There's demand for Canadian eco-paper if only the mills would produce it

The Canadian publishing industry -- magazines, books and newspapers -- want at least 550,000 metric tonnes of eco-paper, worth something like $560 million, but no Canadian paper mills are so far prepared to supply it. According to a new report released by Markets Initiative, the ailing Canadian pulp and paper industry could be repositioned for success by adopting more environmentally sensitive technology and processes.

"There's no reason Canada's troubled pulp and paper industry can't take inspiration from the auto sector and start reinventing by producing a greener product," says Nicole Rycroft, executive director of Markets Initiative, which over the past ten years has worked with all of Canada's major publishers, printers and logging companies, developing and advising on green policies.

"The world's biggest publishers tell us time and time again they want more environmentally sound paper and more recycled paper. Why can't Canada be the one to supply it?"