Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): This label hurts forests
Like most kids, you probably use paper. And you probably also love forests. But how do you know
whether or not the paper you are using is hurting forests?
Most of the paper that people use today – in catalogs, junk mail, magazines, books, writing paper,
etc. – comes straight from forests. Besides giving us the trees used to make paper, forests also
provide clean air, fresh water, and a home for wildlife.
Lots of people who care about forests want to know where their paper is coming from. They don’t
want paper that’s made by cutting down trees in endangered forests. And they don’t want paper
that harms air, water, and wildlife.
Sadly, sometimes companies try to trick us into thinking that their paper is environmentally good
(or “green”) when it’s actually not. One way they do this is by putting a fake “eco-label” on their
catalog or other paper products.
One of the worst false eco-labels is the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Here’s what the SFI
logo looks like…
SFI was created by big companies that cut down forests for paper and wood products. The SFI
“rules” for logging are so bad that they allow big clear cuts, use of poisons, and logging the forest
homes of special animals! Sustainable? Perhaps this certification should be called “DFI” or
Destructive Forestry Initiative?
So when you see the SFI logo on a catalog, remember that just because the logo is green, it
doesn’t mean the paper is forest-friendly. Here are two easy ways you can help ForestEthics
protect forests from SFI tricks:
1. If you’re part of the Catalog Canceling Challenge and you call to cancel a catalog that has the
SFI logo, tell the person on the phone that the Sustainable Forestry Initiative logo on their catalog
doesn’t actually protect forests…it just tricks people.
2. When you see the SFI logo on a catalog or other printed paper, let Mr. Wells know and he’ll tell
ForestEthics about it by sending them images of their covers and we’ll tell the companies that it’s
not OK, too.
“Green” Wood and Paper Certifications? Or not?
GREAT!!! The one truly green certification.
NOT SO GREAT. They approve of SFI.
BAD! THE SFI CERTIFICATION IS A TRICK. IT IS FALSE
ADVERTISING. THEIR FORESTRY PRACTICES ARE NOT
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OR “SUSTAINABLE.”