RSF Social Finance Participates in Loan to Finance New Leaf Paper
The paper industry is one of the most polluting and resource intensive industries in the world. It ranks second in energy consumption, and is responsible for over a third of worldwide timber harvest and over 40% of all landfill space.
A company that RSF Social Finance supports through a loan participation with New Resource Bank is helping to change this industry and offering consumers environmentally-friendly paper.* San Francisco-based company New Leaf Paper, the recipient of the Fast Company’s 2008 Social Capitalist Award, was founded in 1998 when the paper industry had demonstrated a high resistance to change. With low margins, a commoditized international market, and huge capital investment in the status quo, paper companies resisted efforts to integrate sustainable principles into their business practices. New Leaf Paper was established specifically to change this.
New Leaf Paper’s unique approach to business includes embedding social and environmental values into the production of every product and within every business relationship. The company was first in the market with 100% post-consumer waste papers, including the first-ever 100% post-consumer recycled coated papers, book publishing papers, and more. Major paper manufacturers are taking notice and following New Leaf Paper’s innovative examples.
“Thank you to RSF Social Finance for supporting our efforts to revolutionize the paper industry,” says Jeff Mendelsohn, founder and CEO of New Leaf Paper. “Partnerships with customers and suppliers that share our values have been at the core of New Leaf Paper’s success, and we are particularly pleased to be working with a financial institution that deeply understands the positive impact of business based on good values.”
For more information on New Leaf Paper, please visit www.newleafpaper.com. To invest with RSF, please contact us at 888.RSF.3737.
*Because RSF Social Finance values transparency, we are disclosing what may be perceived as a potential conflict of interest. RSF is an investor in the New Resource Bank and RSF Board Chair Mark Finser is on the Board of Directors at the New Resource Bank. Mr. Finser did not participate in any aspect of the underwriting, negotiations or approval of this loan participation.
Thursday, January 3rd, 2008