Agricultural Fibres for Paper and Packaging

Next Gen Solutions as Sustainable Packaging Option

“It’s hard to get all people to change their behaviors, instead we focus our efforts on the few thousand people that make decisions on behalf of millions and billions of people and get them to make better choices.” – Valerie Langer

When Canopy’s Fibre Solutions Strategist, Valerie Langer, took the stage to deliver the keynote speech at the Sustainability Pack US conference in Chicago earlier this month, the audience was full and all ears were tuned in.

Valerie began by discussing the importance of responsible sourcing, conserving primary forests, what the future of the sector holds, and introducing Canopy’s work.

With nearly 25 years of helping companies ‘green’ their forest sourcing, Canopy is in a unique position to support key brand stakeholders in their uptake of robust sourcing policies with the intent of transitioning supply chains away from virgin fibre from Ancient and Endangered Forests towards smarter, low-carbon, low-impact Next Gen Solutions. All in a short, 30-minute talk.

The Future of Paper for Packaging 

Annually, 3.1 billion trees are felled for paper packaging, imperiling Ancient and Endangered Forests, biodiversity, and amplifying global carbon emissions. An astonishing 80% of global frontier forests, expansive and intact, have been irreversibly lost, intensifying concerns due to their irreplaceable nature, like their ability to capture and store carbon, provide habitats to countless animal species, and support the livelihoods of millions of people. 

In the decade ahead, Canopy’s efforts remain laser-focused on scaling circular solutions that use agricultural residue fibres like bamboo, bagasse, and cereal straws instead of virgin tree fibres from vital ecosystems. What’s most exciting is that many of these solutions already exist on the market today, to the tune of 11 million tonnes. 

Now is the time to strengthen demand, scale production, and support protection. Learn how you can help: Get Involved

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