Deforestation: The Opposite of Going Green

The massive oil spill inside the Gulf of Mexico is a gigantic warning call for all of us. We all must cautiously consider the devastating effect that the actions of companies and individuals are having on our earth’s ecological system. A lot has been written and will continue to be said about BP and the public relations nightmare it caused itself through the epic oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico. What you may not know that there’s a different ongoing environmental controversy centered around the problem of deforestation and a company known as Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Small businesses and organizations in all places can learn an important lesson from the pickle APP finds itself in. APP is a division in the mega business, Sinar Mas, and refers to itself as one of the world’s leading pulp and paper manufacturers.

APP has of late been linked to being a major contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, the human-caused loss of naturally occurring forests by means of logging or burning, is a gigantic crisis in today’s world. It is estimated that about 50% or more of the planet’s plant and animal species exist within the 7% of the globe where rainforests presently exist. For example, the most renowned of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 1.4 billion acre rainforest located in South America encompassing sections of 9 different countries, offers just 82.3% of the moist broadleaf jungle cover it enjoyed in 1970. It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the entire loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000. The above data is according to Wikipedia.

A different lesser known however similarly struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made the latest headlines after a report from Greenpeace. Within the details, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.” According to CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the world’s largest culprits of producing greenhouse emissions mainly because of the clear-cutting and burning up of rainforests for logging and additional reasons. Indonesia has long been a recipient of criticism for its environmental practices primarily due to disregard for global and even their very own laws. Asia pulp and paper is presently going through a public relations nightmare because of the Greenpeace report, and naturally is claiming Greenpeace’s statements are exaggerated. Nevertheless things in recent times took a turn for the worse for Sinar Mas when in July, 2010, Wal-Mart, announced they have taken steps to stop purchasing their paper, as a result of this and additional controversies associated with APP. It appears that APP’s denial of the problem is making things worse and currently costing them major business. Losing Wal-Mart’s business over the next year and beyond will drastically impact their total sales.

This brings us to a great question: In today’s difficult global economy, how can businesses make certain they are adopting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient business practices and never on the incorrect side of a PR controversy? Business.Gov, the official business link to the American Government, includes a 10ñstep guide to help organizations ensure they are energy efficient, meeting the requirements of environmental regulations, and recognized as a green business. Here are the steps: Comply with Environmental Policies, Cultivate an Environmental Management Plan, Build Green, Purchase Green Products, Implement Energy Efficient Practices, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes, Save Water, Prevent Polluting of the environment, Make a Green Marketing Strategy, and Connect with Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.

Step 4 Obtain Green Products, is a superb idea that many organizations fail to think about. A unique way to raise consciousness about deforestation at the same time as marketing your brand is through eco promotional products like seed paper, crafted from actual seeds and can still take root and sprout into a lovely flower when planted. Something as simple as seed cards like a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can create a truly memorable interaction with a client or industry colleague. You could also incorporate a statement on the subject of deforestation on the stationary, which makes it extremely clear about where your business stands out on environmental matters. Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes. Remembering to cut back and reuse is the best way to eradicate the need to recycle in the first place. Now is the time to do something to prevent deforestation along with making sure your company is recognized as being a green business, as a consequence solidifying your eco friendly reputation. The 10 steps above are a good guide for any business owner or CEO to execute sustainable practices within your business. Embrace the challenge of continuously improving your organization’s ecological footprint. Your company’s leadership and example will help end the terrible effects of deforestation and the time spent is going to be well worth it.

63 Comments. Posted by admin on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 11:20 am.

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