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German Head Office Langemarckstr. 210 28199 Bremen Germany
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Press Office Nernstweg 32 22765 Hamburg Germany
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Resorts: Economics/Consumers/Environment Karstadt draws new conclusions as a result of ROBIN WOOD's protest action against paper sourced from tropical timber.The Karstadt chain of department stores has informed its suppliers of its new ecological standards.As a reaction to ROBIN WOOD's protests Karstadt has not only stopped selling paper from Indonesian rainforests but has also opted to increase its range of recycled paper products. The combine is currently reviewing its purchasing policies with the aim to cease offering products acquired from destructive logging. In order to prevent processing wood from tropical rainforests Karstadt has asked its suppliers to produce certificates of origin for all paper products. Suppliers of garden furniture were also informed that Karstadt will only accept products made from tropical timber if these products bear the FSC-certificate.In March, ROBIN WOOD activists held protests against paper made from tropical timber in front of several Karstadt outlets. The combine was prepared to discuss its buying policy. Consequently, Karstadt informed its paper suppliers, "that from now on no more paper products from native forests (anywhere in the world), from forests or plantations in the tropics (with the exception of FSC-certified products), or from forest areas of a similar structure to native forests (particularly in Northern Europe) will be processed". Suppliers are now obliged to produce a certificate of origin and provide proof of timber resources originating from either forestry or plantations. Statements were also sent out to suppliers of garden furniture to inform them of Karstadt's new ecological directives. Karstadt also envisages ensuring that the wooden products in its range of kitchen goods contain only FSC-certified timber. In the stationery department Karstadt is planning to offer environmentally friendly alternatives in the near future. Before the end of this year a special event will be organised in the combine's outlets to promote the introduction of recycled paper. ROBIN WOOD is going to support this event by illustrating the ecological advantages of recycled paper. "Karstadt is on the right track”, explains ROBIN WOOD's Expert on Tropical Rainforests Jens Wieting. "Other enterprises such as the combine Metro, for example, have already set a precedent in putting an end to stocking products from destructive logging of tropical timber. "We will be observing Karstadt's new course with interest.”
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