Forest Friendly 500 - Say No to Forest Destruction - What would happen if 500 businesses decided to stop using Kimberly-Clark paper products?

Kimberly-Clark, Greenpeace & NRDC talks

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:40:04 -0400

An Open Letter to Forest Friendly Companies or Institutions

You may have received a letter from Kimberly-Clark (K-C) revealing that Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) were in confidential negotiations with the company to improve its fiber sourcing practices. We would like to correct some misperceptions that may arise from that correspondence.

Kimberly-Clark claims "good progress was made" during the talks. This is misleading. Though we exchanged information, our discussions never reached the stage where substantive agreements and real progress could be made.

The letter is also inaccurate in suggesting that Greenpeace is to blame for the failure of the discussions. At the outset of our dialogue, K-C, Greenpeace and NRDC together agreed to an exhaustive roadmap to the process, which itemized the issues to be addressed, the schedule of meetings, and the milestones against which progress would be measured. This roadmap included a clear commitment on the part of K-C to address our concerns regarding the recycled content of its products. K-C made this express, written agreement with full knowledge that its recycled fiber Life Cycle Assessment was in process and would not be completed until after our meetings were concluded. Yet, more than a month into our talks and literally on the eve of our first substantive negotiating session, K-C notified Greenpeace and NRDC for the first time that it was unwilling to deal seriously with the issue of recycled content. Unfortunately, this violation of the roadmap agreement necessarily triggered an end to the talks.

Greenpeace and NRDC work with a wide range of corporations to the benefit of their business and the health of our environment. Though we do not always agree with the companies we campaign against and cooperate with, we rely on a level of honesty and professionalism to enable our collaborative work. Greenpeace and NRDC stand ready to resume discussions with Kimberly-Clark when those conditions exist.

Until then, we will continue to engage with companies like yours to build the demand for sustainable paper products. Fortunately, that community of companies continues to grow. In the past few weeks, the University of Miami and the Philadelphia Eagles professional football team made plans to replace K-C products with those of more environmentally responsible companies.

Big Businesses, Educational Institutions Join Forest Friendly Businesses in Rejecting K-C

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:53:50 -0400

While over 700 small businesses have rejected Kimberly-Clark products, the campaign has also made significant progress with encouraging educational institutions and large businesses to boycott K-C products until the company stops destroying ancient forests to make disposable products. To date:

-- Aspen Skiing Company has removed K-C products from its ski mountains, hotels and restaurants, as well as dropped all printed references to Kleenex Corner, an iconic spot on Aspen Mountain.
-- American University has sent a letter of concern to K-C that highlights the university’s decision to avoid using K-C paper products
-- Rice University has removed K-C products from its Housing and Dining
-- Skidmore College has written a letter of concern to K-C
-- The Green Restaurant Association has sent a letter to K-C stating that they will not endorse K-C products

K-C Losing Customers: New York Times Ad Features Forest Friendly Businesses

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:45:22 -0400

In a ad in the National Edition of the New York Times newspaper, Greenpeace announced that more than 650 businesses in North America and from around the world are refusing to use tissue products manufactured by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and made from ancient forests. The businesses are calling on the company to use more recycled fiber and pulp from sustainable logging operations in its products including Kleenex brand facial tissue.

The company is causing the destruction of North America’s largest ancient forest, the Boreal, which is home to endangered species and is essential in combating global warming pollution.

Green Restaurant Association Sends Letter to Kimberly-Clark

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:29:22 -0400

In another example of a business taking action to protect forests, the Green Restaurant Association recently wrote to Kimberly-Clark. Their letter encouraged the company to:

1. Commit to increasing its post consumer recycled content to match that of Cascades Tissues North River Line
2. Commit to only using FSC certified wood products, when it is using virgin fiber
3. Switch to processed chlorine free or totally chlorine free

Forest Friendly Recruiter: A.C. Gobin

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 14:19:52 -0400

A.C. Gobin is a team leader volunteer with Greenpeace Canada for the Kleercut campaign. Though this is his first environmental campaign, he and his team are responsible for over 43 of the nearly 600 Forest Friendly businesses. How does anyone—especially with a team of 4 recruiters on the first day and 2 on the other two days— get so many businesses signed up? Below, A.C. discusses some of his recruiting tips.

When approaching businesses, A.C. suggests that Forest Friendly recruiters should greet businesses with a “big wave and wear a big smile.” Though this may not be possible to do in all places, A.C. notes that stopping “into one of the radio stations got them to announce that we were in the area and recruiting businesses,” and proved to be a good technique. He adds when talking about the campaign to businesses, “Speak slowly and calmly with an elevated tone.” A sample of the Forest Friendly speech A.C. and his team give follows:

A.C.: “Sir/Ma'am, how are you today?”

Speaking out against Kimberly-Clark: Quotes from businesses who took the pledge

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:24:19 -0500

“We have stopped buying Kimberly-Clark products, and we are encouraging others to do the same. We have also placed links on our website to the Kleercut pages. As an environmentally responsible business, we see it as our duty to do what we can to help stop destructive practices wherever they occur.”
-Wildlife & Countryside Services Abergele, United Kingdom -

“This is my business and I have banned any Kimberly-Clark products. I also advocate that my clients do the same. Keep up the good work.”
-Peter Taylor & Associates Inc. Oshawa, Ontario Canada -

Taking Action: An interview with the Karma Food Cooperative, a business that said NO to Kimberly-Clark.

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 11:39:01 -0500

As word of Kimberly-Clark's record on ancient forest destruction continues to spread, businesses across North America and around the world are starting to say no to Kimberly-Clark tissue products. We recently hooked up with Graeme Hussey, General Manager of Toronto’s Karma Food Co-operative, to find out more about why they decided to no longer sell Kimberly-Clark products.

Join the 700 Businesses Taking Action for Forests: Take the Pledge Not to Use Kimberly-Clark Products

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:38:30 -0500

Hundreds of companies in the U.S, Canada and throughout the world are taking action to protect ancient forests. To date, 700 companies have joined Greenpeace’s Forest Friendly Business project by pledging not to use Kimberly-Clark products such as Kleenex, until the company stops destroying the last remaining ancient forests.