(Photo: Khe Nuoc Tran and Bac Huong Hoa NR, Vietnam Credit: Natalie Singleton)
As of today, the carbon balanced paper program has protected more than 75,000 acres of threatened forest habitats and offset 470,000 metric tons of CO2e.
In today’s environmentally conscious world, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprints. One impactful way to achieve this is by ordering Carbon Balanced Paper from partner paper merchants or printers that can offer preferred pricing as well as customized services and marketing collateral to help promote the program.
The Carbon Balanced Paper program has been operating for over 10 years with more than 5,000 brands globally having used it to carbon balance their paper, packaging or print products and print operations. In North America, this includes companies such as Columbia Sportswear, Free People, Karen Kane, Penguin Random House, Wayfair, Cherry Republic and many more.
Carbon Balanced Paper offers businesses the opportunity to align their paper and packaging purchasing with global conservation efforts and enhance their brand’s commitment to sustainability.
How does it Work?
The concept of carbon balancing, or carbon offsetting, is based on the understanding that some level of greenhouse gas emissions by companies or individuals is inevitable, even after all possible reduction measures have been taken. These residual emissions can be counterbalanced by preventing or reversing emissions elsewhere, such as protecting forests that sequester large amounts of carbon.
Forests are among the most effective terrestrial carbon sinks, with approximately half of a tree’s mass consisting of carbon. The global loss of forests, especially in tropical regions, is a leading cause of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to 10-20% of the total emissions worldwide. By protecting and restoring critical ecosystems, carbon can be locked away for the long term while also protecting biodiversity and supporting local communities.
The Carbon Balanced Paper program works in partnership with World Land Trust (WLT), a global conservation NGO dedicated to protecting forests that are under imminent threat of destruction in many regions of the world. Paper-based products (including packaging) can become Carbon Balanced when the carbon emissions associated with their production are offset through the forest conservation efforts of WLT. This prevents the release of stored carbon and enables the protection and restoration of valuable forest ecosystems, which gradually reabsorb atmospheric CO2.
Benefits of Carbon Balanced Paper?
In addition to the environmental benefits, the program presents opportunities for partner companies such as paper merchants and printers, and their customers. First and foremost, it is a great addition to the sustainability portfolio of products sold, similar to FSC and SFI forest and chain-of-custody certifications. By offering Carbon Balanced Paper, partners provide an effective way for their customers to reduce the carbon impact of their paper and printed communications. The program quantifies the amount of CO2e balanced and the area of “high conservation value land” preserved which allows customers to clearly demonstrate a commitment to climate change and overall sustainability.
Moreover, World Land Trust’s “Carbon Balanced” logo can be displayed on digital assets and printed products – a visual testament to an organization’s dedication to sustainability. This logo not only enhances the brand image but also communicates a commitment to reduce the companies’ carbon footprint.
Ordering Carbon Balanced Paper
In North America, the Carbon Balanced Paper program is available to all paper and packaging grades manufactured by mills located in the United States or Canada. For imported grades, processing can be arranged based on the availability of product carbon footprint data.
- Order from a Distribution Partner at https://carbonbalancedpaperna.com/paper-distributors/. Carbon Balanced Paper is available through several distribution partners in North America, including Midland and WCP Solutions in the United States, and West World Paper in Canada.
- Contact the Carbon Balanced Team at info@carbonbalancedpaperna.com.
Each order comes with a unique identification number, WLT logos, an order statement and a certificate stating the amount of CO2e balanced and land area protected.
Thanks to the partnership with WLT, the Carbon Balanced program has grown to be an effective nature-based solution that uses a portion of paper/packaging sales to help protect critical areas of forest and their biodiversity for the long term. Partner organizations and their customers play an important role in helping mitigate the impacts of climate change. This choice also aligns with corporate social responsibility goals – allowing companies to showcase their commitment to environmental stewardship.
