To this end, the Government of Canada has committed to making significant new investments in green infrastructure and clean technologies.

For example, they plan to:

• Endow a $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Trust to fund projects that reduce carbon
• Fulfill our G20 commitment and phase out subsidies for the fossil fuel industry
• Work with the Provinces and Territories to develop a Canadian Energy Strategy to protect Canada's energy security, encourage energy conservation, and bring cleaner renewable energy into the electricity grid
• And more

All of this is good news, but it doesn't take individual businesses off the hook. While the government focuses on the bigger picture, we all need to be responsible for understanding and indeed lowering our own greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.

Enter offsetting. By funding projects that eliminate or absorb the same amount of greenhouse gases we emit through other activities, we essentially neutralize - or offset - our emissions, thereby lowering our environmental footprint.

Zerofootprint provides credits through their various carbon offsetting programs that fund various environmental initiatives and sell these to companies who are looking to neutralize their emissions. Ariva has partnered with Zerofootprint to supply the carbon credits for our Sappi Brands Carbon-Neutral Program. Through this program, our customers can buy 100% carbon-neutral papers for less than a 0.5% premium, which we then use to purchase credits.

Granted, the long-term solution to climate change lies in addressing root causes, but offsetting our emissions or conducting business with companies that offset theirs can definitely move us in the right direction, don't you think?

Tamara, a marketing professional for over 28 years, has been in the paper and print industry for four years. She currently manages Ariva's marketing programs.