The growing popularity of recycled paper, plus leadership from Canadian publishers, encouraged U.S. publisher Scholastic to print Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on paper that even the whomping willow could be proud of. Nearly two-thirds of the 16,700 tons of paper used to print the 12 million copies of the U.S. version of the book have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from sustainable timber — the largest-ever purchase of FSC-certified paper to be used in a single book printing, reports Grist.
In addition, the books contain at least 30 percent recycled fiber. All 100,000 copies of the deluxe edition will be printed on 100 percent recycled paper in a renewable-energy-powered factory.
The best news? Making Harry Potter sustainable spurred the development of 32 new ecological papers, six for The Deathly Hallows specifically. The initiative also encouraged 300 publishers to adopt new environmental policies that, hopefully, will endure beyond Harry’s last battle with Voldemort.
All told, publishing the English-language editions of this last Potter tome on earth-friendly paper have saved 197,685 trees — an area about 2.5 times the size of Central Park — and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 7.9 million kilograms, the Canadian environmental group Markets Initiative reports. Here’s how they explain the achievement in pictures: 
2 thoughts on “Consumer Demand Works Magic on Harry Potter”
Diane, Wow. This is amazing and the first I have heard of it. Why isn’t it front page news!?!?!
PS. I really love your blog and site!
Great post!
If the economics don’t work, recycling efforts won’t either.
As our little contribution to make this economics of recycling more appealing, http://LivePaths.com blogs about people and companies that make money selling recycled or reused items, provide green services or help us reduce our dependency on non renewable resources.
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