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JULY 7, 2005 at 9:30 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: New York Times
Environmental groups Greenpeace and the National Wildlife Federation are asking
Harry Potter fans in the U.S. not to buy the Scholastic version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince but to instead purchase the book from Canadian publisher Raincoast Books because it is printed on recycled paper.
Raincoast publishes the Harry Potter books on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, whereas Scholastic have disclosed that they use only paper that did not come from ancient or endangered forests.
Ms. Rycroft, campaigns director of Markets Initiative, a conservation group in Canada said:
If we get Harry Potter and the Bible, that pretty much covers the best sellers. Scholastic has failed to really meaningfully step forward to have Harry printed on the most environmentally friendly paper that it can be.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Scholastic, Ms. Kyle Good commented:
I think the fans who know Scholastic and the people who buy from Scholastic understand that we are an environmentally concerned company and we don't endanger forests ever with the paper we use.
Some larger publishers in the U.S. are concerned about the lack of forest-friendly paper as well as the cost and quality of the paper. Ms. Rowling's agent, Neil Blair from the Christopher Little Literary Agency said the author would not comment on the matter.
If you do choose to order your book from Canada please note that it will cost you $2 more, not including extra shipping costs. You can also check out this story from the BBC.
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Muggle
Points: 6
Harry Potter I Love You says:
First of all, it's too late (I mean there is only 8 days till the book goes on sale) because i have already pre-ordered the book. Secondly, I have pre-ordered the british version (It looks much better). And thirdly, I don't care what kind of paper the book is made of, the most important thing is that i get it on July 16th and enjoy reading it. However i have to say that i would have considered buying the "enviromental" version if i hadn't already had an placed order.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1463
LAURA? says:
Yeah they definetly are a little late on the uptake. Everyone has already pre-ordered their book. They can't just change it now. They should have done this a couple months ago!
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:10 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 465
Kathy_Riddle says:
I think its a bad idea...
order all the way from canada and still pay $2 more because is recicled?
i mean it sure is good for the enviroment but its too much trouble...
i mean just 8 days till the book!!!
i just cant wait any longer!
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:10 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1894
Hermione5 says:
Why didn't they make pre-arrangements regarding the matter??
Why the fuss now??
Loads of people will buy it, they should have made steps earlier for it to be printed on environmentally friendly paper!! And anyway I'm much more interested now in what is it than in what is it printed on....
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:13 AM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23477
KT Lady says:
Oh...my.
WOW.
That's all I'm going to say.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:13 AM EST
Ravenclaw Mastermind
Points: 9743
Isilwen Ciryatan says:
Well, I see where they're coming from, with wanting to use the recycled paper. But I, like most people here, have already preordered my copy (and yes, it's from Scholastic).
It would have helped though if they had done something sooner, and not 8 days left.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:15 AM EST
Goddess
Points: 3987
Banshee_05 says:
Erm... I think we get the Scholastic published HP books here as all the ones I have (purchased here in the Philippines) come from Scholastic. I have great respect for Greenpeace and NWF (hmmm...director of Markets Initiative, a conservation group in Canada...) anyways, as a consumer I am satisfied with Scholastic's statement that they "don’t endanger forests ever with the paper they use." But would insist that they go about the "recycled paper" route next round of printing, if they can" But I'm not about to boycott it. Sorry.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:15 AM EST
Witch
Points: 560
TheBabblingHousewife says:
If I remember correctly...and I might be off a bit...but as a whole companies who produce paper products plant something like 2 trees for every 1 tree they cut down. So the fact that it is not recycled really doesn't matter.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:17 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1737
HermyG13 says:
I'm sorry but I'm American and have to get the American version. I'm sure my parents wouldn't agree on me getting one all the way up north! Besides, the books have already been printed, so the damage was already done..what's the point of them going to waste?
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 790
The Flying Ford Anglia says:
All the books have already been printed and I don't think most fans are going to cancel their original orders from Scholastic to buy the forest-friendly books, especially now that there's only nine days left until the book is released.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 560
TheBabblingHousewife says:
Oh, and I pre-ordered mine from amazon.uk so I have no idea what they use.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:18 AM EST
Queen of Magical Divas
Points: 4336
Ezzy says:
I think we should all write to scholastic instead. If a lot of people complain, it will make them change their practive.
Ezzy
I have 2 off the subject question
the computer shows the time of post and it says your time. it is not my time. What time zone is it.
Has anyone heard what happen in London.
Ezzy
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 823
jade_eyes says:
Yeah...do they realize the book is coming out in 8 days? I'm not sure that the Canadian publisher could get the book to everyone on the right day..
Next time we protest about something, lets pick up the pace shall we? ;)
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:21 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
Chadick says:
Umm, I think they're a little bit too late, hehe... Maybe they should do that to the 7th seventh book since it's a very good idea using recycled paper instead of cutting down new trees. 'Tis a little bit sad....
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:22 AM EST
Gutter Girl Fabulous
Points: 8707
SamhainWitch7 says:
Yea right cause that's going to happen. I'm going to go order my book from Canada and probably pay more for it because I'm buying it online, and then go and spend more money to have it shipped. Chances of that happening... slim to none. It's great that Canada is using recycled paper, and I think Scolastic should do the same, but it's a bit late to expect people to boycott Scolastic. Maybe if the options were a little wider.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:27 AM EST
Student
Points: 210
lora_may says:
that's a little far,anyway tons of people have already pre-ordered their books ....and I doubt there will be enough people to make the boycott work.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:28 AM EST
Witch
Points: 544
hedwig1017 says:
I understand wanting to save the environment but, think of it this way: the books are already printed on non-recycled paper in a billion copies so really, how would we save the environment by buying books elsewhere when the non-recycled ones will exist anyway? Even if we did the ones that are on non-recycled paper will be numerous and all over the place - then we would really be wasting the paper that the non-recycled books were printed on. It's a nice thought to go to Canada (which, as someone else has said, I really don't want to pay the extra money anyway) but it doesn't matter since the non-recycle books will be plentiful and, as I said before, we don't want that paper to go to waste now do we?
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:29 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1050
Phoenix Lover says:
I don't think that it matters what kind of paper a company uses. If scholastic doesn't use paper from endangered trees, then that should be good enough. Plus I would never buy a book just because it is made of recycled paper. Plus, it costs a lot more.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:31 AM EST
Celebrity Stalker
Points: 5612
Roni <3 says:
I understand what they are trying to do... however, if the books are already preordered my so many people, then they can't just expect them to cancel their order and buy from a recycled publisher. I guess when it comes down to it people have to decide whether or not they want to save a few trees or get their book on time. I am interested to see how many people are going to support this in order to make the boycott work.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:32 AM EST
Student
Points: 221
ccgirl says:
I bought the Half-Blood Prince two months ago, you think that could of told us a bit sooner that Scholastic wasn't printing on recycled paper.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:34 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 710
Potter-crazed says:
Why would they say it now and not earlier? The books have been in print for months now and it seems stupid to debate the topic at this point in time
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:34 AM EST
Magical Owl Rising
Points: 4638
Hoots says:
It is too late for most of us. I pre-ordered my book in February and I am expecting it on July 16. I am concerned about the environment, but using young trees to print vs. ancient trees or endangered forests it is still environmentally friendly. I think this should have been started months ago, during the printing process. It is too little too late for most of us pre-ordering, can't wait until July 16th, Harry Potter Fans.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:34 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1023
hpff_#1 says:
People are really stupid if they think they can boycott a book less than ten days before the opening. Everyone who's anyone is gonna have preordered the book by now and no one wants to cancel that just to please some tree huggers. I just want to say tha I am all for the whole keep the environment healthy and stuff but there are some things worth putting on paper.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:35 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 20
MadMarauder says:
I believe in enviornmentalism, but a lot of times special interest groups have rediculous standards. I own very few books printed on recicled paper, and to make scholastic out as a bad guy just because they don't use recycled paper (neither do most other publishers) Is obviously a play for publicity. They said it themselves, "Harry Potter the the Bible", they're just trying to make noise.
Plus, I love the U.S. illustrations.
In any case, I'm going to a midnight release party here in the states, so I don't really have another choice.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:38 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1042
MissusGamgee says:
I'm glad that I'm a Canadian and don't have a whole lot of options in this... Its amazing to me how upset people get about something that's already done and finished. The Scholastic editions have been printed, bought and paid for... Greenpeace is a little too late. I'm getting a copy of the Raincoast edition because that's what my local bookstore sells. I like the idea that it's printed on recycled paper, but that was not a determining factor in my purchase. I want the book and I want it the fastest way possible, *laughs* ... so get out of my way, and give me my HBP at 12:01!
Greenpeace, while they do an admirable job voicing concern for our planet, is only trying to get their name hooked into one of the biggest marketing campaigns of the year.
8 days!
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:38 AM EST
Squib
Points: 144
crazyeyes06 says:
Sorry I already bought my book from Scholastic but i am defently not going to buy the book just because of the paper. Did you know JKR did try and save paper because the ffith book was the only book to have 11.5 pt font the rest had 12.
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 10:38 AM EST
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