If you’ve already purchased the latest edition of Real Leaders magazine, may have noticed that the paper for our Real Leaders Impact Awards section feels different from the rest of the magazine. That’s because it contains 10 percent straw. In a world-first, Real Leaders teamed up with Willamette Falls Paper Company in Portland, Oregon, to demonstrate that wood-free paper alternatives can become the new normal.
“Most farmers burn excess straw as a quick method of clearing their fields,” says Brian Konen, CEO of Willamette Falls Paper Company. “But this global practice spews huge amounts of C02 into the air and contributes to the climate crisis.”
When Real Leaders discovered straw paper was an option for our magazine, we quickly contacted our printer, Quad Graphics, and got them equally excited. The resulting magazine demonstrates the power of collaboration between pulp mill, printer, and publisher — each recognizing that innovative solutions that are good for the planet are also good for our future.
Want to experience what straw paper feels like? Subscribe to the print edition here.
