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.