VANCOUVER, June 5 - When the fifth Harry Potter book is released in Canada on June 21 by Raincoast Books, the Canadian edition will have a unique endorsement from author, J.K. Rowling. The Canadian Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be the only edition globally to be printed, with Rowling's blessing, on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free. Rowling says, "Because the Canadian editions are printed on Ancient- Forest Friendly paper, the Harry Potter books are helping to save magnificent forests in the muggle world." This initiative is an expression of Raincoast Books' commitment to use its core business operations to help preserve the world's ancient and endangered forests. Both the unusually large print run and the enormous popularity of Harry Potter will provide momentum to a growing market demand for ecologically sensitive papers. "As a book publisher we consume an enormous amount of paper," says Raincoast President, Allan MacDougall. "We can make a big difference by working with our suppliers to develop papers that have the lowest environmental impact possible." Raincoast is the first and only of the 55 Harry Potter publishers worldwide to print on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Although the initiative increases Raincoast's production costs, this expense is not being passed on to consumers. The 768-page book is priced in accordance with the worldwide market. Raincoast is printing 915,000 books for children, plus 20,000 of an adult edition. The paper for this edition is supplied by New Leaf Paper of San Francisco. At the time of the order Canadian paper suppliers were not equipped to produce 100% post-consumer recycled paper for a print run of this size. However, Cascades Fine Papers Group of Quebec has developed a new 100% post- consumer recycled paper which will be used by Raincoast for some of its Fall 2003 titles. In 2001, with the support of environmental organization Markets Initiative, Raincoast was one of the first Canadian book publishers to commit to implementing policies that facilitate the meaningful conservation of ancient and endangered forests globally. Thirty-five Canadian publishers have now made similar commitments. Nicole Rycroft, campaigns director at Markets Initiative, says, "Over the past two and a half years Canadian publishers have made dramatic steps to help safeguard the world's ancient and endangered forests. By printing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Ancient- Forest Friendly paper Raincoast is not only saving 29,000 trees, they are providing significant momentum to the transformation of this industry."