With a slice of a 1000 year old Douglas Fir tree from BC as a backdrop, 16 Canadian companies today received awards for their commitment to the world's ancient forests, from the Markets Initiative (MI) coalition.
Telecommunications giant Bell Canada, Kinko's Canada, Roots, and the financial institution Citizens Bank of Canada were among the award recipients. The MI coalition, comprised of Forest Action Network, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Greenpeace, and the Sierra Club of BC, applauded the recipients for wood and paper procurement policies that will eliminate their ancient forest products consumption over the next three years.
"The recipients are corporate leaders in efforts towards conserving Canada's remaining ancient forests as well as those of the Amazon, Russia, and the rest of the world," said MI Coalition manager Nicole Rycroft. "The marketplace has tremendous influence in reducing resource consumption. Saving our ancient forest heritage will take acts of courage and vision, both from people in the streets and those in the boardroom."
Only 20 per cent of the world's ancient forests remain standing. The majority of the world's land species make their home in these forests. In British Columbia alone, one in eight species have been listed at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction in places such as the Great Bear Rainforest and Clayoquot Sound. A B.C. Ministry of the Environment report released in April 2000 identified logging as one of the major threats to these species.
Bell Canada's letter to the Markets Initiative said, "..it is our intention to favour those wood-based product suppliers who will have adopted sustainable practices which do not contribute to the destruction of irreplaceable natural treasures such as the ancient forests."
These Canadian companies join hundreds of U.S. and European companies already committed to phasing out the use of ancient forest products, including industry leaders such as Ikea and Home Depot.
"By committing to not be a part of ancient forest destruction, these Canadian corporations join a growing global trend in corporate social responsibility." said Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Peter Tabuns, who helped present the awards. "We challenge companies like Xerox and Revy/Lansing Build-all, who have, so far, been lagging behind this growing trend, to catch up to today's industry leaders".
Companies involved with today's announcement include: Bell Canada, the Body Shop Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Chesterman Property Group, Citizens Bank of Canada, Clairol Canada, Communicopia, Happy Planet Food, Hollyhock, Husky Injection Molding; Kinko's Inc, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Renewal Partners, Shared Vision Magazine, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Roots.
The companies have made a commitment and started implementing ecologically sound wood and paper purchasing policies, which involve:
"As procurement policies shift towards ecologically responsible alternatives such as agricultural residue, recycled fibre and reclaimed lumber, increased market demand will create a positive investment climate for these alternative industries. We can expect creation of new and expanded businesses in communities across Canada, including the Coast and the Prairies," said Sierra Club of B.C. campaigner Darcy Riddell
The awards ceremony took place at the Mountain Equipment Co-op Toronto store. MEC is also an award recipient. The awards were copies of the large display advertisement which appeared in the May 31st Globe and Mail, mounted on tree-free wheat straw construction panels from Manitoba.
The Markets Initiative is dedicated to reducing Canadian consumption of ancient forests and creating economic and political leverage for their protection by working with the Canadian business sector to alter their purchasing and investment practices in wood and paper products.
For more information, contact: Nicole Rycroft 416-580-4477 (cell). Don Huff, Environmental Economics International 416-972-7404 or cell 416-805-7720.
Please also refer to the MI coalition website at www.oldgrowthfree.com for further information and to view the advertisement.Audio clips for radio broadcast are available.