International Paper gets $2.8 million to reduce carbon emissions (poststar.com)

For years, through the voice of actor Sam Elliott, Smokey Bear only said five words: “Only you can prevent wildfires,” but the iconic spokes-bear is receiving help from celebrities to expand his fire safety and wildfire prevention message. An new PSA campaign, developed with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, the Ad Council, and Interpublic’s FCB, is introducing ads that incorporate the voices of celebrities Stephen Colbert, Al Roker and Jeff Foxworthy with the CGI-animated Smokey to further address fire dangers like burning yard debris. Foxworthy, to that end, riffs on his famous "you might be a redneck" joke, Roker mentions his well-known catchphrase "your neck of the woods," while Colbert plays off his last name—“Col-Bear.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced today that Obishikokaang Resources Corporation has certified more than 1 million hectares of the Lac Seul Forest in Northern Ontario to the SFI 2015-2019 Forest Management Standard. Lac Seul First Nation, also known as Obishikokaang, is the oldest Reserve in the Sioux Lookout District. Lac Seul First Nation has over 800 members and is made up of the communities of Kejick Bay, Whitefish Bay and Frenchman’s Head, all located on the shores of Lac Seul. “Lac Seul and the surrounding forest have always provided for the economic and cultural well-being of the people of Obishikokaang. Certifying to SFI is part of our commitment to the kind of sustainable business practices that are designed to protect the environment and support economic growth. Band members are working as part of the management teams, supervising harvesting and playing an important role in forest regeneration,” said Clifford Bull, Chief of Lac Seul First Nation. Click Read More below for additional detail.

As society rallies to combat climate change, companies and organizations spanning all sectors have spurred into action, reevaluating and revitalizing their sustainability strategies to curb their carbon footprint. Among the widespread green initiatives sweeping across industries, a notable trend involves substituting plastic materials with an eco-friendly alternative sourced from trees to form biodegradable pulp products. Pulp is raw material derived from the natural fibers of trees and plants and recycled materials like paper, cardboard, and newspapers. From a sustainability standpoint, the allure of biodegradable pulp is undeniable, as it is recyclable and compostable. Because of its superiority in reducing environmental impact, new doors to sustainability have been opened in comparison to plastic or Styrofoam, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Biodegradable pulp products also have many other advantages that differentiate them from other eco-friendly alternatives, such as reducing energy consumption and shipping costs. They can accomplish this by producing robust, lightweight products that can withstand the same amount of pressure with a lighter material.