Mitsubishi Chopstick Factory Report Released
12/23/93
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Headline: Mitsubishi Chopstick Factory Report Released
Source: Rainforest Action Network
Date: 12/23/93
RAN has just released a report on the logging practices of
Mitsubishi's Canadian Chopstick Manufacturing Company. It strongly
condemns CCMC on a variety of factors. The report concludes that
CCMC wastes 85% of the harvested aspen, has failed to meet
contractual obligations to utilize the waste, has not met original
estimates of economic return to the community, is threatening the
aspen genetic pool through "super-higrading" of the species, and
poses new environmental threats if its allowable cut is increased.
CCMC obtained a 20 year forest license in the Fort Nelson,
B.C. area. It pays a paltry $.53 (CAN) stumpage fee per cubic
meter. It produces 7-8 million pairs of chopsticks per day which
are shipped to Tiawan for hand finishing. The final product is sold
to the Japanese market. The company claims to be the largest
disposable chopstick factory in the world.
The British Columbia Ministry of Forests reports that CCMC
has applied for a dramatic increase in its allowable cut.
Acknowledging that its 'residue' is too high, CCMC contends that
a larger cut is needed to attract an oriented strand board (OSB)
plant that could utilize the waste.
Marvin Nowlin, Woodlands Manager for CCMC, is trying to
attract Louisiana Pacific (L-P) to establish such a plant. L-P
operates an oriented strand board plant in nearby Dawson Creek,
where local residents claim that increases in health problems are
directly connected to the plant. L-P denies the charge, but in the
United States, it was fined $11.1 million (U.S), the second largest
civil penalty ever, for under-reporting of toxic emissions from 14
similar plants. It was recently ordered to install $70 million in
new emission controls on its OSB and Fiberboard plants in the U.S.
by the EPA. In 1990, L-P paid a $2.9 million fine for dumping
millions of gallons of untreated waste daily into the Pacific
Ocean; more suits are pending.
Michael Marx, who conducted the study for RAN, says "CCMC is
a metaphor for the very worst of the forest industry. Not only does
it waste 85% of the timber it cuts, but it creates a product that
is designed to be used once and thrown away." Miles Thorpe,
Operations Manager for the Ministry's district office said "I know
it's not pretty. It's something we're very concerned about. No
doubt about it."
For a copy of the report contact the Rainforest Action Network.
(Slides of the clear cut available)