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Don't Buy Old Growth
Visit our campaign partners the Rainforest Action Network at www.ran.org
Read Indiana University's Old Growth Purchasing Policy secured by IFA and IU-SEAC
Old Growth Policy
SUBJECT: Protection of Old Growth Forests
SOURCE: Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
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POLICY NO: P. 15. DATE ISSUED:
May 1, 2001
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RATIONALE: Indiana University recognizes the value of old growth forests and that certain responsibility may be addressed within the procurement effort. Therefore common practice shall be to avoid the purchase of wood and paper products, and the use of such products, whose content is derived from wood raw materials found in old growth forests.
POLICY: Indiana University will not purchase any wood or paper
products derived from old growth forests.
DEFINITIONS: Old growth forest. Stands and or landscapes with
either of the following characteristics:
* A proportion of the trees have reached (or nearly reached ) their maximum age relative to natural disturbance patterns to which the ecosystem is adapted.
* Stands that have been essentially unaffected by intensive industrial activities over time periods long enough so that forest structure and composition are determined largely by natural disturbance and regeneration, and which are dominated by native tree species.
* Included are all tropical forests and temperate rainforest (excluding those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council).
Wood or paper products: Any product that is based on wood or wood fiber products. This would include items such as paper, wooden furniture, plywood, paneling, particle board, dimensional lumber, veneer, etc.
PROCEDURE
REFERENCE: Throughout the purchasing process, the Purchasing
Department is bound by and follows statutes, regulations, and ethical standards.
The Indiana University Purchasing Department will notify all vendors and contractors that we are eliminating the use of all products derived from old growth forests.
Indiana University reserves the right to ask for documentation from any supplier if sufficient evidence is presented that the supplier is in violation of this policy. Indiana University also reserves the right to sever all dealings with any supplier in violation of this policy.
Indiana University will review this policy within two years to ensure that it is meeting the desired goals. Also, at that time, Indiana University will re-evaluate whether a formal certification process with suppliers of wood and paper products will improve this process.
CROSS
REFERENCE:
RESPONSIBLE
ORGANIZATION: Indiana University Purchasing Department.
New Boise Policy to Stay Out of
Endangered Forests Raises the Bar
Dirty Dozen
Logging Companies Targeted
The September 3, 2003
release of Boise's new policy on endangered
forests
marks a shift in the timber industry.
A dramatic
three year campaign has resulted in the cancellation
of
millions of dollars worth of business for Boise
Cascade. Activists
dogged their shareholder meetings,
took over stores that purchased their
products, flew
a giant dinosaur over their corporate headquarters
and
humiliated them in the press. Students
across the U.S. persuaded their
universities to
cancel Boise contracts. Many of America's largest
brand
names, including Levi-Strauss, Lowe's and
Kinko's put intense market
pressure on Boise. Dubbed
the "Dinosaur of the Timber Industry, Logging
Itself
to Extinction," Boise tried to shake the image by
changing their
name. They even started making 100%
recycled paper to try to
regain
customers.
But, all to no avail. Their
profits were dropping, their customers
leaving or
pressuring them to change. During this time Boise
dropped
from the number one logger of public lands in
the U.S. to number 11. A
coalition of Chilean and
U.S. activists forced them to abandon plans to
build
the largest chip mill in the world in the heart of
Chile's
temperate rainforests. Mexican peasants
kicked Boise out of the old
growth forests of
Guerrero, Mexico
So, Boise has buckled. Their new
Endangered Forest commitment marks a
new direction
for Boise and offers hope for the forests of
Chile,
Indonesia, the U.S. and Canada's boreal
forest.
The "Boise and the Environment"
Policy
* Commits Boise to stop sourcing wood from
endangered forests in the
U.S. and other
countries.
* Commits Boise to working with
governments, conservation organizations
and others to
identify endangered forest areas, including in
Chile,
Indonesia, the United States and Canada's
Boreal forests.
* Commits Boise to examine its
procurement of sensitive tree species
such as
meranti, lauan, South American mahogany, African
mahogany and
Alaska yellow cedar.
* Recognizes the
importance of protecting biodiversity
hotspots,
tropical wilderness areas, and other
important areas.
* Recognizes the importance of
adopting chain-of-custody monitoring, to
ensure that
wood procured from other landowners comes from
well-managed
forests, not endangered forests.
Commits Boise to adopting some form
of
chain-of-custody monitoring.
* Commits Boise to
continue avoiding the planting and use of
genetically
modified trees.
* Commits Boise to
producing residential siding recycled plastic
and
recovered urban wood.
* Commits Boise to
exploring Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC)
certification for its Brazilian
operations.
Further, Boise has committed to
withdraw itself from the lawsuit against
the Roadless
Conservation Policy and is in the process of doing
so.
Is the Boise policy perfect or all that we
had hoped for? No.
*** Boise's policy
relies heavily on wood products
industry's
certification scheme, i.e., the
American Forest & Paper
Association's
"Sustainable Forestry Initiative"
(SFI). Boise relies heavily on the SFI
for its
biodiversity protection policy and its approach to
biodiversity
hotspots and tropical wilderness, among
other things. SFI is grossly
inadequate in all
of these areas. For more information on
the
shortcomings of SFI see:
www.americanlands.org/sfi_report.htm
***
The statement hints at "healthy forest" language - we
must be
vigilant and not allow Boise to endorse the
mislabeled Bush
Administration "Healthy Forests
Initiative" which allows the logging of
old growth
and large mature trees under the guise of forest health
and
fuels reduction.
*** The old
growth policy language is an empty promise here in
the
U.S. since it still relies on the 5000
acres or larger patch size for
the 2004 phase
out. We will need to continue to monitor their
public
lands logging and hold them to NO old growth
logging in the U.S.
*** Boise is only just
beginning to look at certifying its lands to
the
standards of the independent Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC), and is
not looking at certifying its
2.4 million acres of U.S. forests.
It will be up
to all of us who have done forest watch for years on
Boise
to continue and to heighten our vigilance. If
Boise does not follow
their agreements, we will hold
them accountable. Their customers are
watching and so
are we.
Congratulations and a big thank you to
all the activists who worked hard
on this campaign
and pushed Boise Cascade. We need to celebrate
this
victory for endangered forests. Call your local
paper and remind them of
all the Boise Cascade old
growth clearcuts in your area and ask them to
cover
this news.
CHALLENGE TO "THE DIRTY
DOZEN"
Concurrent with the release of "Boise and
the Environment," RAN sent
letters to "The Dirty
Dozen," the top 12 worst U.S. logging
companies
(Weyerhaeuser,
Georgia-Pacific,
International Paper, Louisiana-Pacific,
MeadWestvaco,
Plum Creek Timber, Potlatch, Rayonier,
Sierra Pacific Industries,
Sweetheart Holdings,
Universal Forest Products, and Bowater), asking
them
to move immediately
1. to phase out all logging
and procurement of wood products from
endangered and
old growth forests globally;
2. to commit to no
further conversion of native forests to
plantations;
3. to cease experimentation with
genetically-modified trees;
4. to end logging on U.S.
public lands;
5. to set a company-wide target of
averaging a minimum of thirty percent
post-consumer
recycled content for all the paper products you sell;
and
6. to adopt the principles and criteria of the
Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC).
For
questions about the Boise policy and the new "Dirty
Dozen" Campaign,
Contact: Pat Rasmussen,
patr@americanlands.org, 509-548-7640
To see
American Lands' analysis of the Boise policy written by
Daniel
Hall go to:
http://www.americanlands.org/Boise%20Policy%20Analysis%20Final.pdf
The Paper Campaign
Office Depot runs full page Green washing ad in USA TodayPaper Campaign Day of Action (TODAY) targets Office Depot
On Monday, Office Depot ran a full page green washing AD in USA Today,
claiming that the company is working to protect endangered forests. In fact,
Office Depot's controversial environmental policy, which was released in
April of this year, contains such a narrow definition of endangered forests
that it virtually guarantees the destruction of them. This policy fails to
protect the world's remaining intact endangered forests, such as the Tongass
National Forest in Alaska, the Amazon Rainforest, the Cumberland Plateau in
Tennessee, and the Boreal forests of Canada.
Why is Office Depot spending approximately $100,000 to run an ad instead of
putting its money into creating change and adopting a environmental paper
procurement policy that would truly protect the world's remaining intact
forests? Clearly, we're making a difference.
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To: All Activists
From: American Lands Alliance and National Forest Protection Alliance
RE: Office Depot National Day of Action, October 8th, 2003
PLEASE HELP CONVINCE OFFICE DEPOT TO END ALL SOURCING FROM NATIONAL
FORESTS!!!
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1. Action Alert For October 8th Day of Action with call-in number
2. Sample Call-In Script For When You Call
3. Sample Letter for When you Fax
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American Lands and the National Forest Protection Alliance encourage
advocates for national forests to join The Paper Campaign--Wednesday, Oct.
8th.
Help Stop Office Depot from Destroying
Endangered Forests on a National Day of Action, October 8th!
Call Office Depot Headquarters TOLL FREE: 1-800-937-3600 x 82988
Office Depot has over $11 billion in sales and more than 1000 retail office
supply stores across the country. Since Staples released its commitment to
dramatically increase the recycled content in the paper it sells and stop
selling products from endangered forests, activists have asked Office Depot
to do the same. But instead of keeping up with its competitors, Office
Depot, under the direction of CEO Bruce Nelson, released an "environmental"
policy that allows for the continued destruction of endangered forests for
the paper products it sells.
On October 8th, we need your help for the National Day of Action against
Office Depot to pressure CEO Bruce Nelson to change his stance and stop
selling products from endangered forests.
Background
Last November, Staples announced they would stop selling paper coming from
endangered forests, INCLUDING US NATIONAL FORESTS, and average 30%
post-consumer recycled paper for all the paper they sell. This historic
agreement came after two years of The Paper Campaign's efforts including
more than 600 protests at Staples stores nationwide, ads featuring rock
legends R.E.M., and thousands of letters and calls directed to the company's
CEO. This fall we will put the pressure on Office Depot to meet or beat
Staples' commitment.
The Southeast US, home to Office Depot's corporate headquarters and the most
biologically diverse forests in North America, is the largest
paper-producing region in the world. Office Depot is destroying forests by
continuing to sell paper coming from endangered forests like the Southern
US, the Boreal Forests of Canada and US PUBLIC LANDS. The paper industry
continues to be the single largest industrial wood consumer in the world.
Get involved in the National Day of Action against Office Depot!
On October 8th, visit a store near you (see www.officedepot.com), deliver
letters, get creative, hold a demonstration, picket, and contact the local
media! Tell them to stop selling endangered forests!
For factsheets and other materials or more information contact:
Kelly Sheehan, Dogwood Alliance, kelly@dogwoodalliance.org, 828-251-2525
Evan Thomas Paul, ForestEthics, evan@forestethics.org, 415-863-4563, x301
Debi Kar, ForestEthics, debi@forestethics.org, 415-863-4563, x302
Andrew George, NFPA, andrew@forestadvocate.org, 919-933-3073
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Paper Campaign's Office Depot Day of Action Call-In Script
--------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.: 1 800 937 3600 x 82988
Hi,
My name is ________ and I am calling from [give City, State], near the (YOUR
NATIONAL FOREST - if applicable). I am calling to urge Office Depot to stop
selling products that come from endangered forests, INCLUDING US NATIONAL
FORESTS.
**If you should get further than this with the person who answers, here are
some talking points**
**If the OD person responds that they already have a policy to protect "rare
and vulnerable" forests**
The "rare and vulnerable" definition does not protect intact forests such as
the Canadian boreal or the Amazon rainforest, and only commits Office Depot
to protecting tiny patches of only the rarest forests and isolated fragments
left after clearcuts.
Office Depot's policy does not match recent agreements by companies such as
Staples and Kinko's. Furthermore, companies including Home Depot, IKEA and
Lowe's have all agreed to protect endangered forests and are working to
implement such protection.
Endangered Forests definitions are part of an important, ongoing process
between environmentalists and industry to define and protect the most
valuable forests on the globe. In practical terms, these forests are "No Go"
zones. Office Depot's failure to engage in the Endangered Forest process is
a clear lack of leadership and is unacceptable.
For more information, see www.thepapercampaign.com, www.forestethics.org,
www.dogwoodalliance.org and our Office Depot factsheet and action packet.
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The Paper Campaign's Office Depot Day of Action Fax-In Letter to CEO
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Fax Number: 1 561 438 4400
Bruce Nelson, CEO
Office Depot
2200 Old Germantown Road
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Dear Mr. Nelson:
I am writing to express concern and disappointment that Office Depot has
still not committed to phase out products coming from endangered forests. As
a leader in the office supply industry, Office Depot has the responsibility
to set the standard by developing policies that protect our forests. Office
Depot needs to eliminate its sale of paper products from endangered forests
as many other leading companies have, namely Staples, Kinko's, Lowe's and
Home Depot.
My concern centers on inadequacies of your company's current environmental
policy. The policy does not protect endangered and old growth forests like
the Canadian boreal, the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia and the
Amazon rainforest, or endangered native forests in the Southern U.S. Using
the term 'rare and vulnerable' does not require proactive protection of
forests still intact, it only supports a reactive approach to forest
fragmentation.
As an industry leader, Office Depot can't sit back while one company leads
the way on environmental responsibility. Office Depot's adoption of the
words, "Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value" echoes that of the
timber industry's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), a certification
scheme that undermines the efforts of environmentalists and other
stakeholders to protect the globe's forests. The SFI ignores conservation
for:
. Intact forest landscapes that have not yet been fragmented, degraded, or
destroyed
. High biodiversity forests where there is no legally recognized or known
endangered species
. Critical habitat of conservation species that are not 'imperiled' but are
critical to achieve conservation goals
. Critical areas of natural forest in degraded and altered ecosystems that
are not critically imperiled.
I am urging Office Depot to protect Endangered Forests by immediate phase
out of paper originating from Endangered Forests, including the world's last
remaining ancient forests, US National Forests and public lands, Boreal
Forests and endangered forests in the Southern U.S. Office Depot's policy
does not meet the actions necessary to conserve forests. I am urging Office
Depot to include endangered forest language in its environmental policy.
Including the protection of 'Endangered Forests' in the environmental policy
of Office Depot is a critical step to ensure your business is
environmentally and socially responsible. I would like to shop for office
supplies in a store that does not destroy the environment; unfortunately,
that currently leads me to your competitor. Please let me know about your
plans to address this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Your Name and Address
Tree-Free Alternatives
List of good post-consumer paper companiesRecycled Products Purchasing Cooperative
www.recycledproducts.org
Tree-Cycle
www.treecycle.com
Rick - (406) 586-5287
Three Mountain Papers
www.threemountainpapers.com
toll-free 866.THREE-MT
Real Earth Paper Company
http://www.treeco.com/paper.htm
Green Earth Office Supply
http://store.yahoo.com/greenearthofficesupply/paperreams.html
Greenline Paper (Good for East Coast orders)
http://www.greenlinepaper.com
Green Order
http://greenorder.com/home/
ReThink Paper
http://www.rethinkpaper.org/
Greg Barber Company
www.gregbarberco.com
100% PCW Evolution and Sandpiper, tree free Kenaf, Hemp, Old Money, Denim Blues and Weeds, and 60% PCW/100% PCF New Life DP.
We ship 1 ream and up. We also offer printing.d
Office Products
http://www.recycledofficeproducts.com/
http://www.greenlinepaper.com
World's Largest Piece of Handmade Recycled Paper
During April 2003, volunteers from the Indiana Forest Alliance helped to construct the world's largest piece of handmade recycled paper. When completed, the paper was 20 feet by 30 feet and was embedded with wildflower seeds throughout. It broke a world's record set in Singapore and was verified for the Guiness Book of World's Records.Pieces of the paper are available for a donation of $11 per 6"x 6" square. Funds raised wil benefit the Indiana Forests Alliance, the Sycamore Land Trust, Heartwood, and the Center for Sustainable Living.
To get your piece, and to support your local conservation organizations, contact Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese who has poured her heart and soul into this product and to whom we are in great admiration and gratitude:
Volunteers of building the world's largest piece of paper. . .
Richard Torstrick and Mary Ann Williams have worked very hard the past 4
months creating a beautiful DVD documentary of our paper building project,
which is now finished. They are hoping that showing the tape will help
generate more awareness and sales of the squares.
These two have really done an amazing job!--they have put it in story
format--how the idea came to be, how we got started, the breakdown of the
garbage disposal, how we dealt with the sprouting seeds, rolling up the
paper to get it to the farmer's market, etc. There is also a really cool
sped-up section where you can see the paper being built to "Flight of the
Bumble Bee" in one minute! There are interviews with several volunteers and
representatives of the groups getting the money, and a section on modern
paper production and why people should support conservation and recycling
efforts.
They are speaking to someone at WFYI in Indy right now about getting it
aired on public TV up there. I am calling BCAT today. However, we're also
wondering if any of the volunteers would like a copy for themselves. It
would cost $15--this will cover production of the DVD, the case, shipping
and a small donation to these groups. If so, please e-mail me so that I can
get a count on how many we need to make, but then send a $15 check to
Earthscape P.O. Box 2122 Bloomington, IN 47402.
We are also having a public showing of the documentary on Wednesday, October
22 at 7 p.m. in Room 1-C of the Monroe Co. Public Library. Our plan is to
have refreshments, representatives of the 4 organizations talk briefly about
their mission, show the DVD, and then hopefully, sell lots of sections of
the paper. Please make plans to attend!
I checked our status on the Guinness website. They received our supporting
materials at the end of June, and are researching their validity right now.
We're supposed to hear something within 6 weeks, which has passed, so I hope
to have the official word soon.
Please let me know if you want a copy of the DVD, so we know if we should
burn any more. Thanks, Sheryl
Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese
Owner/Artist
Twisted Limb Paperworks
100% recycled paper
handmade in our studio
stitched into distinctive
invitations and stationery products
P.O. Box 2122 Bloomington, IN 47402
(812) 876-9352 (Phone)
(812) 876-9361 (Fax)
www.twistedlimbpaper.com
sheryl@twistedlimbpaper.com
