Life Cycle Study Confirms It! Give Wheat a Chance.

Offsetters' Life Cycle Study confirms that copy paper made from agricultural waste is one of the most sustainable copy papers available

VANCOUVER, Oct. 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Offsetters Climate Solutions and Prairie Paper Ventures Inc. (Prairie Paper) have released an updated life cycle report that reconfirms copy paper made from agricultural waste, like wheat straw, as one of the most sustainable copy papers in the world.

Offsetters, one of North America's leading carbon management solutions provider, expanded its 2012 landmark life cycle comparison to include 15 criteria (vs. the original seven criteria two years ago), in order to accurately review Prairie Paper's Step Forward Paper. The inaugural life cycle study compared Step Forward Paper™ with other copy paper types available in North America. Offsetters found in 2012, that wheat straw-based paper has the lowest environmental impacts with respect to non-renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater, and aquatic acidification.

Working with Offsetters this year, Prairie Paper commissioned the second life cycle study to dig even deeper into its wheat-straw paper's impact. Following international best practices (including using IMPACT 2002+ methodology) to better understand the ongoing impacts of the manufacturing of two of their papers - one which uses 80 per cent wheat straw waste (with 20 per cent Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified wood fibre) and the other with 60 per cent wheat straw waste and 40 per cent FSC certified wood fibre. Furthermore, the enhanced study was peer reviewed by NGO's and industry experts; including but not limited to, The Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), Conservatree, Climate for Ideas Techfibre Industries, Canopy, and EarthColor.

"It is imperative that we continue to study life cycles and impacts in order to drive even greater change and innovation within the paper industry sustainable businesses and support leaders like Prairie Paper," says James Tansey, CEO of Offsetters. "We are proud to have a client like Prairie Paper who understands that these type of ongoing studies and assessments are critical to reconfirm the value of ongoing research and development into the benefits of using waste stream agricultural fibres to replace virgin fibres, like wood from Canada's forests."

"Worldwide we consumed a record 400 million metric tonnes of paper in 2013, which equates to over three billion trees harvested annually," says Jeff Golfman, co-founder and president of Prairie Paper. "Our goal is to reduce our dependence on trees, and we are seeing a transition towards ag-fibre paper as our orders have increased over 450 per cent this year over last year."

Prairie Paper is providing an alternative paper product. Fifty per cent of the harvested Canadian boreal forest is currently used to produce paper products. Canada's boreal forest is home to eight of the ten largest intact forest ecosystems left in the world. The boreal forest contains an interconnected ecosystem of plants, animals, insects and microorganisms that interact with the physical environment of soil, water and air. This essential global resource plays a significant role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. Prairie Paper are providing an alternative to paper products that could be sourced from Canadian boreal forests.

About Offsetters Climate Solutions
Offsetters is North America's leading carbon management solutions provider. Founded in 2005, the company helps organizations and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their climate impact. Offsetters was the first official supplier of carbon offsets in the history of the Olympic movement (Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games). Its team of industry leaders specializes in the origination, development and commercialization of high-quality carbon offset projects and is proud to also provide clients with a comprehensive offering of sustainability consultancy services. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Offsetters has worked with over 150 of the world's most prestigious organizations including Aimia and lululemon athletica. For more information, please visit www.offsetters.ca.

About Prairie Paper Ventures Inc.
Prairie Paper is the industry leader in research, development and commercialization of tree-free pulp and paper for the past 16 years. Based in Manitoba, the entrepreneurial company was founded by Jeff Golfman, Clayton Manness and Woody Harrelson. For more information visit www.stepforwardpaper.com. Following the first life cycle assessment in 2012, Step Forward Paper™ was launched in Canada at Staples Canada and is available at Staples.com, Staples Advantage USA and to Canadian businesses in through Lyerco, Staples, Office Max by Grand & Toy and Basics. For more information visit www.stepforwardpaper.com.

SOURCE: Offsetters Climate Solutions