Home > Press releases > 1997
16th Dec 1997
Britain's Christmas will use the equivalent of around quarter of a
million trees, Friends of the Earth warns today. Major retailers are
“named and shamed” for not stocking recycled cards
and wrapping paper.
An estimated 1.7 billion Christmas cards will be sent in Britain this
year. The equivalent of around 200,000 trees will be used to produce
the cards1. Hardly any cards on sale in high street stores
are made from recycled paper. More than 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper
will be used on Christmas presents, using the equivalent of approximately
50,000 trees. Few stores sell recycled wrapping paper2.
Of 7 stores surveyed by Friends of the Earth, WH Smiths, Tesco's, Sainsbury's,
Boots,Marks and Spencers & Woolworths did not stock recycled cards.
John Menzies were unclear, but admitted that any recycled cards would
be only a tiny fraction of their stock.
Demand for wood and paper is damaging the world's forests. To meet demand
from the UK and other countries, Sweden and Finland have destroyed most
of their ancient forests in favour of managed plantations. Only 5% of
Scandinavia's ancient forest now remains.Hundreds of forest-dwelling
plants and animals are threatened. Britain is the fifth largest user
of paper on earth. By the year 2010, UK paper use is predicted to rise
by three fifths over 1990 levels3.
Friends of the Earth is demanding cuts in UK paper use, and that shops
should sell recycled cards and wrapping paper. FOE is also promoting
the use of stickers so that cards can be saved and re-used next year4.
The public can help save precious forests, by re-using wrapping paper,
envelopes and cards, and then recycling paper products when they cannot
be used any more.
Commenting, Georgina Green of Friends of the Earth said:
“Major retailers deserve to be named
and shamed for their lack of concern for the world's forests. Cards
and wrapping paper should be made from recycled paper. We would ask
the public to help take the pressure off forests, by re-using paper
items,and recycling them at the end of their life. ”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The Post Office estimates 1.7 billion Christmas
cards were given or sent in 1996,and that an average card weighs approximately
20g. It takes approximately six mature trees to make a tonne of paper.
[2] In 1995, 11,068 tonnes of wrapping paper
was sold in the UK (National Statistics Office). Friends of the Earth
estimates that 75% of this is used at Christmas. Of seven high street
chains visited at Christmas 1996, (WH Smiths, Woolworths, Boots,Tesco,
J. Sainsbury, J. Menzies, Marks and Spencer), only one (Marks and Spencers)
stocked any recycled wrapping paper.
[3] The UK is the fifth highest user of paper
in the world (despite our comparatively small population). Friends of
the Earth wants UK use of wood and paper reduced by 65% by the year
2010 to save remaining forest resources. This reduction must be achieved
by more careful use, increasing the re-use and recycling of wood and
paper products and a change to throwaway attitudes.
Over 30% of the UK's paper and over 40% of the
UK's timber comes from Finland and Sweden. More than 1,700 forest-dependent
plants and animals are listed as endangered in Sweden, and over 700
in Finland. A managed forest or plantation cannot support many of these
species, for example the White-backed Woodpecker and the Flying Squirrel,
which are reliant on the last remaining patches of old,natural forest,
are seriously threatened - just 30 pairs of the White-backed Woodpecker
remain in Finland.
[4] To order re-use Christmas card labels so
you can re-use this year's cards next Christmas, call 01225 442288.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
