Kimberly-Clark Australia Pulls out of Otway Ranges

In 1996, conservationists fighting to protect Victoria's Otway Ranges from being clearfell logged, discovered a significant amount of the forests was being woodchipped to make Kleenex facial and toilet paper. Kimberly Clark, an America multinational half owned by AMCOR Ltd, has a licence to woodchip 44,000 tonnes of trees a year. Conservationists created a campaign called "Don't wipe your bum on the Otways" to persuade customers who would normally buy Kleenex tissues to buy tissue paper products made from 100% post consumer waste paper. Kimberly Clark Australia (KCA) was given approval to build a new eucalypt pulping machine at its Millicent Pulp mill in South Australia in November 1990. After construction was completed in 1992, KCA began using woodchips sourced from Australian native forest. Prior to the new eucalypt pulping machine, KCA was importing eucalypt pulp from Brazilian eucalypt plantations.

KCA require hardwood woodchips to make Kleenex and Wondersoft toilet and facial tissues. Hardwood makes up 25% of the tissue content. Hardwood pulp gives the Kleenex a soft and smooth feel. Radiata pine (softwood) makes up the other 75% and gives the tissue paper its strength. KCA heavily advertise the softness qualities of their tissue products. Kleenex is one of the leading brand names in Australia.

KCA executives have recently confirmed that they will no longer source woodchips from the Otway State Forest. Conervationists and local residents have claimed victory after a three year battle. The campaign involved putting pressure on KCA to stop sourcing woodchips from clearfell logging operations in the Otways.

"We are delighted with the news", said Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesperson Simon Birrell.

Kimberly Clark's Millicent Pulp Mill

"KCA had publicly stated they were going to take woodchips from the Otways this summer and stop in 1999. However our consumer awareness campaign must have made it change plans. KCA is out of the Otways and it is still 1998. Our campaign involved promotion of tissue paper products made from 100% post consumer waste paper(recycled). Many Schools, Universities, Councils,businesses and individuals changed from Kleenex to recycled after they found out KCA was promoting clearfell logging in the Otways. We must have cost sales of Kleenex."

"We congratulate KCA for making a wise decision. However we are concerned it will still source woodchips from clearfell logging of native forest in the Victorian Central Highlands. We believe KCA should immediately source all woodchip requirements from plantations or alternatively use recycled paper instead of virgin fibre."

"Our campaign has demonstrated the Australian public is opposed to the woodchipping of native forest for domestic use. We have proven people will boycott products that use woodchips from Australian native forests. It will now focus on the Otway export woodchipping industry. Otway residents are currently working on a report that will demonstrate the timber industry in the Otways is woodchip driven. Our report will show over 80% of the timber removed from the Otways ends up as woodchip and that the sawlog industry is in decline."

Text and Photograph:
Otway Ranges Environment Network

The Sorry Tale of
Mr Deeley

Christopher Michael Deeley, Chairman of the Board of NORTH Ltd (the largest native eucalypt woodchippers on the planet, as well as mining uranium etc) had a most surprising encounter with activists on the morning of Monday, Sept. 21, 1998. At dawn, 3 cubic metres of woodchips were dumped in the driveway of his luxurious Warrandyte residence and a banner put up reading - "Revelations 11:18 'And he will destroy those who destroy the Earth'".

A sleepy Mr Deeley came outside to see what the commotion was dressed in pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers. Realising that access out of his property was impossible, he returned inside his house to make a few phone calls, re-emerging later and speaking to the local activists for about 30 minutes.

Mr Deeley, dressed in his business attire by this stage, was clearly not used to manual labour. Beads of sweat dripped of his face as the exertion and strain began to demoralise his spirit. His condition was undermined further by personal questions regarding his business interests. While gaining his breath, Mr Deeley was spoken to by a protester who had been admiring the state park directly opposite his residence. He replied: "yes it is beautiful". The protester then asked whether Mr Deeley's company would woodchip that forest if it had the chance. Mr Deeley said "certainly not". Another protester then added: "No, that forest isn't as good as the 500 year trees that NORTH woodchips, is it Mr Deeley?". He said nothing and returned to his shovelling. After 15 minutes more of shovelling and with 95% of the woodchip pile left on the driveway, Mr Deeley muttered "I'll have to reassess this" and returned inside to make a few more phone calls.

Activists later learnt that Mr Deeley had 'escaped' the protesters through the neighbouring property, but he was two hours late for work. This action proved that despite all their PR these corporate clowns are really pretty pathetic creatures.

Text & Photo: Native Forest News, First Quarter '98