NEW YORK, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced that continued progress has been made toward the company-wide goal of strengthening its sustainable paper procurement practices and increasing the percentage of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper purchased. In January of 2008, Scholastic announced goals for 2012 to increase its purchase of FSC-certified paper for its publications to 30% and its use of recycled paper to 25%, of which 75% would be post-consumer waste. Having made significant gains toward the FSC goal, Scholastic today said it will increase its goal for 2012 from 30% to 35% of all paper purchased.

“We applaud Scholastic for this important step to increase the volume of FSC-certified paper they use,” said Corey Brinkema, President of FSC-US. “By serving teachers and students, Scholastic can play a central role in teaching the next generation about the importance of responsibly managed forests.”

The slight decrease in the amount of recycled content purchased year over year between 2009 and 2010 is the result of an overall decrease in the average amount of recycled fiber used by the manufacturers of recycled paper. Scholastic is working to find alternative ways to make up the additional recycled fiber. Due to a reduction in the amount of paper purchased in 2009, combined with the loss of an FSC supplier, the amount of FSC-certified paper was slightly reduced from 2008. Scholastic found tonnage to replace the lost source in 2010, which made up for the loss and showed an increase of about 10% from 2009.

In 2010, Scholastic purchased 82,146.3 tons of paper of which 22,380 tons, or 27.24%, was FSC-certified, up from 3.6% in 2007. In addition, 14,685 tons, or 17.88%, of the paper purchased was produced from recovered fiber, up from 13.5% in 2007, and of that amount, 11,472 tons, or 78.12%, was produced from PCW fiber, down slightly from 80.7% in 2007.

“At the halfway mark in our effort, we have made such great progress that we are able to increase our FSC-Certified paper goal,” said Maureen O’Connell, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Scholastic. “Now with a better understanding of the challenges associated with sourcing FSC-Certified and recycled paper, we look forward to continuing to increase our standards and consistently meet our goals in 2012 and beyond.”

Scholastic Book Clubs catalogs, which offer top-quality books and reading materials on a monthly basis to teachers and students in pre-school through high school, are now printed exclusively on FSC-certified paper.

“Scholastic Book Clubs catalogs have been an integral part of the classroom experience for more than 60 years, and we’re very pleased to announce that they now bear the FSC-certified label,” said Judy Newman, President, Scholastic Book Clubs. “It is important for us to make this commitment to using the most sustainable methods possible while continuing to bring the books that students and teachers love into the classroom.”

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

SOURCE Scholastic Inc.