Two activists have locked their arms into the giant tissue box,
with a banner between them reading “Kleenex=Ancient Forest
Destruction.” The protest is the latest in Greenpeace’s campaign to
highlight Kimberly-Clark’s irresponsible logging practices and
continuing deception about these practices to consumers and
investors alike. This action follows a blockade set up last week at
the company’s headquarters in Turin, Italy. View slideshow.
“Time and again, Kimberly-Clark has refused to admit what we
have proven to be true – that they are engaged in the destruction
of ancient forests,” said Ginger Cassady, Greenpeace forests
campaigner. “Greenpeace is here to expose the company’s role in
forest destruction. We will stay here until they meet with us and
agree to stop destroying our world’s oldest and most precious
forests.”
The giant tissue box was deployed at the main entrance of the
facility which Greenpeace revealed to be a key processing facility
for old-growth trees from the Boreal forest. The Boreal forest is
considered one of the best defenses against global warming
pollution because it stores large amounts of land-bound carbon.
When the forest is clearcut for products like Kleenex, the trees
and plants release this carbon becoming a significant contributor
to global warming pollution. Greenpeace has been actively
campaigning to expose and change Kimberly-Clark’s practices since
2005.
More than 680 companies have signed up to participate in
Greenpeace’s “Forest Friendly 500” program and have pledged not to
buy Kimberly-Clark brands. Recent Leger Marketing polling shows
that over 80 percent of Americans are likely to buy recycled tissue
paper products and even pay more to protect ancient forests.
“Clearly, Kimberly-Clark is not concerned about what consumers want
or the growing trend of environmentally sustainable marketing,”
continued Cassady. “Many companies have implemented policies to
protect ancient forests, it’s time for Kimberly-Clark to do the
same.”
Stretching from Newfoundland to the Yukon, the Boreal forest is
referred to as the `Amazon of the North’ and represents over
twenty-five percent of the world’s remaining intact ancient
forests. It is home to numerous native communities, and nearly
fifty percent of all North American bird species, ranging from
hummingbirds to bald eagles, use this forest for nesting and
breeding grounds.
