Earlier today we released a report exposing KFC for driving rainforest destruction and pushing tigers toward extinction.
Sadly, KFC executives have responded by putting a big bucket of denial on their heads.
The company first said that 60% of their packaging in the US comes from “sustainable” sources. Then, they said it was 80%. Hmmm. Then, they started to claim that they don’t buy from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) in the UK or US.
There are so many things wrong with this statements, we’re going to have to take them one by one.
First, KFC is clearly buying paper products that originate from APP. There is plenty of evidence in our report. I hope KFC executives take the time to read it. But, another way to prove this is with pretty pictures. Above is a photo of a box containing napkins destined for use in KFC. If you look at these napkins you’ll notice that the name PT Pindo Deli. This is an APP company based in Indonesia. Beyond this clear link, we had the napkins tested by an independent lab. You know what they found under the microscope? Mixed Tropical Hardwood wood fiber – in other words, the remnants of rainforests.
Second, KFC executives are using the word “sustainable” in a very creative way. Their mysterious 60%-80% figures seems to include controversial clearcut logging that has been criticized for years by conservationists. If this is what the Colonel calls “sustainable” he has a bad case of denial.
Third, KFC’s statement is specific to the US. This ignores it’s massive global operations. China – not the US – is KFC’s largest market now. And, buying policy standards (or lack thereof) made in Louisville effect forests around the world.
This is all getting way more complicated than it needs to be. KFC and parent company Yum! Brands clearly have problems in their supply chain. They can be fixed. Other companies have taken on the same issues and figured it out. A global policy that sets standards for the kinds of paper the company will buy – if properly implemented – would do the trick.
But, that won’t happen with a culture of denial. The first step is admitting you have a problem. C’mon Colonel…we know you can do it.
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