Rolland Paper Mill Sets Eco-Precedent For Forest Conservation

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Press release from the issuing company

St-Jérôme, Vancouver - Rolland Enterprises Inc., the Canadian-based producer of fine recycled paper, is today announcing its commitment to advance the protection of endangered forests, engage in R&D of alternatives to tree fibre and avoid all controversial forest fibre sources. With this policy, developed in cooperation with international environmental not-for-profit Canopy, Rolland sets a new standard for the North American paper industry.

"Rolland has a track record of setting the pace for ecopaper development and post-consumer recycling," said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy's Executive Director. "By expanding their vision to avoid controversial fibre and sourcing from endangered forests such as the Boreal, Rolland stands out as a sustainability leader at the vanguard of change in the North American pulp and paper industry."

The company's new policy commits to:

End the use of wood fibre sourced from endangered forests and controversial suppliers;
Avoid fibre sourced from Intact Forest Landscapes, such as the intact forests of the Boreal;
Play an active role in the research, development and commercial scale production of pulp and paper from alternative fibre sources such as straw;
Support visionary solutions that protect endangered forests in the Coastal Temperate Rainforests of Vancouver Island and North America's Great Bear Rainforest, Canada's Boreal Forests, and Indonesia's Rainforests;
Continue producing papers with 30-100% post-consumer waste recycled content.

"These commitments are an integral part of Rolland's plans to remain a competitive player in the challenging North American paper industry", said Rolland CEO, Philip C. Rundle. "Rolland is excited to remain at the forefront of meeting customers' growing needs for sustainable products into the future."

Canopy has worked closely with Rolland's St-Jérôme mill over the past 13 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 and 2005. In 2011, Canopy and Rolland again collaborated in another ground-breaking initiative - the production of straw paper made from agricultural residues. This limited edition paper was used to print a special edition of Margaret Atwood's book, In Other Worlds, and Alice Munro's, Dear Life. It was a North American first!

Canopy's collaborative work with companies such as Rolland helps advance solutions for businesses reliant on forest products while simultaneously securing a brighter future for ancient and endangered forests and the species and communities dependent on them.