What are ancient forests?

Ancient Forests at Risk
 

Throughout the world, ancient forests are in crisis. Many of the plants and animals that live in these forests face extinction. And many of the people and cultures that depend on ancient forests for their way of life are also under threat. Ten million hectares (25 million acres) of ancient forest are being cleared or destroyed every year around the world. That's an area the size of a soccer field lost every two seconds. In fact, ancient forests cover only seven per cent of the Earth's entire land surface.

The world’s ancient forests maintain environmental systems are essential for life on Earth. They influence weather by controlling rainfall and evaporation of water from soil. They help stabilize the world's climate by storing large amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. These forests also house around two-thirds of the world's land-based species of plants and animals. They are home to millions of forest-based communities and people who depend on them for their survival — economically and spiritually.

 

What's the problem?

 

 

Kleenex, one of the most popular brands of tissue products in the world, contributes to the destruction of ancient forests. Its manufacturer, the Kimberly-Clark corporation, has been unwilling to improve its practices, continuing to rely on paper and pulp made from clearcut ancient forest including North America's Boreal forest. Kimberly-Clark clears these ancient forests, essential in fighting climate change and providing home to wildlife like caribou, wolves, eagles and bears,into products that are flushed down the toilet or thrown away.

 

Disposable Products - Disposable Forests
 

In North America, less than 19 per cent of the pulp Kimberly-Clark uses for its disposable tissue products (toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins and paper towels) comes from recycled sources. The rest is made from forests, many of which have existed for thousands of years.

Kimberly-Clark claims to be an environmental leader even though for decades they have cleared forests to manufacture products that are used only once and then thrown away.

Many of the products Kimberly-Clark sells under the brand name Kleenex have a very low recycled content, if any at all. In fact, Kimberly-Clark seems proud its facial tissue is made solely of virgin (tree) fibre – most of which comes from ancient forests.

Much of the virgin tree fibre Kimberly-Clark uses for its tissue products come from unsustainably managed forests. These forests are predominantly logged in clearcuts — a devastating form of logging where most if not all trees are removed from an area of forest.

What’s left behind is a barren landscape that can no longer support wildlife species, such as wolverines, bears, caribou, wolves and the billions of birds that depend on ancient forests for their survival. Click here to view some more photos of Kimberly-Clark's destructive business practices

KLEENEX Facial Tissue is made from 100 per cent virgin fibre and contains no recycled fibre. Virgin fibre is used in our tissue because it provides the superior softness consumers expect from a premium facial tissue product.

— Kimberly-Clark Kleenex.com website

 

 

 

 

01 November 2004

Boreal Forest Canada

Kleenex - wiping away Canadian forests, one sheet of toilet paper at a time

 

Ancient forests are the planet’s old-growth and original forests. According to the World Resources Institute, almost 80 per cent of the world's original forests have been degraded or completely destroyed. Much of this loss of ancient forests is due to human industrial use of these forests including logging, clearing for agricultural land, and oil, gas and hydroelectric development.

 

The Boreal Forest — North America's Wilderness
 

One of the ancient forests Kimberly-Clark continues to destroy is North America’s Boreal forest. The Boreal forest stretches across the country, from the eastern Alaskan to Labrador. The Boreal has evolved for over 10,000 years and is the largest tract of ancient forest left in North America, making the protection of the Boreal forest absolutely critical. Representing 25 per cent of the world’s remaining ancient forests, North America’s Boreal forest truly is a global treasure.

The Boreal has evolved for over 10,000 years and is the largest tract of ancient forest left in North America.

 The thick layers of moss, soil and peat of the Boreal forest form one of the world’s largest terrestrial storehouses of carbon. This carbon storehouse plays an enormous role in fighting climate change.

The Boreal forest is also home to hundreds of wide-ranging wildlife species, including moose, caribou, lynx, bear and wolves. Eagles, hawks, owls, 30 per cent of North America’s songbirds and 40 per cent of its waterfowl nest in the forests and wetlands. The Boreal is a diverse and awe-inspiring landscape of granite outcrops, lakes, rivers, and marshes interspersed with pine, spruce, fir and poplar forests.

GERHARD RICHTER
Klo Rolle / Toilet Paper (75-1)
1965
Oil on canvas
21 11/16 x 15 3/4 inches, 55.9 x 40 cm
Private Collection

 

Alternatives Exist
 

Kimberly-Clark continues to clearcut forests. This despite calls from Greenpeace and others to stop destroying forests for disposable tissue products and despite the widespread availability of recycled fibre — fibre that is often less expensive than fibre made from trees. What’s more, ancient forest friendly and recycled tissue products are already sold in grocery and health food stores across North America.

» Check out the Kimberly-Clark Forest Destruction Photo Gallery
 

Understand the issues

Kimberly-Clark clearcuts ancient forests to manufacture Kleenex tissue products. Become the most informed activist you can be by finding out more about:

• Greenpeace's Response to Kimberly-Clark's propaganda

Take action!

Help stop Kimberly-Clark and Kleenex from destroying ancient forests like the Boreal forest. Here are some simple yet effective things you can do.

• Donate and support the campaign

 

Back to Top