Under increasing pressure from environmental groups, major companies like FedEx Office, Office Depot and Staples are beginning to favour greener sources from Canada’s Boreal forest, according to the 3rd annual Green Grades report released today by ForestEthics and Dogwood Alliance. Others, like Unisource and United Stationers are changing their procurement policies and shifting away from Endangered Forests.
The report, which ranks companies according to their forest-related environmental performance, and comes hot on the heels of a recent Greenpeace/Kimberley Clark paper supply agreement, suggests that environmental concern is translating into major market signals in the Canadian forest products sector.
“These changes mean the bad guys are losing business and the companies who are working to lessen their impact on Canada’s Boreal forest are getting more business,” said Catharine Grant with ForestEthics. “Companies and governments need to pay attention to these market signals, and understand that outdated forestry practices carry a real financial risk.”
According to the report, in the past year companies like FedEx Office, Office Depot, and Staples have begun shifting multi-million dollar paper contracts toward more environmentally-friendly forestry operations certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Examples of specific actions taken by the companies to date include:
- FedExOffice is shifting its primary copy paper from an uncertified source in the Southern U.S. to an FSC certified North American paper. The move represents roughly 70% of FedExOffice’s total paper consumption.
- Office Depot is shifting more of its sources away from uncertified Canadian sources, to FSC certified sources. One Canadian company in particular has lost close to 50% of its contract with OfficeDepot because it has failed to provide FSC certified options in recent years.
- Staples and FedEx Office wrote to the Ontario government to promote stronger legislation to protect the Northern Boreal and to encourage resolution of endangered caribou issues in the Southern Boreal.
The changes partly reflect the companies’ joint work with environmental groups, including ForestEthics’ Corporate Action Program, which educates companies and encourages and supports them in using more sustainable forest products.
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