Q: How are the printers included in the Blueline Ranking chosen?
Printers assessed include the 20 largest printers by sales in Printing Impressions Top 400 (2018), that use paper substrates, in addition to printers that have a policy with Canopy and are listed in the Printing Impressions Top 400. Other printers ranked have requested to be ranked or one of our brand partners have requested their printers be ranked.
In the past we have ranked the top 30 printers listed in the Printing Impressions Top 400.
Q: What is the methodology behind The Blueline Ranking? How were printers assessed?
A: A list of leadership sustainability criteria was first developed in 2015, and then reviewed by printers who lead in these areas. Each year the criteria[i]are modified slightly and expanded upon to reflect current best practices within the print sector.
All assessments have been made based on information that was publicly posted on company websites in April or May 2019 or based on work done in collaboration with Canopy between April and September 2019.
A binary system of credit was applied with .2 to 5 points given for each criterion. For example, if a printer has a sustainability section on the company website, that is a yes = 1 point.
Canopy makes every effort to ensure that the information in the Blueline Ranking is up to date and accurately reflects printers’ sustainability reporting. We attempted to contact all printers being assessed prior to the ranking release, to give all printers the opportunity to update web content in order to maximize their score in this assessment. All printers for which we have contact details received a draft copy of their assessment to review and provide feedback and/or additional information. In the case of some printers, contact names and emails are not available. Given that printers are regularly implementing new sustainability initiatives, we recognize that this is a dynamic field. Therefore, if you notice any errors or omissions, or have updates, please contact us.
Q: What is the difference between the 2018 criteria and 2019 criteria?
A: Seven new criteria, representing 15 points have been added in 2019 to reflect industry best practices, including:
- Engaging supply chain based on ForestMapper (1 pt. for each 20% engaged), up to 5 points total
- Harmonizing purchased papers with ForestMapper (1 pt. for each 20% harmonized), up to 5 points total
- Publicly supporting creation of a science-based conservation planning process, and publicly advocating for the establishment of moratoria in priority ecosystems including but not limited to, rare ecosystem types and endangered species habitat, 1 point
- Asking paper mills to test North American sourced alternative fibrer pulp, 1 point
- Publicly reporting on percent use of recycled paper, 1 point
- Publicly reporting on 50 percent + use of recycled paper, 1 point
- Publicly reporting on percent use of FSC paper, 1 point
Canopy believes that it is important to reflect market changes and innovations in technology and science in the Blueline ranking, which is why these criteria have been added.
Q: What are elements that define a printer doing right by the world’s forests?
A: The elements that define leadership include: leading paper procurement policies focused on Ancient and Endangered Forest conservation[ii]; supporting ForestMapper; shifting the paper supply chain away from Ancient and Endangered Forests toward increased recycled and FSC content; and engagement on forest conservation initiatives in Landscapes of Hope, beyond legal compliance and tri-certification, as well as support for the development of “next generation” solutions such as papers with agricultural residue content. Canopy looks for specific, traceable commitments and actions by printers that contribute to demonstrable reductions in the impact of paper use on Ancient and Endangered Forest biodiversity and ecosystems.
Q: How can a printer improve their ranking?
A: Printers can develop leading paper procurement policies and work with Canopy or another credible environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO) on helping to advance forest conservation initiatives, shift the practices of their supply chain to be more sustainable and enhance their public reporting. Canopy is here to help. Contact us.
As a not-for-profit conservation organization, we do not charge a fee for our services. Our return on investment is forest conservation for the benefit of future generations, species and the climate.
Q: How can print customers support printers to become more sustainable?
A:
- Source leading eco-papers: Choose Ancient Forest Friendly and straw based papers from the Superior step of the Paper Steps as listed in the Ecopaper Database.
- Develop a policy: Ask your printer to work with Canopy or another credible ENGO to develop a paper procurement policy that is transparent and details their commitments to avoid sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests. Source recycled, agricultural residue or FSC® certified fibre-based papers from not only legal but also non-controversial sources.
- Reward the leaders and engage those who are slow to move: Printing is a service-based industry, so support printers that are best aligned with your company’s sustainability needs and business objectives and encourage those who aren’t to do so.
Q: Where does the North American printing sector source the majority of its paper?
A: Paper is a global commodity and the supply dynamics shift with the markets. Many printers’ preference is to source paper from North American manufacturers. Canada’s Boreal and Coastal Temperate Rainforests are key North American sourcing regions for pulp and paper that are most commonly being logged for the very first time. These forests represent critical Ancient and Endangered forests of global significance. In addition, pulp and paper is also routinely sourced from the US Southeast region, where there is a risk of converting rare natural ecosystems to plantations. Pulp and paper sourced from North American forestry operations generally meet legal requirements, however, it is not safe to assume that all North American sourced fibre is necessarily sustainable, certified to the highest standard (FSC®), or in compliance with the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of First Nations.
It is not uncommon for North American pulp to be derived from endangered or threatened species habitat and/or threatened forest ecosystems. These factors contribute to the need for paper buyers to ask questions about the papers they’re printing on, use Canopy’s Blueline Ranking as a tool to assess printers’ sustainability leadership, and work to ensure the paper chosen meets your company’s sustainability goals and objectives. Visit ForestMapper to learn more.
Q: How much paper is used in North America each year?
A: The FAO reports that more than 76 million tonnes of paper was consumed in North America in 2016 [v]. This volume of paper is estimated to have required more than 1.4 billion trees [vi]. In 2016, the United States both produced and consumed the majority of the global supply of pulp for paper [vii].
Q: Isn’t paper simply a by-product made from sawmill residue?
A: No. Paper is an integrated co-product of the forest products sector. The fibre used in paper production is generally a mix between pulp logs, which are logged for paper production and chipped specifically for that process and sawmill residue. Depending on market cycles, there are times when the price saw mills get for the chips (used in pulp production) is the sole factor that keeps saw mills in production. In 2016, Canada produced more than 23 million tonnes of newsprint, paper and paper board and wood pulp and realized almost $ 17 million CDN (approximately 12 million USD) in exports of pulp and paper products alone [viii], therefore it is prudent to investigate the forest of origin and the factors enumerated above. In many places, those trees come from Ancient and Endangered Forest ecosystems.
Ancient and Endangered Forests have developed unique and irreplaceable diversity that cannot be replaced by tree plantations, wood lots or managed forests that are continuously harvested and replanted. These forests have survived for thousands of years as intact, fully functioning ecosystems and while subject to fire (a natural part of ecosystem function), they are untouched by industrial development. Furthermore, intact forests such as the unlogged regions of the Boreal Forest in Canada and the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest are the traditional homelands of indigenous peoples; provide critical habitat to endangered species; retain significant capacity to store carbon and provide a reservoir of ecological, medicinal and tourism based economic value. Endangered species, once extinct, cannot be recovered and other forest related economic opportunities of the future cannot be forfeited for marginal profits today. When print customers, often unknowingly, use paper that comes from these forest hotspots they risk undermining their hard-earned sustainability reputation and contributing to significant global environmental issues of concern. Visit ForestMapper to see how Ancient and Endangered Forests are habit for threatened and endangered species and overlap with above and below ground carbon storage.
Q: Are there alternatives to paper made with Ancient and Endangered forest fiber?
A: Yes, printers can make sure they are not sourcing from Ancient and Endangered forests by choosing paper with maximized recycled content, and by supporting the development of papers made with agricultural residue content like wheat straw. To learn more visit: https://canopyplanet.org/campaigns/second-harvest/. And see the EcoPaper Database for a list of leading ecopapers
[i] To see the full list of criteria included, please see the legend at blueline.canopyplanet.org
[ii] Please visit https://canopyplanet.org/resources/elements-of-a-leading-policy/ to see all the elements of a leading policy.
[iii] National Geographic 2009, Time, InStyle, Backpacker and The US Book Industry carbon footprint studies: 48 – 79 % of the carbon footprint is attributed to paper production, while 4 – 17 % is attributed to printing.
[iv] Hemlock Printers 2012 GHG Report
[v] http://environmentalpaper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/StateOfTheGlobalPaperIndustry2018_FullReport-Final-1.pdf
[vi] Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Paper Network Paper Calculator Version 4.0. For more information visit www.papercalculator.org.Figures are based onGlobal consumption by paper category from Pulp and Paper International as reported in the State of the Global Paper Industry Report 2018: 55% packaging, 26% printing and writing, 8% sanitary, 7% newsprint, 4% other. All numbers are based on the 100% virgin paper except for packaging which had about 48% recycled content in 2015.
[vii] https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/statsprofile/trade/ca
[viii] https://www.statista.com/statistics/596788/key-data-on-the-paper-and-pulp-industry-in-canada/
