International competition together with the decrease in paper
consumption has led to the closure of several North American
paper mills. In Canada, there are no longer any coated fine
paper manufacturers.
Further, while demand for recycled paper is growing, the export
of recycled fibre is rapidly expanding. Did you know that some
of the discarded paper that we put in our recycled bin in Canada
is exported to foreign countries such as China? This material is
then used to manufacture new papers that will be sold all
around the world.
A product’s environmental impact is not the same when it
travels halfway across the world. Its transport requires the
use of fuel sourced from non-renewable resources, thereby
generating greenhouse gas emissions. Purchasing from
a Canadian manufacturer stimulates the economy and
local employment while minimizing air emissions.
Excerpt from the Green by Nature newsletter by the Cascades Fine Papers Group, via JB Printing.
