There are many ways that individuals and corporations can get involved to move the global economy away from wood and paper products that have adverse social and environmental impacts. As a rule of thumb, only buy what you need, and if you can't buy certified or recycled products please don't choose species that are most at risk. Contact Rainforest Alliance for more information.
Consume Responsibly
Buy Good Wood and Paper
There is a growing supply of good wood and paper products; here are some resources that can help you in your search for the ethically right product.
ForestEthics
ForestEthics is dedicated to protecting forests by redirecting US markets towards ecologically sound alternatives. This site can direct your company to many economically competitive alternatives to endangered forest and non-recycled paper products.
Forest Stewardship Council
You can purchase paper products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Forest Stewardship Council certification The FSC has an online database that lists all companies that abide by its ecologically responsible principles. FSC has also released a new website geared towards helping the building industry buy green. Check it out.
Conservatree
Conservatree is a nonprofit catalyst and advocate for ecologically sustainable paper markets, combining environmental commitment with paper industry and technical savvy. Conservatree provides practical tools and realistic strategies, such as consulting, for institutionss to successfully convert to environmentally sound systems.
US Green Building Council
Developers of the LEED green building rating system, the US Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. The US Green Building Council has an extensive resource list for institutions who want to build in a responsible manner.
Natural Resources Defense Council
NRDC has a “Building Green: From Principle to Practice website” – an online resource created by leading environmental group guides building professionals through green building process, from putting together a business case to design, construction and marketing.
Greenpeace Canada
If you’re looking for alternative tissue paper sources please look at Greenpeace’s guide to ancient forest friendly tissue products.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Exploding levels of wood and paper consumption in the developing world are driving global deforestation. A mere 22 percent of the world’s population—those living in the United States, Europe and Japan – consume more than half of the world’s timber and nearly three-quarters of the world’s paper.
In order for our last remaining endangered forests to be saved, it’s critical that we stop advocating for increased consumption, but rather advocate for cooperation, sharing and a reduction in usage.
There are many guide books and organizations that specialize in helping businesses implement reduction techniques and strategies that reduce the overall quantity of wood and paper purchased, as well as increase the amount of wood and paper that is recycled.
Coop America
Coop America offers practical steps for using your consumer and investor power for social change. Co-op America’s Wood Wise Program works to preserve forests by reducing the demand for wood products and promoting sustainable alternatives. Click here for a link to their wood wise consumer guide.
Resource Conservation Alliance
The Resource Conservation Alliance provides consumers and businesses with tips on how they can reduce their demand for wood and paper products.
EPA Wastewise
Wastewise is a free, voluntary, EPA program helping U.S. organizations reduce and eliminate their production of costly municipal solid waste, which includes the production of wood and paper waste, benefiting the bottom line and the environment.
Forest Stewardship Council Certification
Similar to the Organic label to the food industry, Forest Stewardship Council certification standards provide for independent third-party certification to ensure strong protection of forest ecosystems, the general welfare, right to unionize and accrue financial benefits for all employees and contractors, and the recognition of the right of indigenous peoples to full, free and prior informed consent on activities that take place on their traditional territory.
The FSC Canada National Boreal Standard requires that:
- 3.1 Indigenous peoples shall control forest management on their lands and territories unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies.
- 3.2 Forest management shall not threaten or diminish, either directly or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Over 400 companies, including Home Depot, Lowe's and FedExKinkos, as well as some of the world’s largest financial institutions, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase have profited by adopting environmentally ethical policies that ban the purchase of endangered wood. In 2005, Random House UK announced they were Weyerhaeuser is losing its competitive edge by refusing to embrace 21st century ethical business values.
Make sure to look for the FSC label when you’re shopping for wood and paper products.
