Case Studies
Insight into how companies turn ideas into change
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For Canadian company Catalyst Paper, using less fiber to make paper was the “right thing to do” for customers and the environment
Catalyst Paper, one of North America’s largest mechanical paper companies and one of British Columbia’s largest public companies, made the logical assumption that if paper for bulky finished products like newspapers weighed less—but maintained the same printing quality as conventional paper—the company and its customers would reap significant financial benefits. |
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Sustaining a Dream: Gerry & Petie Cooklin and South ConeThe fine-furniture manufacturer based in Los Angeles, California and with production facilities in Peru and Argentina brings commitment to sustainability back to the Amazon and its people To Gerry Cooklin, the business case for sustainable forestry and a sustainable furniture industry is a no-brainer. Without trees there is no wood. Without wood there is no South Cone furniture. Without the furniture industry there would likely be no forests, particularly in his native Peru. |
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The Perfect FormBy investing in technology to maximize paper production efficiency, Spicers Paper considers environmental business practice a competitive advantage When Spicers Paper Inc. looked to differentiate itself among its printer customer base in the mid-1990s, it asked a key question: What combines cost savings and natural resource efficiency? |
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Columbia Forest Products, Oregon State University and Hercules, Inc. create the low-cost Formaldehyde-free wood adhesive, PureBond
The process of taking thin slices of wood and gluing them together to increase strength and stability dates back to the tombs of ancient Egypt, with archeologists discovering traces of laminated wood in the resting places of pharaohs. |
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Going out on a Limb—Catalyzing The Maine Master Logger ProgramTime Inc. joins forces with the State of Maine, the forest products industry and Maine loggers to improve the management of family-held woodlands In 1989, Time Magazine presented a unique vision of the environment as a business issue at a time when the environment was generally considered a second-class citizen next to financial profits. In its Man of the Year installment, Time anointed The Planet as “The Man.” This signaled a shift in ideology for one of the largest media corporations in the world. Since the planet article, Time Inc. has made noticeable steps toward incorporating environmental and social criteria into its business practices. |
Leading by Example: The Home Depot, Inc.The convergence of business and the environment It’s an unwritten rule: “Don’t mess with success.” The Home Depot has the résumé to adopt that if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it philosophy. The company has more than 1,700 stores throughout North America, about a quarter of a million employees and nearly $65 billion in sales—enough to be the single largest home improvement retailer in the world. Where it sources wood matters. |
