Archived press release

Foe groups around the country protest at newspapers link with forest destruction

15 May 1997

Dozens of Friends of the Earth groups around the country will be out on the streets on Sat 17 May, protesting about the destruction of the last remaining old-growth forest in Scandinavia, and the link with British newspapers [1].

The last 5% of old, natural forest in Scandinavia, vital for many hundreds of threatened species, is still being logged, and the wood bought by companies such as ENSO, UPM-Kymmene and Norske Skog [2], all of whom supply newspaper to the UK.

Almost 60 groups around the country will be asking the public to sign a giant "Letter to the Editor", to be sent to the editors of national newspapers, about their involvement in the issue. They will be distributing a witty mini-tabloid "The Chop" , which explains the problem.The Chop is printed on 100% recycled paper, and contains a cartoon strip, problem page and a page 3 "stunner".

The letter will also call on the newspaper industry to set a target to increase its use of recycled paper. Currently, almost 60% of the UK's newspaper is "virgin" paper [3], while over 5 million tonnes of paper a year is thrown away [4] and some councils can't get rid of the old newspapers they have collected. Friends of the Earth is calling on the newspaper industry to set a target to use 80% recycled paper by the year 2005, taking the pressure off forests [5] and creating a market for recycled paper.

Georgina Green of Friends of the Earth said:

" This is madness - while ancient forests are chopped down and made into paper, millions of tonnes of paper that could be recycled is thrown away. If big paper buyers like the national newspapers insist their paper is guaranteed "old-growth free", the forest companies will have to stop using wood from the old forests. And by pledging to increase their use of recycled paper, the newspapers would give a much needed boost to the recycled paper market".

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Contacts for local groups taking part in the action are available on request.

[2] Old, natural forests logged recently in Finland include Kaihlavaara, Alimmainen Verkkojarvi, Ruostekorpi, Kangaslampi, Mustavaara and Sompavaara. ENSO and UPM-Kymmene are known to have bought logs from one or more of these areas. Map and further details available on request. Heinälammit area in Lieksa region, Finland, home to the endangered Flying Squirrel and Siberian Jay, was logged in April 97.

In Norway, one of the most famous old-growth forests in the country, Skotjernfjell, was logged in April and the timber sold to Norske Skog.

[3] The newspaper industry in the UK currently use an average of 41.2% recycled paper. They have set no target for further increases.

[4] Paper rotting in landfill sites emits methane, a climate-changing gas thought to be 25 times more potent in its global warming effect than carbon dioxide. A recent study by the International Institute for Environment and Development concluded that the paper industry is a major emitter of climate-changing gases.

[5] The UK is the fifth highest user of paper in the world, with newspapers accounting for 20% of all the paper used in the UK. Global demand for paper and wood products is predicted to rise by 58% from 1990 levels by the year 2000, putting enormous pressure on forests.

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