Archived press release

Christmas Costs Quarter Million Trees

16 December 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.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust