Clean Power from the Finnish Forests

Graphic Dimensions has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “We have observed the great work that Two Sides has accomplished for many years. We are excited to become a member of this organization. The knowledge base that they have amassed and continue to provide is very impressive. Being that we are dedicated to the growth of the print industry our association with this organization is a perfect fit,” said Bill Reid – Graphic Dimensions VP of Sales and Marketing.

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) embraces third party certification and participated in FSC’s consultation process which was used to develop the new requirements. Today’s announcement marks the end of FSC’s multi-year consultation process with a number of key partners. “Canada’s forest product companies comply with hundreds of federal and provincial laws and regulations every day. We are among the most strictly regulated forestry sectors in the world,” noted FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “Even though third party certification is voluntary in Canada, 100% of FPAC’s member operations are certified by FSC, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). This support of independent certification systems is another reason why Canada is known as a world leader in sustainable forest management. We and all Canadians can take great pride in that,” he added. The FSC standard is one of three voluntary programs used in Canada that has been endorsed by Canada’s Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM), all of which set high environmental, social, and economic thresholds for sustainable forest management. In the coming days, FPAC will be working with its members to review FSC’s new forest management requirements, as well as the changes taking place related to FSC chain-of-custody certification. Significant changes are expected between July and December, which will add to the complex transition that FSC users in Canada are embarking on.

Sappi joins the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and in honouring the theme of climate action. This theme is particularly apt in view of reports from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicating that last decade was the hottest on record. Globally we see and feel the negative impacts of this in the form of sea level rise, species decline and more frequent extreme weather events including longer, more intense heat waves. Given that Sappi’s business is based on a natural resource – woodfibre – we are acutely aware of how dependent we are on the Planet and how important it is to help maintain ecological balance and join in taking concerted actions to mitigate the effects of climate change. We celebrate the fact that the forests and plantations from which we source woodfibre help mitigate global warming by acting as carbon sinks and that responsible harvesting of this renewable resource is balanced with regeneration and regrowth, thereby perpetuating the carbon cycle.