Kimberly Clark called on Kleercutting
Nearly 200 different actions, events and demonstrations against Kimberly-Clark are occurring right now across Canada and the USA as part of the International Day of Action to Save the Boreal Forest.Today's "day of action" prompted me to investigate (Like I'm a detective or something) paper companies forestry practices within Canada, although I quickly discovered this was no an easy endeavor.The truth about Kimberly-Clark's practices and the affects their manufacturing is having on the Boreal forest is difficult to find amongst the overwhelming propaganda from both the company and environmental lobbyists. There is still much uncertainty about what forestry practices are in fact environmentally friendly and what does indeed go on and I doubt I've barely even touched the issues as of yet. Of course, I'll continue to try and make some sense of it.
Kleenex, one of the most popular brands of tissue products in the world,
contributes to the destruction of ancient forests. Its manufacturer, the
Kimberly-Clark corporation, has been unwilling to improve its practices,
continuing to rely on paper and pulp made from clearcut ancient forest
including North America's Boreal forest. Kimberly-Clark clears these ancient
forests, essential in fighting climate change and providing home to wildlife
like caribou, wolves, eagles and bears,into products that are flushed down
the toilet or thrown away. -Greenpeace
KLEENEX Facial Tissue is made from 100 per cent virgin fibre and contains no recycled fibre. Virgin fibre is used in our tissue because it provides the superior
softness consumers expect from a premium facial tissue product. -Kleenex Website
Since less than 19 per cent of the pulp Kimberly-Clark uses for its disposable tissue products (toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins and paper towels) comes from recycled sources, I can't help but feel as though Greenpeace and the NRDC are quite justified to ask that K-C immediately stop purchasing virgin fibre from endangered forests.
As well as:
Drastically increase the amount of recycled fibre that they use for all their tissue products including Kleenex brand toilet paper, facial tissue and napkins- Only buy virgin fibre from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) eco-certified forests. The FSC is the only guarantee that forests are managed sustainably.
Of course this dosen't apply just to K.C. In fact all of the major pulp and paper manufacturers that I was able to find (primarily within the Maritimes) use similarily little amounts of recycled fibre. Companies such as J.D. Irving, President's Choice and Neenah Paper.
In fact, looking at the J.D. Irving company, it has been praised and simultaneously under fire for its forestry practices for many years now.
The company owns 3.5 million acres (1.4 million hectares) of timberland in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Maine. It manages 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of publicly-owned Crown land in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
J.D. Irving has been noted for its reforestation and sustainable forestry practice primarily by the Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests.
From 1957 to 1999, Irving planted 500 million trees. Each year, staff plant more than 10 million provincial seedlings on Crown land. On the company's private land, they annually plant 15 to 20 million softwood seedlings, using seed grown in company nurseries. Since 1980, foresters at the company nursery in Sussex have been developing seed sources that improve the trees' economic traits, including growth rate, straightness and disease resistance, while maintaining their genetic diversity.
And while tree planting is an admirable practice, it is important to note that the trees being planted are seedlings and are not equal to the 120 year old trees that are being clearcut. Because wildlife are dependent upon old growth forest ecosystems for nesting and/or foraging habitat, it is necessary to protect extensive areas of intact old-growth forests. Destructive business practices leave behind a barren landsacpe that no longer supports wildlife species.
75% of old growth forests are left unprotected from logging and other forms of development.
Admittedly operations are more precisely planned and more mechanized, with fewer people in the woods. Forest workers are leaving a softer footprint on the land they harvest.
J.D. Irving, Limited is responsible for sustainable management and stewardship
of two New Brunswick Crown Licenses as well as our own company's freehold. We
manage these forest lands for the renewable growth of wood, water quality and
fish habitat, as well as wildlife habitat, and biodiversity. We do this with
input from science based environmental groups and scientists who specialize in
research about the Acadian forest ecosystem. Every year our environmental
performance on the ground is evaluated by third party scientists based on more
than 75 key criteria. Learning to improve our forest management means we also
invest about two million dollars in ecosystem research.
However, in the eyes of many other environmental organisations this is not enough. A quick glance at the Greenpeace Shopper's Guide and it does not take long to discover that Irving's Majesta and Royale brand products are still deemed non-forest friendly.
All of this is to say, I suppose, that days such as this are important reminders to consider what sorts of practices companies are engaging in and if we truly feel they are appropriate and environmentally responsible.
