Advisory: Activists to rally at Costco annual meeting, urge company to stop forest destruction

55,000 people sign petition calling out Kirkland, Charmin brands for contributing to climate crisis

BELLEVUE, WA — On Wednesday, January 22, activist organizations will unite outside Costco’s annual general shareholder meeting to challenge the leading retailer on its commitment to protecting the environment. The coalition will hold a rally and deliver over 55,000 signatures urging the retailer to stop deforestation in its own products and in its supply chain.

Coinciding with the rally and petition delivery, SumOfUs, a global corporate accountability organization, has booked a mobile billboard to circle the immediate area outside the venue to further draw attention to Costco’s role in fueling the climate crisis.

WHO: SumOfUs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Mighty Earth, Stand.earth and Care2

WHAT: Mobile billboard, rally, and petition delivery 

WHEN: Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 3:00 – 4:30pm PST

WHERE: Meydenbauer Center at 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004 

WHY: While Australia and the Amazon burn, Costco is fueling the climate chaos through wholesale forest destruction. Although Costco advertises itself as an ethical company for eco-conscious consumers, a closer look at the company’s products tell a different story.

According to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Stand.earth, Costco’s own toilet paper Kirkland brand is one of the worst offenders fueling the destruction of one of the world’s largest intact forests, while stocking products on its shelves, like Charmin toilet paper. The Boreal forest is critical in mitigating the worst effects of climate change, as it stores the carbon equivalent of nearly twice the world’s recoverable oil reserves in its soil. 

Costco also stocks beef from suppliers like Cargill and JBS that are burning down the Amazon rainforest for cheap beef.

SumOfUs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Mighty Earth, Stand.earth and Care2 argue that the widespread devastation of climate disasters is proof that Costco needs to take its role in protecting our planet seriously. Thus the groups strongly urge Costco executives to finally demonstrate the type of bold leadership needed to match the scale of our global climate crisis by adopting alternative solutions that prevent deforestation.

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Media contacts:

Jamila Brown, SumOfUs, 347-694-8546, press@sumofus.org

Amelia Meister, SumOfUs, 226-203-0958, press@sumofus.org