TAKE ACTION TO SAVE FORESTS

How much wood could a consumer protect if a consumer could protect wood? If you're like most Americans, you'd like to see the world's forests survive to benefit future generations - but you think, "What can just one person do?" The answer is: One consumer could protect a whole lot of wood if each consumer could be WoodWise!

Now you may ask, "How do I become WoodWise?" It's easy! Co-op America's FREE WoodWise Consumer Guide 2001 gives readers step-by-step tips for incorporating forest-friendly values into their daily lives. Whether you're in your kitchen, your workplace, or the shopping mall, you can be a WoodWise Consumer by taking simple actions that help preserve forests.

The WoodWise Consumer Guide offers sixty simple ways to protect forests without spending lots of money or sacrificing your quality of life. Some of these practices include buying certified "good" wood and furniture, stopping junk mail and investing in forest-friendly mutual funds. The guide also contains a resource directory to help you find local retailers who help to preserve forests.

Not only is becoming a WoodWise consumer easy, but it's also fun! For example, did you ever wonder how to get rid of your junk mail to save both your sanity and the forests? Well, you are not alone -- the WoodWise Consumer Guide provides postcards that allow you to take direct action to stop the flow of junk mail into your homes. Plus the Guide has free stickers you can use to encourage mailers and magazines to print on recycled paper.

Incredibly, the average American adult receives approximately 560 pieces of junk mail each year. One hundred million trees are ground up every year to produce the 4.5 million tons of solicitations that clutter our mailboxes. Cutting down on junk mail saves you time and frustration while helping to lighten the load on forests.

Here are a few more ways to be WoodWise:

- Remodeling your home? Look for furniture and lumber that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which guarantees that wood products meet high environmental and ethical standards. The FSC symbol will be on the product. Or buy used. When it comes to previously owned furniture and bookcases, you'll often find better quality at lower cost.

- In the office, simply set your copiers and printers to double-sided to cut your paper use in half.

- Protect the forests while saving for your retirement! You can manage your savings, investment, and retirement money to help preserve forests by investing in socially responsible funds. Investors can also become involved with shareholder advocacy to influence companies to adopt forest-friendly policies.

- Buy recycled! Many consumers already know that recycling helps the environment, but not everyone realizes that it's just as important to buy products made from recycled materials. Look for paper with at least 30% post-consumer recycled fiber - and recycle it after use.

- Forest-friendly holiday ideas are unique, easy, and save you money. Start by buying cards made of tree-free or recycled paper and wrapping gifts in re-used giftwrap or reusable bags and boxes.

Most people find becoming a WoodWise consumer to be easy, while saving time and money. Best of all, you can feel good knowing you've helped preserve some of our most precious natural treasures.

If you'd like more information about what you can do to help preserve forests, call 1-800-58-GREEN for your FREE copy of Co-op America's WoodWise Consumer Guide 2001. Practical and easy tips are also available online at www.WoodWise.org.

Amanda Johnson is the Public Education and Media Coordinator at Co-op America, a nonprofit consumer education organization for environmentally wise purchasing and investing. For more information and easy, everyday "green resolutions" that protect our environment, see www.coopamerica.org or call 1-800-58-GREEN.