Unite urges leading charity not to shred progress made on
sustainable paper industry
20 December 2010
Unite, the UK's biggest union with membership in the printing
and papermaking industries, has urged one of the country's biggest
charities to work with it on its latest campaign to promote a
sustainable papermaking industry.
The union is worried that the message from the World Wildlife
Fund (WWF) is out of step with current thinking on UK and European
paper production, which is among the most progressive in the world
when it comes to its green credentials. Unite is asking the charity
to meet with it and industry leaders as a matter of urgency for
fuller discussions on the hopes and messages of the WWF's campaign,
fearing that it could have negative consequences for print and
paper workers in the UK, many of whom share the ideals of the
charity.
Last week, the charity urged computer users to adopt a ‘green
file format’ which prevents a document from being printed. However,
Unite says that this advice doesn't just put good UK paper and
print industry jobs at risk, it is also out of step with latest
practice within the industry in Europe and North America where
trees are harvested and replanted in sustainable forests.
Unite assistant general secretary, Tony Burke, said: "Paper can
be totally recycled and is bio-degradable. Harvesting trees in a
sustainable way - as we are campaigning for - helps the
environment, helps wildlife and helps produce clean air and
water."
Writing to David Nussbaum, the chief executive of the WWF, Tony
Burke, says the danger of the charity's campaign is that it may
confuse the public - and that it may fail to address the real
environmental vandals including those engaged in illegal logging
notably in south Asia, where trees are harvested and not replaced
leaving thousands of acres bare.
In his letter to the WWF Tony Burke writes: “WWF’s statements
regarding the effects of printing on paper is, in our opinion,
misleading in that it could lead members of the public into
believing that by not using printed products or indeed printing out
documents onto paper, will ’save trees’ and hence improve the
environment.
“I am sure that it was not the WWF’s intention for a misleading
slant to be placed on your decisions, however there is some concern
among our members in the printing and papermaking industries about
your recent announcements.
“The papermaking, printing and indeed paper recycling industries
provide employment for thousands of workers throughout the world,
who care for the environment and who support all initiatives to
help preserve and replenish forests.
“Therefore I am writing to ask you to meet with me and
representatives of the printing and paper industries in the UK as a
matter of urgency in order that we can discuss our concerns
directly with your good selves.”
ENDS
For further information contact Tony Burke on 07831 659939 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761
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