RAINCOAST IS ANCIENT FOREST FRIENDLY

Visit www.raincoast.com/ancientforestfriendly for the full details of Raincoast’s commitment to being ancient forest friendly.
PLEASE NOTE: Raincoast cannot endorse or promote the sale of our books in a market where we do not hold copyright.
 

Canadian editions of Harry Potter
In 2003, Raincoast Books printed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 100% post-consumer recycled, processed chlorine free paper and fibre.

Raincoast Books is proud to announce that it has won the 2003 Ethics in Action Award for its commitment to the responsible purchasing and consumption of paper products.

This award also recognizes Raincoast’s three years of ecologically responsible paper use in its daily operations and in the printing of other published books. Raincoast Publisher, Michelle Benjamin says, “We’re thrilled by this award, and we proudly share the honour with Markets Initiative—the force behind the green-paper movement in Canada—and the other Canadian publishers who have been able to support the goals of this campaign. We’ll continue to work with our suppliers and with our colleagues in the Canadian industry to limit our negative impact on the environment, and we’ll continue to share our experience and goals with publishers worldwide.

To see the list of 2003 titles Raincoast printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, visit the Markets Initiative’s website, or read the detailed information regarding Harry Potter below.

“The forest at Hogwarts is home to magical creatures like unicorns and centaurs. Because the Canadian editions are printed on Ancient Forest Friendly paper, the Harry Potter books are helping to save magnificent forests in the muggle world, the home of magical animals such as orangutans, wolves and bears. It is a good idea to respect ancient trees, especially if they have a temper like the Whomping Willow.” — J. K. Rowling

By printing the first edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on ancient forest friendly paper, Raincoast Books is minimizing its impacts on the environment and helping safeguard biodiversity and the world’s ancient and endangered forests.

Using 1,500,300 kilograms of 100% post-consumer recycled, processed chlorine free paper and fibre instead of virgin fibre means that Raincoast Books is making the following ecological savings:

The above ecological savings are based on research conducted by Environmental Defense Fund and other members of the Paper Task Force.

For more information on Canadian publishers committed to eliminating ancient forest fibres from their books, please visit the Markets Initiative website.

Fans from around the world thanked us for printing on 100% post-consumer, ancient-forest friendly paper:

“Three cheers to Raincoast for having the guts to print what will clearly be one of the biggest selling books ever, Order of the Phoenix, on 100% post-consumer paper! You make me proud to be a Canadian!” —Melody, Mississauga, Ontario

“As someone who is buying 3 Harry Potter Vs, I congratulate you on your choice of using recycled paper for that publication. I expected nothing less, actually. It reflects very highly on Canadians when the world knows the good things that go on here. When Saturday Night Live quipped that due to the large presale of The Order of the Phoenix, the next book would be titled, Harry Potter and the End of Trees, there was a dark truth to the humour. Thanks for doing your part for the environment.”
—Barbara, Edmonton, Alberta

“I just wanted to praise you for using recycled paper to print your books. According to your web site, all your books will be printed that way starting next year, and I cannot think of a better idea that protects our planet and saves trees and beautiful forests.” —Juliette

“As an avid HP fan, environmental activist, ‘book nut’ and parent, I wanted to congratulate Raincoast on its decision to use 100% recycled paper for the next book in the HP series. I’m proud to be buying your edition of the book and look forward to similar decisions by other publishing houses in the future. You should be very proud about leading the way.” —David, Waterloo, Ontario

ANCIENT FOREST FRIENDLY FACTS AND INFO

What does Ancient Forest Friendly Mean?
Ancient or Old Growth Forests refer to forest areas that are relatively undisturbed by human industrial activity. They vary significantly in age and structure from forest type to forest type and from one biogeoclimatic zone to another. Ancient forests are generally characterized by the following features:

- a multi-layered canopy with many openings and a patchy under-storey
- natural regeneration of trees
- dominated by indigenous tree species
- widely varying tree size, age and spacing
- frequent accumulations of dead standing trees (snags) and fallen trees — much more so than in younger forests
- contain trees that are large for the combination of species and site characteristics

Ancient Forest Friendly means that the books are printed on paper that is Ancient Forest Fibre Free, i.e., the paper does not contain any materials from trees of ancient/old growth forests.

What is Raincoast Books’ commitment to using ancient-forest friendly paper?
Raincoast Books has phased out the use of ancient forest products in all text-only publications. In August 1, 2001 Raincoast identified the products we utilize that contain wood fibre. We contacted our suppliers and printers and conducted an audit of these products to determine what fibres they contain and where they originate. We continue to give purchasing preferences to reclaimed or post-consumer recycled products, products from second growth forests which have been independently certified according to strict ecological criteria, and products derived from agricultural waste fibre. We also give purchasing preference to chlorine-free products.

Why is Raincoast printing on ancient-forest friendly paper?
Raincoast Books is printing on ancient-forest friendly paper in recognition of the need to protect the world’s ancient forests. Raincoast is committed to working with our partners and colleagues in the publishing industry to ensure that these practices and philosophies are adopted as widely as possible.

Have we passed this cost onto the consumer?
Raincoast does not pass this cost on to the consumer because printing on ancient-forest friendly paper is a company policy, not a choice made by the consumer.

Want more information about Canadian publishers’ commitment to eliminating ancient forest fibres from their books?
More information on old growth forests and Canadian publishers’ initiatives can be found on the Markets Initiative website.