Five reasons why KFC should take deforestation off the menu

by Cassady Craighill

November 9, 2012

Stopping deforestation might seem like a no-brainer, but KFC failing to act suggests they still dont get it. So were spelling it out in five simple points.

1. Only 400 Sumatran tigers left

The rainforests in Indonesia are home to a unique range species and endangered animals, including elephants and orangutans. The continued trashing of their natural habitat puts them at further risk. There are now only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. If we dont act they could be gone for good.

2. Deforestation meets superstorm Sandy

Indonesia is the third biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, after China and the US. Over 80% comes from deforestation and peatland degradation. The challenge of climate change, and freak weather conditions like super-storm Sandy, have as much to do with burning fossil fuels as they do with deforestation.

3. Big business crushing indigenous communities

Local communities who live around the rainforests are affected in a number of ways. Indigenous tribes, such as Orang Rimba and Talang Mamak, are dependent on the forests for their livelihoods. In addition, deforestation is causing tigers to be forced out of their natural habitat and into nearby villages, with disastrous consequences.

4. Rise of the super mill

Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) is planning to build a new pulp mill, which will be one of the largest in the world. If it goes ahead it could spell disaster for Indonesias remaining rainforests.

5. Solutions are easy

KFC position themselves as a caring company. So why not take action to source paper packaging in a sustainable way? Several big global companies have adopted policies to keep deforestation out of their supply chains.KFC in the UK has said it will stop sourcing from companies like APP so why are KFC global bosses still dragging their feet on an issue which is possible to sort?

If these reasons weren’t compelling enough, perhaps these guys could help in convincing KFC to cut ties with deforestation once and for all.

A few weeks ago we made you a promise. We said that if 30,000 of you emailed KFC, asking them to sever ties with rainforest trashing companies like APP, wed dunk the Colonel in a giant vat of dipping sauce. You smashed that target, with more than 50,000 people taking action. To thank you, and send a clear message to KFC that were not done yet, well be Colonel dunking on 15th November.

Join us for the Big Dip im the biggest dipping event of the year. And the best part? You get to choose the sauce!

Cassady Craighill

By Cassady Craighill

Cassady is a media officer for Greenpeace USA based on the East Coast. She covers climate change and energy, particularly how both issues relate to the Trump administration.

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