Canopy has launched an online survey to gather information that will help assess market interest in North America for papers made with agricultural residues.
Agricultural Residues such as Wheat Straw
"This study is the first of its kind in North America. Up until now, information about the market viability of non-wood paper has been anecdotal," says Neva Murtha, Second Harvest Campaigner with Canopy. "When done, we'll be able to translate demands for eco-paper into initiatives that help make straw papers a North American reality."
Straw Based Papers
Last year's successful trial of the Wheat Sheet issue of Canadian Geographic showed that non-wood papers pass the technical and quality requirements of the North American market. Also apparent during last year's trial was a significant level of interest by large paper consumers in agricultural residue paper alternatives such as the Wheat Sheet. With environmental concern on the rise, so is support for innovative business solutions that alleviate the stress on intact and endangered forests and the climate. Diversifying North America's paper fibre basket to include agricultural residues rather than carbon and species rich forests is one such solution that could also help ensure a secure supply of fibre for domestic producers.
Environmental Paper
This study is designed to help Canopy identify new and emerging opportunities for environmental paper. The survey will provide further information about what level of support exists for non-wood paper development in North America - a key element in new pulping capacity being developed in the US and Canada.
All survey input shall remain confidential and only used in aggregate numbers, unless otherwise approved by participating companies. Data collection will be targeted primarily at large paper consumers, such as publishers, printers, office retailers, and will capture data such as demand tonnage, priority grades, and how participants would like to engage in further stages of non-wood paper development.
To complete the survey about agricultural residue paper
For more information:
Canopy's work to build a market for agricultural residue papers, please visit their website.
For more information on the Wheat Sheet
CONTACT:
Neva Murtha, Second Harvest Campaigner
604-817-4974 | neva@canopyplanet.org
The US Department of Agriculture carries on extensive research about
wood -- how to grow it, how to engineer it to conserve it, and how to
protect it over the lifetime of the building or application -- and what
happens to the chemicals infused into the wood after the used wood is
discarded in landfills. The