Cascades continues to raise the bar 

Montreal - Cascades, the Quebec-based manufacturer of packaging and tissue products, has pioneered the use of recycled fibres since it’s foundation in 1964. Today, environmental not-for-profit Canopy is acknowledging the company’s continued sustainability leadership as Cascades adopts a new sustainable procurement practice. 

Cascades states that the company: “Will not purchase fibres that come from old growth forests, forests in danger, or wooded areas that are home to rare or at-risk species and ecosystems. To do this, priority will be given to fibre suppliers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).”

"With its bold preferential focus on using post-consumer recycled fibre, commitment to FSC and the avoidance of contentious sources of fibre, Cascades is affirming that sustainability is a core value for the company,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s Executive Director.  “This proactive approach to reducing the environmental impacts of its raw fibre, combined with its continued track record of cutting edge eco-paper development place Cascades at the forefront of the pulp and paper industry." 

Cascades is also committing to work collaboratively with suppliers to ensure the company’s fibre needs are met within a set of strict ecological criteria.  Given the company’s total sales volume, international production and marketplace prominence, the procurement practices are globally significant. They send a clear message within the forest industry that responsible sourcing and efforts to advance forest conservation can be at the core of successful pulp and paper businesses – in fact it can be a defining feature.

Canopy has worked with Cascades over the years to advance solutions including the development of its very successful 100% post-consumer recycled paper to print the Canadian edition of Harry Potter in 2003-2005. In another major step forward in sustainable book publishing, Canopy and Cascades worked together again in 2011 to develop straw paper made from agricultural residues. The straw-based paper was used to print a special edition of Margaret Atwood’s book, In Other Worlds – a North American first. 

Cascade’s latest procurement initiative marks another step forward in Canopy’s ongoing cooperative work with industry to advance a secure future for ancient and endangered forests across Canada and globally.