Éditions de Villers inc. is committed to protecting the environment and to the responsible use of natural resources. We are concerned about the future of the world’s remaining ancient forests and are specifically concerned about rare and threatened forest types such as the temperate rainforests and the boreal forests. We are commited to implementing policies that will facilitate the meaningful conservation of ancient forests globally and ensure that we are not contributing to the destruction of these irreplaceable natural treasures.
As a book publisher, paper is obviously a core part of our business. To this end, it is also a product through which we can have a significant impact on the environment. It is our intention to ensure that all wood-based products that we consume in the future are derived from ecologically sustainable sources, i.e. free of ancient forest fibre and chlorine-free.
We will inform our suppliers/printers of our purchasing preferences and work with them and our purchasers to ensure that our company’s procurement policies are implemented. As of 2008-05-01, the following guidelines will apply to all Éditions de Villers locations and subsidiaries.
1. We will identify the products we utilize that contain wood fibre. We shall contact our suppliers/printers and conduct an audit of these products to determine what fibres they contain and where they originate. Suppliers will be required to verify in writing that the sources of wood-based products they sell to our company meet this policy. They will be asked to agree to periodic random audits to ensure their compliance.
2. If we find that we are receiving products that contain ancient forest fibre, we will implement a plan and timeline to phase out these products by (date). (Exception noted in point 4).
3. If supply mills are unwilling to commit to our old-growth initiative, then (company name) commits to identifying and sourcing from alternative suppliers. New suppliers must fulfil our requirements.
4. We will give purchasing preferences to reclaimed or post-consumer recycled products, products from second growth forests which have been independently certified according to strict ecological criteria and products derived from agricultural forest fibre. We will consider procurement of forest products derived from native and long-settled, forest dependent community operations in ancients forest areas if they are independently certified according to strict ecological criteria (Forest Stewardship Council).
5. We will give purchasing preference to chlorine-free products.
6. Finally, we will minimize our overall consumption of fibre by implementing and expanding internal business processes aimed at conservation and efficiency. We are comitted to reducing our overall office fibre consumption by 85% by 2008-01-31.
We are very concerned with the activities of companies logging in the world’s ancient forests including those of Russia, the Amazon and Canada. It is our intention to phase out our supply of ancient forest products worldwide now.
In recognition of the need for protection of the world’s ancient forests, we also commit to encourage other publishers and printers to develop similar strategies and policies. Preserving the remaining ancient forests of the world for future generations will require that all companies join us in this effort.
Sincerely,
Steve Fortin, President
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