Earlier today in Columbus Ohio, ForestEthics’ Executive Director Todd Paglia confronted shareholders at the annual meeting of the Limited Brands, Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, about the vast disparity between the company’s values-driven philosophy and the destructive nature of its environmental practices. At issue is Victoria’s Secret’s devastating catalogue business. Victoria’s Secret mails more than 395 million catalogues annually, predominately on paper made from forests, rather than recycled paper. In fact, approximately 25% of the paper in the company’s catalogues comes directly from the Endangered Forests in Canada’s Boreal.

After the shareholder meeting, two Limited Brands executives met with Mr. Paglia to review the concerns and demands of the ForestEthics campaign against Victoria’s Secret.  “Victoria’s Secret has indicated that it wants to do the right thing for the environment. The ForestEthics campaign will continue to escalate until this intention is turned into action,”stated Mr. Paglia.

Rebecca Reeves, a spokesperson from Alberta, Canada, which is where some of Victoria’s Secret’s paper comes from, spoke at the shareholder meeting as a representative of local Alberta residents and several grassroots organizations in Alberta. “I have personally seen the destruction, waste and pollution that logging leaves behind. The thought of these regions meeting the same fate, just for catalogues, will be impossible for me to explain to my grandchildren. The leaders of your company have this incredible opportunity to shape the future of these majestic forests as your decisions influence the fate of the trees and the animals that rely on them standing.  The time to act is now.  I encourage you to take an honorable leadership role in conservation and sustainability, which will be recognized internationally, and where the benefits will last forever.”