The Rainforest Alliance commended publisher Scholastic Inc. for printing the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series on paper that is Forest Stewardship Council certified.

The initial 12 million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released in July in the U.S. and 65 percent of the 16,700 tons of paper used is FSC certified, the largest purchase of FSC certified paper to be used in a single book printing to date. In addition, all the paper used in the printing will contain at least 30 percent post-consumer waste fiber with much of that verified by FSC standards as well.

 "This is a major milestone for environmental and social responsibility in the publishing industry," said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance.

For more information on the Harry Potter series, visit www.scholastic.com. For more information on the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

04/04/2007