Groups Sue to Stop GE Trees Release in Southern United States

July 2, 2010 - The Paper Planet 1 In approving the GE eucalyptus permits, the Department of Agriculture ignored the concerns of numerous agencies and scientists, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, which formally criticized the proposed open field tests of these genetically engineered trees. “In refusing to prepare a detailed environmental review, the Department of Agriculture ignored serious risks before permitting this action,” said Marc Fink, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.

Recycled Paper Cuts Water Use
June 22, 2010 - Green Futures 1 “If you start with an ‘urban forest’”, says Gilles L’Hermitte, Sustainability Development Manager at paper manufacturers Arjowiggins Graphic, “you’ll need much less water to turn old pulp into new paper than if you start with a tree.” Arjowiggins Graphic estimates that their mills use up to 47% less water for paper from de-inked pulp than from virgin sources. And, they claim, because the recycled pulp has to be cleaned so many times to rid it of all the ink, it comes out even whiter than the virgin page. Green Futures, which is printed on 100% recycled stock, should be visible proof.

CEO Survey: Sustainability Critical to Future Success

June 23, 2010 - SustainableBusiness.com | An overwhelming majority of corporate CEOs--93%--say that sustainability will be critical to the future success of their companies, in spite of the recent economic downturn. Furthermore, CEOs believe that, within a decade, a tipping point could be reached that fully meshes sustainability with core business.

Saving tropical forests helps protects U.S. agriculture

June 18, 2010 - MongaBay | Reducing deforestation abroad helps protect the U.S. agricultural sector by ensuring higher prices for commodities and reducing the cost of compliance with expected climate regulations, argues a new report issued by Avoided Deforestation Partners, a group pushing for the inclusion of tropical forests in domestic climate policy, and the National Farmers Union, a farming lobby group.

Incidence of Malaria Jumps When Amazon Forests Are Cut

June 17, 2010 - ScienceDaily | Establishing a firm link between environmental change and human disease has always been an iffy proposition. Now, however, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, writing in the current (June 16, 2010) online issue of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, presents the most enumerated case to date linking increased incidence of malaria to land-use practices in the Amazon.

Gucci Unveils Steps to Meet its Eco Promises

June 8, 2010 - The Paper Planet | Gucci has announced the launch of a worldwide eco-friendly program designed to progressively reduce the company's impact on the environment, which includes following through on a commitment it made to Rainforest Action Network in November. Patrizio di Marco, President and CEO of Gucci, said: “The world's leading brands are rightly judged today not just on the quality of their products and services, but also on the way they act in the community and towards the environment.

Downsizing Has Made NewPage A Low-Cost Producer

June 1, 2010 - Dead Tree Edition | In less than three years, NewPage has gone from talking about its high-cost coated paper machines to bragging about its low-cost position. “As of March 31, 2010, 90% of our non-specialty coated paper machines were in the top 20% of efficiency of all non-specialty coated paper machines in North America, Europe and Asia based on the cash cost of delivered product to Chicago, as reported by RISI,” the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission late last week. “We believe our scale and efficiencies are unmatched within the industry,” North America’s largest producer of coated paper said.