Montreal - New Brand Will Feature Rainforest Alliance Certified Seal, Part of a Growing Push to Promote Forest Conservation, Environmentally Responsible Paper

To help promote forest conservation and environmental responsibility, Staples will launch a new brand of paper supplied by Domtar Corporation marking the first time the office products company's brand of paper carries the Rainforest Alliance Certified" Seal.

The new Domtar EarthChoice Office Paper by Staples, available to Staples Advantage and Staples.com customers in the U.S., will be manufactured by Domtar, whose EarthChoice(R) products are the broadest and most flexible collection of environmentally responsible papers available in the marketplace. Since its launch, more than a million tons of EarthChoice papers have been sold, all of which have been certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council" (FSC(R)) and are publicly supported by the Rainforest Alliance.

The Rainforest Alliance pioneered the concept of responsible forestry certification in 1989 and has since certified to FSC standards more than 65 million hectares (155 million acres) of forestland in 70 countries around the world. By encouraging better on-the-ground forestry practices, which benefit the environment and protect the rights and welfare of workers and their communities, the Rainforest Alliance helps meet the ever-increasing demand for responsibly harvested forest products.

"We are proud to expand our environmentally responsible portfolio to include paper that not only meets FSC standards but also is certified by the Rainforest Alliance," said Mark Buckley, Staples' Vice President of Sustainability. "We have a strong partnership with Domtar, and this is another example of how Domtar is helping Staples work toward our sustainability goals."

Domtar has previously earned the Staples Supplier Soul Award, which honors suppliers who help advance Staples' Soul by strengthening its four cornerstones - community, diversity, ethics and the environment. Part of the recognition stems from Domtar's environmental policies, its commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint, its responsible sourcing of fiber, and its work to promote credible forest certification.

"We work hard to keep the forests as forests," said Lewis Fix, Domtar's Vice-President of Brand Management and Sustainable Product Development. "Well-managed forests provide renewable resources, respect biodiversity and bring a wealth of socio-economic benefits to neighboring communities, including the potential for employment and recreational activities. Third-party certification is the best way to ensure that sound forest management practices are implemented and that all environmental and social aspects of forest use are considered."

"We are thrilled to continue our work with Staples and Domtar," said Tensie Whelan, President of the Rainforest Alliance. "Their commitments to FSC certification have helped the Rainforest Alliance work to ensure that thousands of acres of forests are responsibly managed. We're happy to see another product added to the EarthChoice line, making FSC certified paper more readily available to consumers."

Domtar EarthChoice Office Paper by Staples is a 20 lb., 92 brightness paper, ideal for everyday printing on inkjet and laser printers, and will feature ColorLok Technology. HP's ColorLok Technology provides for a better printing surface, delivering more vivid colors, bolder blacks and faster drying times when printing on inkjet printers, consistent imaging and a longer printer life for laser printers.