As word of Kimberly-Clark's record on ancient forest destruction continues to spread, businesses across North America and around the world are starting to say no to Kimberly-Clark tissue products. We recently hooked up with Graeme Hussey, General Manager of Toronto’s Karma Food Co-operative, to find out more about why they decided to no longer sell Kimberly-Clark products.
What is the Karma Food Co-operative? How is the co-op different from other grocery stores?
The Karma Food Co-operative is a non-profit member-owned and operated co-operative grocery store that emphasizes organic and local foods and environmentally friendly household products. Members have the option of contributing their labour towards the operations and governance of Karma in exchange for paying less for their groceries. Karma has sales of approximately $1.7 million annually.
How many members do you have? How does one become a member of Karma Co-op?
Karma has 1100 active members, shopping at the store in the past three months. Karma membership is open to all. People interested in joining Karma are encouraged to take advantage of our “trial shop” to experience the products and see first-hand all of the benefits that Karma has to offer.
Members provide Karma with a refundable investment of $70 (payable in installments). This is your membership equity and ensures an appropriate amount of financial capital for Karma. Members also pay an $18 annual membership fee for member services.
To become a member, all you need to do is attend a brief orientation session at the store. To book a convenient appointment, please email orientation@karmacoop.org or phone 416-534-1470.
Tell us a bit about Karma Co-op’s Product Policy, how it came about and how Karma decides if a product can be sold at the store.
The members of Karma Co-op first adopted a formal product policy in July 1982. In 2000, Karma members began discussion at the annual general meeting (AGM) on a number of issues related to the product policy, including but not limited to genetically modified foods, an issue that was not prominent in 1982. As a result, the Food Issues Committee was reactivated, and it began to discuss its strategies for dealing with both immediate and policy issues. In May 2002, the committee held a co-op member forum to discuss the committee's work so far and the draft policy. Suggestions were incorporated and a revised policy was accepted at the 2002 AGM. The Food Issues Committee uses this document as the basis of evaluating products for Karma to ensure that products on the shelves meet a wide variety of political, economic, environmental, ethical, and nutritional and health standards.
Karma also adopted a revised boycott policy in 2005. This policy outlines the process by which Karma will organize and participate in boycotts. Karma believes a boycott can be an effective political device; Karma will participate in boycotts that attempt to achieve the same ends as our policies, including the product policy. Karma will boycott individual products, corporations or political regimes that are not willing to change unacceptable practices. In joining boycotts, Karma seeks to help make such corporations or regimes change these policies by threatening their economic stability.
Why did Karma Co-op decide to no longer stock Kimberly-Clark tissue products?
Karma members do not want to consumer products made from ancient forests. We hope that the consumer power of more than 1,100 active members supporting the Greenpeace organized boycott will pressure Kimberly-Clark to change their environmental practices.
What are some of the kinds of tissue products that Karma Co-op now sells?
Some of the tissue products, Karma currently sells include Fiesta and Seventh Generation toilet paper, Atlantic Packaging Products napkins, Seventh Generation facial tissue, and Fiesta and Seventh Generation paper towels.
Do you think Karma Co-op’s member’s care about the products they buy and whether they are manufactured in an ethical or environmentally friendly way?
Yes! Karma members have adopted a Product Policy because they want to ensure that they are buying ethical, sustainable and healthy products.
For more info about Karma Food Co-op please visit: www.karmacoop.org
If you like to send Graeme and Karma Co-op a note congratulating them for taking action to protect ancient forests, click here.
