With a slice of a 1000 year old Douglas Fir tree from BC as a backdrop, sixteen Canadian companies today received awards for their commitment to the world’s ancient forests, from the Markets Initiative (MI) coalition.

Telecommunications giant Bell Canada, Kinko’s Canada, Roots, and the financial institution Citizens Bank of Canada were among the award recipients. The MI coalition, comprised of Forest Action Network, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Greenpeace, and the Sierra Club of BC, applauded the recipients for their commitment and implementation of wood and paper procurement policies that will eliminate their ancient forest products consumption over the next three years.

"The recipients are corporate leaders in efforts towards conserving Canada’s remaining ancient forests as well as those of the Amazon, Russia, and the rest of the world," said Markets Initiative Manager, Nicole Rycroft. "The marketplace has tremendous influence in reducing resource consumption. Saving our ancient forest heritage will take acts of courage and vision, both from people in the streets and those in the boardroom."

Only 20% of the world’s ancient forests remain standing. The majority of the world’s land species make their home in these forests. In British Columbia alone, one in eight species have been listed at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction in places such as the Great Bear Rainforest and Clayoquot Sound. The BC Ministry of the Environment report identified logging as the major threat to these species.

"..it is our intention to favour those wood-based product suppliers who will have adopted sustainable practices which do not contribute to the destruction of irreplaceable natural treasures such as the ancient forests." Bell Canada stated in a letter to the Markets Initiative.

These Canadian companies join hundreds of US and European companies who have already committed to phasing out their use of ancient forest products, including industry leaders such as Ikea and Home Depot.

"By committing to not be a part of ancient forest destruction, these Canadian corporations join a growing global trend in corporate social responsibility." stated Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Peter Tabuns who helped present the awards. "We challenge companies like Xerox and Revy, who have, so far, been lagging behind this growing trend, to catch up to today’s industry leaders"

Companies involved with today’s announcement include: Bell Canada, the Body Shop Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Chesterman Property Group, Citizens Bank of Canada, Clairol Canada, Communicopia, Happy Planet Food, Hollyhock, Husky Injection Molding; Kinko’s Inc, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Renewal Partners, Shared Vision Magazine, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Roots.

The companies have made a commitment and started implementing ecologically sound wood and paper purchasing policies, which involve:

• auditing suppliers of construction and paper products
• phasing out wood/paper/pulp purchases from ancient forests worldwide
• replacing ancient forest fiber with alternatives such as recycled fibers, agricultural fibrer, independently eco-certified second growth forest products, and reclaimed and salvaged wood.
• reducing overall fiber consumption

"As procurement policies shift towards ecologically responsible alternatives such as agricultural residue, recycled fiber and reclaimed lumber, increased market demand will create a positive investment climate for these alternative industries. We can expect creation of new and expanded businesses in communities across Canada, including the Coast and the Prairies," said Sierra Club of BC Campaigner Shelley Gerber.

The Markets Initiative is dedicated to reducing Canadian consumption of ancient forests and creating economic and political leverage for their protection by working with the Canadian business sector to alter their purchasing and investment practices in wood and paper products.



Additional information can be obtained from:

Media Spokesperson: Nicole Rycroft, Markets Initiative Manager, cell:416-580-4477
Don Huff, Environmental Economics International 416-972-7404 or cell 416-805-7720.

Audio clips for radio broadcast are available

The awards ceremony took place at the Mountain Equipment Co-op Toronto store. MEC is also an award recipient. The awards were copies of the large display advertisement which appeared in the May 31st Globe and Mail, mounted on wheat straw construction panels from Manitoba.