While I can usually be found updating and writing on the Greenpeace USA Myspace profile, this week, I got the chance to get off the computer and into the streets for an amazing Greenpeace action...

In sweltering heat, three Greenpeace volunteers dragged chains, locks, and banners to the New Milford, CT Kleenex facility.  While arrests were likely, they were determined to deliver a message to Kimberly-Clark, makers of Kleenex tissues: "Kleenex must stop wiping away ancient forests.”

The massive plant accounts for 40% of the Kleenex and Scott products sold in the U.S., yet most products made at the New Milford facility contain little or no recycled fiber. Kimberly-Clark refuses to stop destroying ancient forests for its Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle lines, products that are used once and thrown away.

Volunteer, Andrea LeClair from Boston stepped up to the gate determined to let Kimberly-Clark know Greenpeace wasn’t backing off, “this is something bigger than me…and it’s affecting everyone.”

Up until a few months ago, Andrea had been tossing bags of garbage out her car window, but after attending the Greenpeace sponsored student conference, Powershift, she committed her life to protecting the planet. On Monday, she was more than ready to tell Kimberly-Clark to take care of their own mess.

 

 

Around 11:00 am, Monday, Andrea and two other volunteers locked themselves to the South Gate of the facility. A truck stood behind them and could not pass the activists. In the meantime, myself and another volunteer were just a little down the road placing tree saplings on the windshields of cars in the employee parking lot. A note attached to the saplings read: “We know Kimberly-Clark can do better.” Sweating like crazy, we walked away from the facility satisfied many of Kimberly-Clark’s employees would hear our message.

Back at the gate, the volunteers managed to get the gate half closed, using their bodies as a blockade for over an hour. Andrea told the bewildered security guards, “I’ve never done anything like this before, but we all know that Kimberly-Clark could do better and use recycled content in their tissues.”

Peace,

Lauren

 

 

As we all know, Kimberly-Clark (largest tissue maker in the world) still refuses to stop destroying ancient forests for Kleenex.  

In April I attended the company shareholder meeting and when called to speak I highlighted the fact that I have worked on this campaign for over three years.  Every year in front of shareholders, the Kimberly-Clark (K-C) CEO stands to speak about company accomplishments and yet when it comes to issues of sustainability, K-C takes the tiniest of baby steps.  The baby steps don’t cut it when you look at the impact of Kimberly-Clark.  Each year they remove 342,000 metric tons of fiber from the Boreal forest--most of which was removed by clearcutting the forest.

Today activists decided to show how concerned they are with K-C’s ancient forest destruction for Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brands that are used once and then flushed.  Three activists launched a blockade of the New Milford, CT Kimberly-Clark facility that produces 40% of the American supply of Kleenex and Scott products.  While locking down to the gate used by large transport trucks another group of activists descended on the parking lot to distribute messages to employees.  On each car the activists left a fact sheet on the Kleercut campaign and a tree sapling with an attached note that read: “We know Kimberly-Clark can do better. Here is a start.”

We do know that Kimberly-Clark, at its core a paper company, can do better and it is time they start by working with us to protect the North American Boreal forest.  

- Lindsey

If you are interested in learning more please visit our Kleenex Free Schools project and take a look at our latest report on Kimberly-Clark’s destruction of the Kenogami forest in Ontario, Canada.

Tissue giant Kimberly-Clark is spending $100 million on advertising to sell more Cottonelle toilet paper.  They’ve got some problems though.  First, Cottonelle has no recycled content and is made from ancient forests.  Second, their advertising campaign is ludicrously silly.  Someone decided a weird-looking dog-bus wearing a fake cable knit sweater should tour cities across North America to encourage people to “be kind to their behind” and buy Cottonelle toilet paper.  Seriously.

I’m not the only one who thinks the toilet-paper peddling dog-bus looks like the “Mutt Cutts” van from the Dumb and Dumber movie.  Can you tell which one is which?  Hint: the Mutt Cutts van looks less goofy!  Here it is: Mutt Cutts vs. “Mutt Butts.”

 

If you read this blog, you’ll know that Greenpeace greeted the toilet paper dog-bus on its first tour stop in New York City.  When it showed up in Philly, we were there again!

This time the mutant dog-bus was parked across from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  Cottonelle-hawking marketers were inviting passersby to come aboard the bus to sit in a fake beach scene, (complete with sand and plastic drinks) and engage with spandex-clad trainers about rump exercises.  Remember, I’m not making this up!

Our activists changed their plans, unfurling a bright yellow “Forest Crime Scene” banner in front of the dog-bus.  The activists then began outreach to passersby, beating Kimberly-Clark at its own game.  Hundreds of people learned about Cottonelle’s connection to ancient forest destruction.  Ouch!

GET INVOLVED!
As the “Mutts Butts” bus tour continues, you can be part of the fun.  If you see the bus on the road, or think it is coming to your town, click here and let us know!

So far it’s Greenpeace 2, Mutt Butts bus: 0.  Stay tuned to the Treehuggers blog for more news!

-Rolf

Tissue giant and forest destroyer Kimberly-Clark launched a $100 million advertising blitz for its Cottonelle brand last week – and activists were there to greet them on the first day.

The set-up was as silly as it was expensive: Cottonelle paid for a eerie-looking mutant dog-bus filled with public relations hacks to tour New York City and tell people how to “be kind to your behind.”  Don’t ask me what dogs have to do with toilet paper.  Last time I checked…oh, nevermind.

Anyway, things didn’t go as planned.  Before long, people began asking the Cottonelle reps about their ties to ancient forest destruction.  Cottonelle’s day spiraled down the drain from there.  Click here to see photos of the day.

Activists unfurled a banner in front of the mutant dog-bus and told passersby how Kimberly-Clark products like Cottonelle and Kleenex drive the destruction of ancient forests.  People learned that Cottonelle contains no recycled content, but plenty of wood fiber from the Canadian Boreal forest – the last great ancient forest in North America.  They learned that the Boreal forest is crucial for efforts to fight global warming, critical habitat for caribou, songbirds and bears, and important to Canada’s native First Nations.  They also learned Kimberly-Clark could make Cottonelle from recycled fiber and sustainable wood, but favors spending cash on butt-themed advertising campaigns and greenwashing.

Suddenly, Cottonelle didn’t seem very “kind” to forests, the climate or people.  Folks on the street agreed to keep Cottonelle far from their behinds.  After all, there are plenty of other quality tissue products that are forest friendly (click here for a list).

New York City commuters have expressed disgust over Cottonelle’s toilet-themed ads that literally line the interior of subway cars with headlines like “Too Much Bran?” and “The Average Man Keeps His Underwear Until the Elastic Breaks.”  That’s not what I want to think about during rush hour.

Throwing Cottonelle’s adolescent attempts at bathroom humor back at them, activists donned boxer briefs with slogans such as “Be Kind to Forests” and “Leave Cottonelle Behind.”  Onlookers were amused -- even the famous Times Square “Naked Cowboy” got into the spirit, posing for photos holding a pair of shorts stating: "Leave Cottonelle Behind."

When the day was over, forest defenders left behind literature on Cottonelle tour vehicles (printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper of course) to educate their public relations staff.

Here’s more good news: the Cottonelle toilet paper dog-bus is scheduled to tour cities in the US and Canada for next few months, including Philly, Chicago, Toronto and San Francisco.  Here’s how you can help:

1. Keep your eyes out for Cottonelle ad blitzes and the mutant dog-bus!  Let us know if you spot the bus or think it is coming to your town.

2. If you see the bus, stop by and talk to Cottonelle reps (in a respectful manner, of course) about their role in ancient forest destruction.  Tell them you, your family and your friends won’t buy Cottonelle, Kleenex, or other Kimberly-Clark products until the company protects ancient forests.

3. Take action at our new Kleenex website.  Click here to send a message to Kimberly-Clark, upload photo messages, design your own spoof Kleenex box and more! 

The story of Greenpeace versus the forest destroying dog-bus has just begun.  Stay tuned!

-Rolf
 

If you’re a parent with school age children, a student, or a teacher, there’s a new way you can stand up for ancient forests: make your school Kleenex Free.

If you’ve participated in our Kleercut campaign before, you know tissue giant Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Kleenex, Cottonelle, Scott, Viva and other products, destroys ancient forests to make its disposable tissues.  Flushing away ancient forests doesn’t make sense – a grade school student could tell you that!

Of particular concern is the Canadian Boreal forest – the largest ancient forest left in North America.  Kimberly-Clark has a long history of gobbling up ancient forests in the Boreal to make its throw-away products.  In the process they’re chopping apart habitat for woodland caribou, wolverines, songbirds and many other animals.  They’re also cutting into the largest storehouse of carbon on land – something we can’t afford to do if we want to curb global warming.

People are also affected.  About 80% of Canada’s native First Nations are dependent on the Boreal forest for their livelihood and cultural survival.  Many parts of the Boreal are being logged without their input or consent.

So, Kimberly-Clark is earning a failing grade in a lot of basic subjects.  Thankfully, there are plenty of high quality forest friendly tissue products to choose from.  Check out our tissue buying guide to learn more.
 
The other good news is that there are new ways for students, parents and school faculty to teach Kimberly-Clark a lesson.

You can show Kimberly-Clark how you feel about forest destruction. We've unveiled a new online tool so you can send a photo message directly to the company.

Start your own Kleenex Free Schools project today by downloading our new toolkit – a resource guide with tips and info to help you make your school more forest friendly.

All of this and more is available on our new website.

Click here to spread the word to friends, family and colleagues.  If we work together, we can help Kimberly-Clark finally earn a passing grade!

-Rolf