OTTAWA, October 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have developed a Canadian buyer's guide for purchasers of wood and paper-based products. It provides important guidance on what to consider when writing procuremen policies and programs that need to be based on sustainable and socially responsible forest practices.

The Guide provides practical advice in areas critical to ensuring that purchasing practices contribute to the positive development of communities and do not harm the environment. It encourages the reader to go beyond the traditional considerations of price, quality, service and availability, by considering all aspects of the production process and their impact on the environment. Such topics as climate change, traceability, certification, legality and social desirability in the production of Canadian forest products are covered in the Guide.

"In a world where illegal logging and deforestation are causing irreparable damage to the planet and our climate, responsible buyers of wood and paper-based products are seeking assurances that what they are buying comes from responsible sources - sources that harvest legally, regenerate promptly, recycle, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and welcome independent scrutiny. The Guide helps them attain these assurances in the Canadian context," said Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of FPAC.

"Decisions regarding the purchase and use of wood and paper-based products can have far-reaching, long-term impacts," says Bruce McIntyre, leader of the PwC Forest, Paper & Packaging practice in Canada and co-author of the Guide. "Beyond the immediate and obvious consequences of their purchases, consumers, retailers, investors and communities are taking an increased interest in how their buying decisions will affect the environment for future generations. We want to help make those choices by providing them with solid information on Canada's environmental credentials when it comes to forest products."

The Buyers' Guide to Canada's Sustainable Forest Products addresses the major considerations presented by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) - these include sourcing and legality, environmental and social aspects of production.

The Guide recommends that organizations that purchase forest products should take a complete life-cycle approach to evaluating the sustainability attributes of these products. A life cycle assessment helps to objectively determine the environmental impacts of products, processes or services through production, usage and disposal of the products- an area where Canada in particular excels.

"With the most certified, original and protected forest in the world, and a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2015, I would argue there is no country better than Canada when it comes to meeting growing global demand for sustainable forest products," says Mr. Lazar.

The Buyers' Guide to Canada's Sustainable Forest Products is available from the FPAC website at: http://www.fpac.ca.

About FPAC

FPAC is the voice of Canada's wood, pulp and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade and environmental affairs. Canada's forest industry is an CDN$80-billion dollar a year industry that represents 2% of Canada's GDP. The industry is one of Canada's largest employers, operating in over 300 Canadian communities and providing nearly 900,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. In Canada, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (http://www.pwc.com/ca) and its related entities have more than 5,200 partners and staff in offices across the country.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

For more information, contact: Monica Bailey, Manager, External Relations, Forest Products Association of Canada, +1-613-563-1441 ext: 323, monica.bailey@fpac.ca; Carolyn Forest, Media relations, PricewaterhouseCoopers, +1-416-814-5730, carolyn.forest@ca.pwc.com