Locals protest Staples' lack of recycled paper

About 25-30 protesters gathered outside Staples on Tuesday to raise awareness about what they say is the company's use of old-growth and publicly owned forests in paper products.\nThe local protest was part of a second national day of action organized by environmental organizations, including ForestEthics and EarthFirst!, to bring the issue to consumers' attention.\nStaples says there is no evidence to show it has used any old-growth forest products and that it carries almost 400 recycled paper products in its stores, including paper towels, Post-It notes and copy paper.\n"We've never been presented with any evidence from environmental groups that our products carry old-growth," said Tom Nutile, Staples vice-president of public relations. "We care very much about the environment at Staples and we have a tremendous track record. We've been working hard to bring recycled paper."\nAt least one protester disagreed.\n"Walk around the paper aisles in Staples," sophomore Liam Mulholland said. "Recycled paper is only 30 percent. That's not completely recycled."\nImmediately noticeable at the Bloomington protest was a large banner in large red and black capital letters completely covering Staples' store-front sign reading, "Staples/No. 1 Old-Growth/Forests Destroyer."\nProtesters on the ground said they didn't know who put the sign up, but they had their own hand-held signs with the same message. About 10 Bloomington Police Department officers were present in the event they were needed.\n"It's unfair and the message is inaccurate," Nutile said when told of the banner. "One thing that is driving us is that we care about the environment. We'd also like to be able to achieve a profit."\nStaples has met twice with two environmental groups, ForestEthics and the Dogwood Alliance, in an effort to change the company's purchasing policy, Nutile said. \n"In terms of endangered wood, we're putting the finishing touches on a purchasing policy that will formalize a commitment to environmentally-friendly products," Nutile said. "It would likely give preference to suppliers who use wood from forests that certify as being sustainably managed."\nProtesters weren't convinced by Staples efforts since national protests Nov. 15, 2000. \n"We're just out here to raise public awareness," said sophomore Stacey Mcdaris. "They're the No. 1 destroyer of old-growth forests. We're here to promote responsible consumerism."\nA few people who entered Staples through the protesters didn't seem supportive.\n"They told us to grow up," Bloomington resident Emily Winter said.\nMulholland said because Staples is the largest office supply store in the world, its impact on the environment is significant. \n"Just through their paper sales and some of the deals they make, they are really hurting our national forests," Mulholland said. "Less than three percent of our old-growth forests remain."\nProtesters said repeatedly that there are alternatives to buying old-growth products. They say until Staples gives in to their demands, consumers should boycott the chain and use alternative office supply stores.\nBesides the use of old-growth wood, Joshua Martin of the Indiana Forest Alliance said he also opposes use of public forests for paper products. \n"We don't support commercial logging on public lands," Martin said. "A major focus of the Staples action is national forests."\nMartin said national and state governments shouldn't subsidize for-profit logging interests by providing logging roads and low-cost trees. \n"They should focus on ecological values, rather than the economic values," Martin said. "The U.S. taxpayers subsidize logging in national forests by nearly $1 billion per year. Common sense says we shouldn't be paying corporations to log the public forests."\nThe protesters said they plan to continue their campaign by working to educate consumers, writing letters and participating in a national call-in day to Staples offices.\n"Staples is personally responsible for the clear-cutting of old-growth forests," Mcdaris said. "We want everyone to boycott Staples"