A coalition of environmental groups is calling on Kentucky Fried Chicken to end its use of products carrying the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification label.
The coalition, which includes nine organizations, says the SFI is little more than a greenwashing initiative by forestry companies that are unwilling to meet the environmental criteria set forth by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a certification system which the groups say is “broadly endorsed by environmental and science-based organizations.”
“The Sustainable Forestry Initiative was created as a marketing label by the American Forest & Paper Association and is a rubber stamp for business as usual destructive forestry practices,” said the Dogwood Alliance, one of the coalition partners, in an emailed statement. “The SFI certifies the worst of the worst forest management practices such as large-scale clearcutting, logging of endangered forests and critical wildlife habitat, conversion of natural forests to sterile tree plantations, and widespread use of toxic chemicals.”
The coalition says that while KFC has been made aware of SFI’s lack of credibility, the fast food chain continues to use its products.
“By endorsing the SFI they are either directly or inadvertently misleading their customers and the public,” said Scot Quaranda of Dogwood Alliance. “KFC has an opportunity to help protect forests in its own backyard, the Southern US, by rejecting the SFI and embracing FSC. We urge KFC to get educated about the SFI and stop hiding behind a phony green label.”
The nine organizations that have signed the letter [PDF] are the Dogwood Alliance, ForestEthics, Green America, Greenpeace US, the Gulf Restoration Network, Heartwood, NRDC, the Rainforest Action Network, and the Sierra Club.