By George Anderson
Trader Joe's is being praised by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) for its decision to stop buying bags from Weyerhaeuser, a company the environmental groups calls "the number one destroyer of old growth forests in North America."
The retailer issued a statement on its decision. "For some time, we have been reviewing our purchasing of paper grocery bags, among other supply items, with the goal of consolidating our purchases nationally. After careful review of our total supply chain economics, we have made the decision to consolidate our purchasing of paper bags with our current East Coast supplier. As a result of this consolidation, we are currently not issuing purchase orders to Weyerhaeuser for paper bags."
Although Trader Joe's was praised by the environmental group, the retailer doesn't appear ready to return the compliment. In the same release announcing its stance on sourcing paper bags, Trader Joe's said it was responding publicly on the issue because it had "received numerous letters from customers who appear to have been given outdated or erroneous information by the activist group Rainforest Action Network concerning our purchases of paper grocery bags."
At Weyerhaeuser's annual shareholders' meeting in April, company chairman, president and chief operating officer Steve Rogel cited the company's stewardship of natural resources and called on critics of the company to engage with it in a "meaningful and civil dialogue."
Mr. Rogel said, "The wellbeing of our forests is too important to be reduced to inaccurate or misleading sound bites, single cause approaches or dialogues between only two parties. There are many voices that must be heard. Communities. Aboriginal peoples. Consumers. Environmentalists. Forest scientists. Government officials. And, of course, the industry itself."
Moderator's Comment: How can a retailer, in this case Trader Joe's, publicly disagree or take issue with the approach of a group (Rainforest Action Network) that appears to represent a core constituency of the company without alienating those customers? Are you aware of similar situations where a similar type of conflict occurred?
TJ's played it absolutely right in this case saying it was taking the action requested but not because of any pressure exerted by any group. Furthermore, it advised its own customers not to believe everything they read or hear from groups such as the Rainforest Action Network. Our guess is that, when it comes to trust, most TJ customers will give the retailer the nod over this particular environmental group.
As a loyal TJ shopper and dedicated hugger of trees, we'd like to suggest to the Rainforest Action Network that they may not like what Steve Rogel has to say but his words make common sense. "We must engage in the right dialogue -- a dialogue that moves beyond the narrow question of 'cut' or 'don’t cut.' If we do, we'll arrive at an answer that is supported by all stakeholders. It will be an answer based on good science and combines social, environmental and economic values." - George Anderson - Moderator