Corporations Forsake Ancient Forest Products
http://forests.org/-- Forest Conservation Archives
12/9/98
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Title: Corporations Forsake Ancient Forest Products
Source: InterPress Service
Status: Copyrighted, contact source to reprint
Date: 12/9/98
Byline: Danielle Knight
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (IPS) - More than 20 major U.S. companies have
announced they no longer will use or sell wood and paper products
made from 'old growth' forests.
The corporations - that include such well known names as Nike,
Hewlett-Packard, Mitsubishi Electric of America, and Kinko's -
have agreed to conduct an internal audit in order to phase out any
product that originates from these forests where trees are
hundreds of years old.
''Over the next year we will audit our supply mills to ensure
that, to the best of our knowledge, our products are old growth
free,'' said Larry Rogero, a spokesman for the Kinko's store chain
which retails business supplies from 900 outlets across the
country.
The agreement by the companies was negotiated by the Coastal
Rainforest Coalition, a network of environmental organisations in
Canada and the United States - including the Natural Resources
Defense Council, Greenpeace and the Rainforest Action Network.
''This is the most significant step made to date toward phasing
out the use of old growth wood products,'' said Michael Marx,
executive director of the coalition.
While specific company policies may vary 27 corporations have
pledged that, in addition to phasing out purchases of old growth
wood, they will use more recycled products as well as paper fibres
made out of alternative ''tree- free'' sources - like the kenaf
plant.
Marx said the companies had been asked to seek out wood
certified as ''environmentally friendly'' by organisations like
the Forest Stewardship Council, which accredits auditors around
the world who in turn examine logging operations.
''These companies are sending a powerful signal to the
marketplace that the future demand will not be for old growth
products - it will be for recycled and tree-free fibres,'' said
Marx.
Environmental groups originally formed the coalition several
years ago out of concern over U.S. consumption of old growth
forests products from Canada.
''We began by focussing on old growth redwoods, but it became
evident that the problem is not any particular species but old
growth in general,'' said Mark Westlund, communications director
for the California-based Rainforest Action Network. Only about 20
percent of the world's old-growth forests remained standing, he
added.
Nike Inc., the shoe manufacturer, said it has installed a
policy to not purchase any materials - including paperboard for
its shoeboxes - derived from pulp or wood from old growth forests.
''We feel it is the right thing to do for our environment and
is in line with our plans towards sustainable business practices
overall,'' the company said in a statement.
Several companies participating in the effort already had such
policies in place. Mitsubishi Electric of America and Mitsubishi
Motor Sales, two subsidiaries of the Tokyo-based Mitsubishi
Corporation, have been working with the Rainforest Action Network
for several years to undertake a complete environmental review of
all of their business activities.
Both companies announced earlier this year that they would
phase out use of tree-based paper and packaging products by the
year 2002, in favour of alternative fibres.
''Sure alternative fibres are more expensive, but as we make
greater technological advancements - with the Internet for example -
we use less paper,'' said John Savage, executive vice president of
the Mitsubishi Electric of America. ''The economics of it
eventually work out.''
Since 1990, the Levi Strauss company, the California-based
clothing giant, has been recycling its scrap cloth to make the
company's paper and stationary.
''It's part of our desire to be environmentally responsible,''
said company spokesman Derek Bronkhorst.
Not all corporations appeared to jump at the chance to improve
their environmental image.
Home Depot Inc., one of the country's largest retailer of
hardwood products, did not join the other companies despite a
nation-wide environmental campaign to pressure the store to stop
dealing in lumber from the Amazon and Southeast Asia.
Home Depot did not respond to an IPS request for comment but,
in the past the company declared that it was trying to limit the
sale of old-growth products.
''There have been some efforts by Home Depot, but they haven't
bitten on the bullet and put a policy in place,'' said Liz Barratt-
Brown, senior attorney with the New York- based Natural Resources
Defence Council.
Groups said they remained hopeful that now that other
corporations have adopted environmental policies, Home Depot would
do the same.
''The commitments made by these companies prove that corporate
America can be a force for saving the world's last ancient
forests,'' said Marx. ''Their leadership should inspire other
companies who are resisting going old-growth-free - like Home
Depot.''