23rd March 2005: Copy That: Xerox Gets the Message - The company has committed to protecting Finland's reindeer forests

Xerox, a name familiar to anyone who has worked with copy machines, recently took a step toward making its business a little bit greener. In response to our requests, the company agreed not to purchase wood products from threatened old-growth forests in the Arctic Lapland, which are vital to the livelihoods of indigenous Sámi reindeer herders.


Since March 2, we've been maintaining a Forest Rescue Station, known fondly to its frost-bitten inhabitants as "Ice Station Reindeer," in the reindeer forests of the Arctic Lapland in Finland. Many of the Sámi still practice traditional reindeer herding, relying on remaining old-growth forests to provide food for their reindeer during the cold winter months. But the forests, which are among the few remaining areas of ancient forest left in Europe, are under siege by the Finnish government's own logging company.

Seventy percent of the precious old-growth wood is sold for pulp and paper production. Most of it is bought by Finnish paper giant Stora Enso, which produces paper, packaging boards and wood products.

Since establishing our Forest Rescue Station, we've been busy contacting Stora Enso's customers around the world, asking for their help in convincing Stora Enso to stop purchasing wood products from forest areas important for reindeer herding. The Xerox Corporation, a major international customer of Stora Enso, has been one of the first to comply.

At Stora Enso's Annual General Meeting this week, Greenpeace and Sámi representatives will challenge the company to listen to its customers and stop funding the destruction of Sámi reindeer forests.


Source: Greenpeace