New Year, New Beginnings

Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year when we’re all hearing lots of talk about New Year’s resolutions.

Whether we keep these resolutions and fulfill our commitments or find them more challenging than expected, it is still a good idea to assess our habits, decisions and practices, and ask how we can bring about the most positive and widespread benefit to our world. We all want our legacy to tip the scales to the good.

Canopy asked a few of our wonderful print sector partners what their New Year’s sustainability resolutions might be. What could leaders in the printing industry do in this coming year to make a meaningful contribution to the future of ancient and endangered forests? How could businesses stay strong and healthy while reducing their impact on endangered species habitat, rare forest ecosystems and forest-dependent communities?

Your peers’ responses are inspiring.

At The Printing House, Scott Dillon, director, business development said, “We were excited and inspired by the role forest product customers played in creating the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements. It’s incredible that a landscape of stunningly beautiful ancient forests the size of Switzerland can be set aside and protected for future generations while responsible logging in select areas of the region continues to provide customers with the fiber they need. We want to be part of the next conservation legacy and we’re committed to working with Canopy and other credible groups to make that happen.”

David Podmayersky, chief sustainability officer at EarthColor, also noted, "We’re determined to nurture the growth of alternative fibers so we can use more in our products. Paper made from straw is a proven technology. We want to see it brought to commercial scale and will be doing what we can to encourage the development of full-scale agricultural residue production facilities. 2017 can be the start of a bold new world for pulp and paper and we want to be part of that!”

We can liken these resolutions to joining a running club for the New Year. There is strength in purpose that comes with explicitly articulating goals for the coming year. It acts as a touchstone for us throughout the year. Others’ resolutions inspire us to keep up the pace and work that goes into building a more sustainable paper supply chain. We know it’s not a sprint and that we have a better chance of going the distance when we work together, with eyes on the prize of credibility and enhanced customer loyalty.

You can help set the pace by resolving to increase transparency and provide more information to customers on where the fiber for your papers is sourced, and on the steps being taken to reduce a report or marketing brochure’s carbon and forest footprint. This helps your valued customers meet their own corporate sustainability goals. Posting information publicly on web sites enables current and potential clients to see at a glance that your company is walking (or in this instance, running) the talk on responsible sourcing.

Here at Canopy, we’re making commitments, too. We’re committing to deepen our understanding of the challenging economic conditions facing the print sector and developing solutions that increase business certainty. We’re looking at ways we can build increasingly positive relationships with business partners and offer more support to help them meet their sustainability goals. And, of course, we’re resolving that in 2017, with your help and that of other global business partners, we will be part of enabling meaningful conservation of the world’s most endangered forests.

The whole Canopy team hopes you had a joyful holiday and wish you and yours the very best in 2017! Let us know what your resolutions are for this next spin around the sun!