Nicole Rycroft
Changing supply chains to save our forests
More than 50% of the paper produced around the world goes into packaging. That's about 3 billion trees a year. Along with packaging, the fashion and publishing industries are among the largest consumers of forest products. Yet, forests are essential to our survival as a species. Through her organization, Canopy, Nicole partners with the world's largest brands to stop forestry companies from logging in endangered species habitats, or traditional lands. She leverages the purchasing power of these large corporate customers to shift the forestry industry into sustainable practices. As a result, H&M, Zara, Scholastic, The Guardian, now produce clothing, books and newspapers that carry fundamentally lighter environmental footprints. This means a more stable climate, clean air and the ability for 7 billion people that we share this planet with to make more sustainable choices.
Impact
"Greened" the Harry Potter Book series
320+ global fashion brands re-designing their viscose use (Amazon, Target, Gucci...)
Scaling sustainable packaging solutions with 100+ companies worth $71 billion in revenues
Developing “Next Gen” fabrics with straw pulp mill
Helped secure Canada's Great Bear Rainforest Agreements
Interesting fact from Nicole:
"Most executives care about our planet just as much as we do. We don't have a monopoly on caring about having clean air and clean water and a stable climate just because we've got ‘professional tree hugger’ written on our business cards. Champions come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. And some of the most powerful advocates for the environment work within companies that have political influence and significant supply chain influence. Supply chains aren't necessarily sexy, but that's where the impacts of our society are concentrated."
