Office Supply Superstore Staples Inc. Agrees to
Historic Endangered Forest and Recycling Policy
Native Forest Network and others celebrate end of two-year campaign

Contact: Matthew Koehler, Native Forest Network: (406) 542-7343
Jake Kreilick, National Forest Protection Alliance: (406) 829-6353

MISSOULA, MT - The Staples Campaign - which involved more than 600 demonstrations at Staples' stores nationwide and tens of thousands of letters and calls to the company's CEO - is over following the office-supply giant's announcement today that it will meet The Paper Campaign's goal of moving the company towards environmentally-preferable paper sales.

The Paper Campaign applauds Staples' move to set the standard in the office supply industry and is now looking to other giant paper retailers such as Office Max, Office Depot and Corporate Express to follow Staples' lead.

Under Staples' new guidelines - an industry first - the company will:

• Achieve an average of 30% post-consumer recycled content across all paper products it sells.
  
  
• Phase out purchases of paper products from Endangered Forests, including endangered U.S. National Forests, key forests in the Southern U.S. and the Canadian Boreal forests. The term "Endangered Forests" is used to describe the most important areas of intact, native and old-growth forests left on earth.
  
  
• Create an environmental affairs division and report annually on its environmental results.

This agreement is the culmination of a two-year effort by The Paper Campaign, a coalition of environmental groups - including the Native Forest Network and National Forest Protection Alliance - dedicated to protecting forests by moving the marketplace towards post-consumer recycled and alternative fiber paper.

"Staples' new policy represents a significant shift in the marketplace that will result in fewer endangered forests in the U.S. and abroad needlessly cut down to make disposable paper products," stated Matthew Koehler with the Native Forest Network. "Shifting paper markets towards recycled and tree-free paper is just plain common sense. Not only does it save landfill space and save forests, but post-consumer recycled paper also requires less water and less toxins to produce."

Jake Kreilick with the National Forest Protection Alliance pointed out the importance of today's announcement given the fact that approximately 1 out of 3 trees currently logged in our publicly owned National Forests are turned into paper.

"Staples' shift toward greener pastures reflects a positive trend that will lead to less logging in our endangered U.S. National Forests," said Kreilick. "At a time when Congress and the Bush administration are taking National Forest policy in a dangerous direction, it is good to see an enlightened market shift away from the outdated dependence on public forests to provide paper products."

The Paper Campaign coalition partners include:
American Lands Alliance, Cascadia Forest Alliance, Center for a New American Dream, Dogwood Alliance, Earth First!, ForestEthics, Green Corps, Ecopledge, Sierra Student Coalition, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, Free the Planet, Heartwood, Native Forest Network, National Forest Protection Alliance, Kentucky Heartwood, Rainforest Action Network, Rainforest Relief, ReThink Paper, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Wild Alabama, Iowa STEP, Shenendoah Ecosystem Defense Group, GrassRoots Recycling Network, Indiana Forest Alliance and many local groups.

Please visit http://www.ThePaperCampaign.com for more information.

Originally printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, which Staples now sells!