Consuming Canada's Boreal Forest: The chain of ... - Greenpeace

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Appendix D:
Sample Purchasing
Policy for
Environmentally
Friendly Paper or
Wood Products
Greenpeace
[Company name] and its diverse parts and affiliated divisions pledge to protect ancient
forests and to enact a policy of responsible use of pulp/wood products. Ancient forests are
the planet’s original forests and less than 10 per cent of these remain intact. These forest
are the home and tradional territory of hundreds First Nations. These forests sustain a multitude
of wildlife species, including threatened and endangered species such as woodland
caribou. As well, these forests play an important role in combatting climate change and providing
freshwater. We are particularly concerned about the future of Canada’s Boreal Forest.
For these reasons, our company pledges to support the protection of intact forests by
developing and following this purchasing policy for environmentally friendly pulp and paper
products [or lumber and wood products]: [product names].
The use of pulp/wood is essential for operations of our company. As we use large
amounts of pulp/wood, our purchasing choices have considerable environmental significance.
Our organization commits to using products made without the use of pulp/wood
acquired from intact forest areas as well as areas of habitat of threatened and
endangered species such as woodland caribou and areas that are logged without
the consent of local First Nations.
We will inform our suppliers of our purchasing preferences and we will work with our suppliers
to enforce and fully implement our purchasing policy. Finally, as of [date], the following
aspects of this purchasing policy will be officially enacted in all the offices of [company
name], as well as in all its diverse parts and affiliated divisions: [division names].
Increased use of recycled fibre
We give preference to the use of pulp made from recycled fibre where such a fibre is suitable
to maintain or enhance the quality, strength, and brightness of our paper products. Recycled
fibre is an environmentally friendly choice because it encourages the reuse of waste materials
and its production processes are more energy efficient. Recycled fibre cuts down on the use
of water resources and contributes less to the emission of greenhouse gases.
Increased use of fibres certified by the FSC
In the case where the use of recycled fibre is not possible or appropriate, we give prefer-
ence to virgin tree fibre certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certification
assures us that wood used in production of our products has been acquired from forests
that are managed responsibly and according to strict environmental and social standards.
Our goal is to have 25 per cent of our virgin tree fibre needs met with FSC-certified wood by
the end of 2008. By 2010, we aim to have 50 per cent of our virgin-fibre wood FSC-certified.
By 2012, we aim to have 100 per cent of our virgin-fibre wood FSC-certified.
Consuming Canada's Boreal Forest: The chain of destruction from logging companies to consumers