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Catalog Cut-Down

IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, SO YOUR MAILBOX IS LIKELY CRAMMED WITH CATALOGS.  BUT WHAT’S THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ALL THOSE MAILINGS?  FIND OUT ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

IT’S HARD FOR A CONSUMER TO KNOW WHERE THE PAPER IN THEIR CATALOGS COMES FROM.  SOME ARE MADE OF RECYCLED FIBER, BUT OTHERS ARE PRODUCED FROM TREES IN ENDANGERED FORESTS SUCH AS THE CANADIAN BOREAL.

GINGER CASSADY IS THE SENIOR PAPER CAMPAIGNER AT FOREST ETHICS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS ENCOURAGING CATALOG COMPANIES TO IMPROVE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES.

CASSADY: WE WORK TO GET COMPANIES TO COMMIT NOT TO SOURCE FROM ENDANGERED REGIONS LIKE THE BOREAL FORESTS, AND IF THEY ARE SOURCING ANY VIRGIN FIBER, THAT THEY USE A CERTIFICATION CALLED FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL. 

THERE’S A LOT THE CONSUMER CAN DO, TOO. CASSADY SUGGESTS PUTTING A STOP TO UNWANTED MAILINGS THROUGH THE WEB SITE CATALOG CHOICE DOT ORG.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Learn more about the Catalog Cutdown Campaign.

Reduce unwanted junkmail through Green Dimes or Catalog Choice.