Canopy of Vancouver, BC, has launched its updated Ecopaper Database, described by the non-profit organization as the Holy Grail of directories for North America’s Best Environmental Papers. The 2017 iteration of this online resource features more than 450 printing and writing grade papers, office stationery products and packaging with high recycled, agricultural residue/alternative or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) fiber content.
All of these papers are available in North America, including nearly 60 products made with straw that is left over from the food grain harvest or other alternative fibers. The database is supported by the Environmental Paper Network.
“Not all ecopapers are created equal when it comes to their environmental benefits. Canopy’s Ecopaper Database helps customers discern which papers have the smallest impact on our forests and climate,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s Founder and Executive Director. “It’s a go-to for busy executives looking for the best ecopapers on the market – be it for their next annual report, copy paper or packaging.”
Canopy developed the directory more than a decade ago and has been regularly updating it ever since. The 2017 Ecopaper Database focuses on category leaders, including those products in each paper grade with the highest recycled or agricultural residue contents, rather than listing every paper with any recycled content.
Over the past decade there has been a substantial increase in the availability of environmental papers, explains Canopy, spurred on by growing demand and expectations from green-savvy customer companies. One hundred percent post-consumer recycled papers receive top rankings as leading life cycle analysis reports continue to show that 100 percent recycled papers have a significantly smaller footprint than papers with virgin content.
“There are now so many papers with some environmental qualities on the market that the Ecopaper Database can increasingly focus on those products that offer paper customers the greatest gains towards their sustainability goals and minimizing their carbon footprint,” said Neva Murtha, Senior Corporate Campaigner. “These products also offer the least risk of being sourced from ancient and endangered forests.”
The 2017 Eco Paper Database also now features links to what Canopy bills as robust procurement policies posted by select mills with commitments to not source from ancient and endangered or high conservation value forests.
Also new in 2017 are 222 papers which are designated Ancient Forest Friendly by Canopy. Publishers, printers and brands using these papers may be able to use the AFF logo on these papers pending an agreement with Canopy. The new data also includes links to leading LCA’s done by paper companies in conjunction with environmental organizations, which are more comprehensive than usual industry analysis.
The searchable Ecopaper Database includes book, magazine and newspaper grade papers, as well as copy papers, commercial printing papers, tissue, office products stationery, fine-text-writing papers, packaging, board, and now molded food service containers. All papers listed in the database have been screened according to The Paper Steps, a paper-grading tool developed by members of the Environmental Paper Network.
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