Why Buying North American Matters

Look around your desk. How much paper do you see?  Have you ever thought about where that paper comes from?

If you haven’t thought about it—here’s why you should:

When you buy paper made here in North America, you’re supporting hundreds of thousands of hometown jobs and a manufacturing industry that contributes billions to our local economy. For every 100 jobs at a paper manufacturing mill, the industry provides an additional 325 jobs outside of the mill. Our paper company, Domtar, alone provides nearly 9,000 North American jobs. Additionally, North American manufacturers invest 20 percent more than imports to operate in the U.S., investing in local communities and contributing more in corporate taxes.

North American paper manufacturers also meet high regulatory standards put in place to protect public health, workers’ rights, and the environment. So when you buy paper made here in North America, you can be confident that you’re buying from a company that puts employee safety first, pays workers a fair wage, and operates in a sustainable and transparent manner.

This is an important issue, but unfortunately it is not often discussed. This is why Domtar has developed an educational program called Paper Made Here, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of buying North American paper by spotlighting the many positive local economic, social, and environmental impacts of our industry. The program encourages customers, environmental groups, policymakers, and consumers to ask themselves: “Where does my paper come from?”

To learn more about where your paper comes from and why it matters, please visit our Paper Made Here program online.