lower ecological impact than fibre from the Boreal forests.
“We are excited about EcoPlanet Bamboo’s interest in innovation, and the opportunities for the clean manufacturing of sustainably grown bamboo as an alternative to rayon or viscose made from ancient and endangered forests,” said Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director of Canopy.
Similar to any productive crop, bamboo can be grown sustainably or unsustainably. Canopy and EcoPlanet Bamboo’s policy agreement solidifies an understanding that bamboo should never be industrialized under the context of conversion of natural forest ecosystems to bamboo plantations.
“EcoPlanet Bamboo is committed to investing in the development of a new generation pulping facility to address current issues along the supply chain, from feedstock sourcing through to the first stages of manufacturing,” said Troy Wiseman, CEO & Co-Founder of EcoPlanet Bamboo.
Whether derived from tree fibre or bamboo, dissolving pulp is a chemically-intensive and inefficient process. Acknowledging this reality, EcoPlanet Bamboo is committed to research and development into cutting-edge technology that may provide a more efficient and cleaner alternative to existing pulping methods.
Seventy to one hundred million trees are felled every year to produce textiles with approximately 30% originating from ancient and endangered forests. Canopy and our partners are committed to reducing the impact of the fashion and dissolving pulp industries on the world’s threatened forests. EcoPlanet Bamboo’s fibre, combined with advances in more sustainable manufacturing technology, may provide companies with one of the solutions needed to diversify the fibre basket and ensure healthy forests into the future. For more information contact : Neva Murtha at 604-817-4974 or neva@canopyplanet.org Canopy is a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species and climate. Canopy collaborates with more than 700 companies to develop innovative solutions, make their supply chains more sustainable and help protect our world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests. Canopy’s partners include H&M, Sprint, Penguin/Random House, Zara, TC Transcontinental, The Globe and Mail and Scholastic. Canopy’s work relies on the support of individual donors who share our passion for the planet.
This marks a shift for Canopy, whose traditional focus has been on users and producers of forest products such as pulp and paper. In contrast, EcoPlanet Bamboo is not harvesting or using trees but is the largest global developer of certified bamboo plantations on degraded lands.
Over the past year Canopy has expanded on its successful work with customers of the pulp and paper sectors. Through the Fashion Loved by Forest initiative, the not-for-profit organization is now partnering with clothing brands and designers to end the use of ancient and endangered forests in rayon and viscose textiles and assess the potential of bamboo and other fibres as low footprint alternatives. As verified by a recent Kimberly Clark Life Cycle Analysis, bamboo grown on degraded agricultural and forest lands that are managed under Forest Stewardship Council criteria can have a lower ecological impact than fibre from the Boreal forests.
“We are excited about EcoPlanet Bamboo’s interest in innovation, and the opportunities for the clean manufacturing of sustainably grown bamboo as an alternative to rayon or viscose made from ancient and endangered forests,” said Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director of Canopy.
Similar to any productive crop, bamboo can be grown sustainably or unsustainably. Canopy and EcoPlanet Bamboo’s policy agreement solidifies an understanding that bamboo should never be industrialized under the context of conversion of natural forest ecosystems to bamboo plantations.
“EcoPlanet Bamboo is committed to investing in the development of a new generation pulping facility to address current issues along the supply chain, from feedstock sourcing through to the first stages of manufacturing,” said Troy Wiseman, CEO & Co-Founder of EcoPlanet Bamboo.
Whether derived from tree fibre or bamboo, dissolving pulp is a chemically-intensive and inefficient process. Acknowledging this reality, EcoPlanet Bamboo is committed to research and development into cutting-edge technology that may provide a more efficient and cleaner alternative to existing pulping methods.
Seventy to one hundred million trees are felled every year to produce textiles with approximately 30% originating from ancient and endangered forests. Canopy and our partners are committed to reducing the impact of the fashion and dissolving pulp industries on the world’s threatened forests. EcoPlanet Bamboo’s fibre, combined with advances in more sustainable manufacturing technology, may provide companies with one of the solutions needed to diversify the fibre basket and ensure healthy forests into the future. For more information contact : Neva Murtha at 604-817-4974 or neva@canopyplanet.org Canopy is a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species and climate. Canopy collaborates with more than 700 companies to develop innovative solutions, make their supply chains more sustainable and help protect our world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests. Canopy’s partners include H&M, Sprint, Penguin/Random House, Zara, TC Transcontinental, The Globe and Mail and Scholastic. Canopy’s work relies on the support of individual donors who share our passion for the planet.
