(Photo: Pexel)
How businesses are turning everyday paper purchasing into meaningful climate action
Businesses are already making a difference
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, but there is encouraging news.
Every day, organizations across the paper, packaging, print and publishing sectors are helping protect threatened forests through Carbon Balanced Paper. By connecting everyday paper purchasing with internationally recognized forest conservation projects, these businesses are demonstrating that routine procurement decisions can deliver measurable environmental benefits.
This is more than a carbon initiative. It is a practical nature-based solution that helps conserve biodiversity, protect important ecosystems and complement corporate greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
Carbon Balanced Paper by the Numbers:
• 5,000+ organizations participating worldwide
• 45+ brands across North America
• 100,000+ acres of threatened forest protected
• Current conservation projects in Guatemala, Mexico and Uganda
• One of the largest voluntary nature-based conservation initiatives serving the paper, packaging, print and publishing sectors.
Why climate action matters
Over the past 12,000 years, Earth’s relatively stable climate allowed agriculture to flourish, cities to grow and modern economies to develop. Today, that stability is changing.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global temperatures are now approximately 1.5°C (3.7°F) above pre-industrial levels, making recent years the warmest ever recorded.
Climate change increasingly affects businesses through supply chain disruption, flooding, wildfire risk, biodiversity loss, water availability, infrastructure damage and rising insurance costs.
The graph above tells the story better than any headline. Global temperatures have risen steadily over the past century, with the sharpest acceleration occurring during the past few decades. The consequences extend well beyond record-breaking heat. They are changing ecosystems, increasing wildfire risk, and placing unprecedented pressure on the world’s forests – one of our most important natural climate defenses.
Forests are one of nature’s most powerful climate solutions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions must remain the first priority, but protecting forests is equally important. According to the IPCC, forests remove approximately 7.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year while also protecting biodiversity, watersheds, soils and local communities. FAO estimates forests cover about 31% of Earth’s land surface while supporting more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.
Deforestation makes climate change worse
The World Resources Institute estimates deforestation and land-use change contribute approximately 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Protecting existing forests avoids emissions while preserving ecosystems that continue removing carbon dioxide year after year.
Reduction comes first. Conservation complements it.
Organizations should first reduce emissions through efficiency improvements, renewable energy, responsible fiber sourcing, better logistics and waste reduction. Carbon Balanced Paper complements these efforts by addressing residual emissions through long-term forest conservation.
How Carbon Balanced Paper works
Carbon Balanced Paper connects paper purchasing with independently verified forest conservation projects delivered in partnership with World Land Trust. Participating organizations support conservation based on the carbon footprint associated with the paper or packaging they purchase, transforming everyday purchasing into measurable climate action.
A growing movement across the paper/packaging Industry
More than 5,000 organizations worldwide in the paper, packaging, print and publishing sectors have already participated. Collectively, they are demonstrating that practical business decisions can protect forests and biodiversity at meaningful scale.
Why organizations choose Carbon Balanced Paper
Businesses participate because it helps complement greenhouse gas reduction strategies, support biodiversity conservation, contribute to ESG goals, demonstrate measurable environmental action, engage customers and employees, and strengthen sustainable procurement programs.
Every paper purchase can make a difference
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our generation, but businesses are proving that practical, scalable solutions already exist. Through Carbon Balanced Paper, organizations throughout the paper, packaging, print and publishing sectors are helping conserve threatened forests, protect biodiversity and support long-term climate resilience.
Every purchase contributes. Every organization can participate.
Together, businesses are helping protect some of the world’s most valuable forests for future generations.
For additional information go to www.carbonbalancedpaperna.com or contact info@carbonbalancedpaperna.com.
