Swiss Publishers Demand Clearcut Free Pulp & Paper

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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SWISS PUBLISHERS DEMAND CLEARCUT FREE PULP AND PAPER
 
 
ZURICH, April 12, 1996 -Swiss publishers will require proof
from suppliers that their timber has not come from destructive
forest practices such as clearfelling, under a statement of
intent announced today.
 
Greenpeace Switzerland forest campaigner Christoph Wiedmer
said the code could alter the source of Switzerland imports
which totalled 409,192 tons in 1994. The imports comprise:
78,387 t from Sweden, 58,026 t Canada, 53,997 Finland, and
28,600 t from the USA.
 
Switzerland also imports 872,582 tons of paper and board
including; 235,965t from Germany, Finland 153,475t,
Sweden 134,674t and Austria 131,726t.
 
The new statement of intent was announced today by Greenpeace
Switzerland and the Swiss Journals Group within the Swiss
Newspaper and Periodical Publishers Association.
The statement of intent says the paper and pulp industry must

find ways of abandoning the clear cutting of forests, of
preparing the way for an ecological sound management of
forests and for optimising the use of waste paper.
 
The two organisations are calling on paper manufacturers to
exploit forests in a ecologically sound manner. They said
particular consideration should be paid to the structure
and composition of forests, to threatened species, to genetic
diversity and to their dynamic behaviour and protective and
climatic functions.
 
Journal Group spokesperson Thomas Kaehr said the publishing
houses are calling on their paper suppliers to furnish proof
of the origin of the paper and pulp they have used. They have
committed to buy such eco-paper as soon as it is offered by
paper manufacturers at a reasonable price. They are also
campaigning for a maximum content of recycled paper.
 
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM:
 
Christoph Wiedmer, Greenpeace Switzerland/Forest campaign
Tel.: + 41 1 295 94 30 
Andreas Kunz, Greenpeace Switzerland/Media Director
Tel.: + 41 1 295 94 34 
Thomas Kaehr, Journal Group spokesperson 
Tel.: + 41 1 318 64 64

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