Woody Harrelson is not only a fine actor. He is also a dedicated environmentalist and the co-founder of a company called Prairie Paper Ventures; the company makes paper from crop waste instead of trees.
At one time people believed that the advent of computers would bring the “paperless office.” Few predictions have been so spectacularly wrong. The reality is that computers produce more paper than ever.
Harrelson wants to ensure that the need for more paper will not result in the parallel need to cut down more trees. He says,”Just know that two boxes of this paper saves one tree, so you can make a very real difference.”
His company was founded in Winnipeg in 1998. It has taken until now for the business to develop a way to turn wheat straw left over from harvesting into paper. The result is just as high-quality and affordable as the traditional method using wood.
Jeff Golfman, who co-founded Prairie Paper with Harrelson and Clayton Manness says, “We like to say the most remarkable thing about our paper is how unremarkable it actually is – Where our process is unique is in the formulas [and] recipes we’re using.”
The product is now manufactured in two mills in northern India, acts like regular paper and works in standard printers.
Staples are selling the product, both in their Canadian stores and online. A ream, made of 80 percent wheat straw waste fiber and 20 percent wood fiber, sells for about $8.50. Golfman says that the business has raised about $10 million in government grants, equity, and “sweat labor,” and is trying to sell $5 million in equity stakes to keep up with demand. It plans to launch a totally “tree-free” line in 2014.
Despite the apparent risks in Prairie’s offering – which include “insufficient funds to accomplish management’s immediate objectives” and “little to no history of sales or profits,” – Golfman says that over 50 investors have expressed interest.
This form of investment – known as crowdfunding – is open only to accredited investors in Canada.
Matthew McGrath, president and chief executive of Optimize Capital which is handling the operation, says he wants to show entrepreneurs and investors that “crowdfunding is not just about some guy in his garage who can’t get $5,000; this is about good quality companies tapping a much more efficient marketplace.”
From a marketing perspective, it is important for the company to try to capitalize on Woody Harrelson’s celebrity appeal.
Harrelson confers with Golfman each month, and is currently promoting Prairie Paper’s new campaign. “We didn’t know each other before we were business partners,” says Golfman. “Now he’s a dear friend … very instrumental to the whole thing.”
So, Woody Harrelson is trying to sell paper which doesn’t contain ANY wood. How ironic!
