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Under increasing pressure from environmental groups, major
companies like FedEx Office, Office Depot and Staples are
beginning to favour greener sources from Canada's Boreal forest,
according to the 3rd annual Green Grades report released today
by ForestEthics and Dogwood Alliance. Others, like Unisource and
United Stationers are changing their procurement policies and
shifting away from Endangered Forests.
The report, which ranks companies according to their
forest-related environmental performance, and comes hot on the
heels of a recent Greenpeace/Kimberley Clark paper supply
agreement, suggests that environmental concern is translating
into major market signals in the Canadian forest products
sector.
"These changes mean the bad guys are losing business and the
companies who are working to lessen their impact on Canada's
Boreal forest are getting more business,"
said Catharine Grant with ForestEthics. "Companies
and governments need to pay attention to these market signals,
and understand that outdated forestry practices carry a real
financial risk."
According to the report, in the past year companies like FedEx
Office, Office Depot, and Staples have begun shifting
multi-million dollar paper contracts toward more
environmentally-friendly forestry operations certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Examples of specific actions taken by the companies to date
include:
- FedExOffice is shifting its primary copy paper from an
uncertified source in the Southern U.S. to an FSC certified
North American paper. The move represents roughly 70% of
FedExOffice's total paper consumption.
- Office Depot is shifting more of its sources away from
uncertified Canadian sources, to FSC certified sources. One
Canadian company in particular has lost close to 50% of its
contract with OfficeDepot because it has failed to provide FSC
certified options in recent years.
- Staples and FedEx Office wrote to the Ontario government to
promote stronger legislation to protect the Northern Boreal and
to encourage resolution of endangered caribou issues in the
Southern Boreal.
The changes partly reflect the companies’ joint work with
environmental groups, including ForestEthics’ Corporate Action
Program, which educates companies and encourages and supports
them in using more sustainable forest products.
Copies of the report are available on the ForestEthics website
at: http://www.forestethics.org/green-grades-09
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