Greenpeace New Zealand Weblog

Forests are the lungs of the Earth, we know that. But, the world’s ancient forests also provide the world with water, shape the world’s climate and support as much as 90 per cent of the earth’s land-based plant and animals. They are also home to millions of forest dependent people.

Today, less than 20 per cent of the earth’s original forest cover remains intact and what remains is under threat from continued deforestation. Deforestation also contributes around 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, as carbon dioxide that is stored in the trees is released when the trees are removed.
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The Forest Friendly Furniture guide released last month has made a splash almost straight away - and that’s before we’ve sent it out to the 40,000 Greenpeace members.

The Warehouse scored well and lost no time on making sure that fact didn’t escape their customers.

Smiths City on the other hand didn’t score so well and initially cried foul but they have since moved forward with a change to their wood product buying policy.  As well, in a meeting with Greenpeace they have committed to stock only FSC certified outdoor furniture by 2009 and they will start making those changes in 2008.

This will see Smiths City move from up to a C+ (on the improve) rating and a new position in the guide just above BBQ Factory and just below Placemakers. That’s a good start and a great result! Read more »

Ever wonder where your beautiful BBQ table came from?

Today Greenpeace NZ along with the Indonesia Human Rights Committee released a new ‘Guide to Forest Friendly Outdoor Furniture Retailers‘. It shows that the majority of outdoor timber furniture sold in New Zealand is contributing to the destruction of tropical forests in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

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