|
ForestEthics
Claim
|
The
Truth
|
| 1.
"Every day we are losing more of our forests to the production
of paper products." |
1.
Despite demand for paper products, which increases every year,
there are more forests in the United States today than there were
50 years ago. |
| 2.
"…many of these products - office paper…are used once and then
thrown away." |
2.
Americans recycle paper products at a higher level than any other
material. 48% of paper consumed in this country is recovered and
recycled to make new products. |
| 3.
"Pulp mills consume more than 12,000 square miles of forest each
year." |
3.
The U.S. forest products industry and private landowners reforest
more than 14,000 square miles of forest annually. Forestlands
in the United States grow more than 30 percent more wood each
year than is harvested. |
| 4.
"…less than 1% of the total pulp produced is manufactured from
nonwood, tree free alternatives." |
4.
Paper made from cotton fiber is readily available. Other proposed
alternatives, such as kenaf and hemp, are not grown in sufficient
quantities in the United States to meet our demand for paper products.
Existing forests would need to be eliminated to make way for enough
land to grow these alternative crops. |
| 5.
"Paper comprises from 40 to 50 percent of the trash in typical
landfills" |
5.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper comprises
31 percent of landfills. In 2000, Americans recovered 49.4 million
tons of paper, or 48% of all paper consumed in the U.S. That represents
an increase of nearly 6% over 1999. |
|
ForestEthics'
Demands on Staples
|
Truth
Behind ForestEthics' Demands on Staples
|
| 1.
"Immediately phase out all…products made from fiber from U.S.
public lands." |
1.
Fiber output from national forests has decreased by more than
75% in the last 12 years. As the Forest Service looks to reduce
the very real threat of catastrophic wildfires and improve forest
health through the thinning of forests, it is important these
trees not be wasted. Whenever possible these trees that have been
thinned should be utilized for useful wood and paper products
rather than going to waste. |
| 2.
"Set a target of 50% post consumer content for all paper product..." |
2.
Office papers containing up to 30% post-consumer fiber are currently
readily available. The U.S. EPA recognizes this as the most realistic
goal, given current technological constraints. |
| 3.
"Immediately phase out all products… [made from] 100% virgin fiber." |
3.
Wood fibers cannot be recycled indefinitely - there must be an
infusion of new, stronger fibers to maintain the integrity of
paper. |
| 4.
"Paper made from agricultural fiber should be made available in
all stores or other points of sale." |
4.
Paper made from cotton fiber is readily available. "Tree-free"
alternatives are not realistic or environmentally preferable at
this point. |
| 5.
"Educate all employees, customers, and suppliers on the benefits
of recycled paper, recycling, the availability of alternative
fibers, and the benefits of healthy forest resources." |
5.
The industry is poised to assist Staples and all office product
retailers in outreach and education efforts to explain the benefits
of recycling. Alternative fibers, as discussed earlier, are not
a realistic option at this point. No one is more committed to
healthy forests than the forest products industry-they make their
living there and count on the long-term sustainability of all
forests, both public and private. |
