Media release - April 28, 2005
As Kimberly-Clark’s annual general meeting (AGM) began today, members of Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) attended the event, calling on the company to stop purchasing pulp from destructive logging operations in North American ancient forests, especially the Canadian boreal. Greenpeace activists also held events around Irving, highlighting the need for Kimberly-Clark, the world’s largest producer of tissue products, to increase both the use of recycled and sustainably produced fiber.
"Kimberly-Clark is wiping away ancient forests by using boreal
tree fiber for disposable tissue products including the Kleenex
brand. They need to be a responsible corporate citizen and increase
ecologically sound fiber in all their brands," said Pamela Wellner,
senior Greenpeace forest campaigner, who attended the AGM.
In conjunction with the AGM, Greenpeace engaged shoppers and
employees of Kimberly-Clark, the maker of the popular Kleenex®
brand, with a 15-foot "Kleercut Truck." The truck, which resembles
a giant Kleenex® box, made stops at the company's headquarters in
Irving, Texas as well as at two busy shopping areas, where
activists traveling with the truck handed out information about
Kimberly-Clark's role in the destruction of ancient boreal
forests.
"Almost 40,000 concerned NRDC activists have already asked
Kimberly-Clark to increase the post-consumer recycled content of
its products," added Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, an NRDC senior attorney
who also attended the AGM. "By using post-consumer recycled
content, Kimberly-Clark would relieve much of the pressure to log
Canada's boreal - our last, large North American wilderness
forest."
Greenpeace also distributed "Kimberly-Clark:
Investing in Forest Destruction" to investment analysts and the
company's board of directors. The report summarizes the rise in
green consumerism, socially responsible investments, and the
potential economic ramifications of the company's ecologically
unsound practices. The report also includes specific
recommendations on how Kimberly-Clark can improve its
practices.
Currently, less than 19 percent of the pulp Kimberly-Clark uses
for tissue products is from recycled sources, and none is used for
Kleenex® products. Much of the pulp used is sourced from North
America's boreal forest. The boreal forest, often called the
"Amazon of the North," represents 25 percent of the world's
remaining ancient forests. Thirty percent of North America's land
birds and 40 percent of its waterfowl depend on this forest and its
wetlands.
See
photos of the events.
B-roll and high resolution photos of
boreal forests and clearcuts are available.
Other contacts: Clark Stevens, Greenpeace Media Officer
(202) 319-2429;
In Dallas on April 28,
Pamela Wellner
(415) 730-0105
Susan Casey-Lefkowitz,
(202) 289-2366
Richard Brooks
(416) 573-7209
Exp. contact date: 2005-05-28 00:00:00