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U of T Magazine Takes the Lead in Conserving Ontario's Boreal Forests

For immediate release

Toronto: With the publication of its summer 2006 issue, U of T Magazine became the largest Canadian magazine with an endangered forest policy to print on Ancient Forest Friendly paper (100% post-consumer recycled stock). In doing so, U of T Magazine joins an elite group of Canadian magazines to be printing on papers that help conserve Canada's boreal forests and endangered forests globally.

"We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment," says Scott Anderson, editor of U of T Magazine. "We hope this measure will help preserve Canada's forests for future generations and will encourage other publications to consider using recycled paper."

U of T Magazine's actions are part of a broader shift in the publishing industry towards Ancient Forest Friendly papers. U of T Magazine has collaborated on this project with Markets Initiative, a Canadian environmental group working to help book, magazine and newspaper publishers print on papers that don't destroy ancient forests, such as the Canadian Boreal and the temperate rainforests.

"Most publishers still inadvertently use papers from endangered forests. U of T joins a growing number of publishers safeguarding the forests that form part of our cultural heritage." says Neva Murtha, magazine campaigner with Markets Initiative. "They can be proud of that."

By using entirely post-consumer recycled stock, U of T Magazine - with an annual circulation of 1.1 million - will save 2,215 trees a year. The switch will also save energy to heat 15 homes for a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada by about 200 tonnes annually - the equivalent of taking 40 cars off the road for a year. (Source: The Environmental Defense Fund, Washington, DC). The new paper is also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, an international organization that supports environmentally sound forest management.

The magazine is not the only U of T department looking for ways to improve its environmental record. U of T's Sustainability Office is leading a number of projects aimed at reducing energy consumption and will soon begin an investigation into paper use across the university. Vig Krishnamurthy, a third-year geography student, will lead the study. Beth Savan, a professor at the Centre for the Environment and director of the Sustainability Office, says students such as Vig often take the lead in researching and implementing new environmental programs at U of T. "Students are much more than our allies," she says. "They are our leaders."

Contacts
Scott Anderson Beth Savan Neva Murtha
Editor and Manager Director Magazine Campaigner
U of T Magazine U of T Sustainability Office Markets Initiative
scott.anderson@utoronto.ca beth.savan@utoronto.ca neva@marketsinitiative.org
416-946-3192 416-978-8202 604-817-4974