Gulf Restoration Network

Calling to Save Our Cypress

Please call Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart now to ask them stop selling cypress mulch and start promoting sustainable alternatives instead. The numbers and some easy talking points are below. Don't forget to fill out the form at the bottom to let us know you called and how the companies responded.

Cypress trees are natural storm and flood protection, water filtration, and important habitat. We need them in the swamps where they belong, not in plastic bags at Home Depot.

Company representatives may tell you that the company has stopped selling cypress mulch from from Louisiana (Wal-Mart) or southern Louisiana (Home Depot and Lowe's). We applaud those moves, and it has saved thousands of acres of cypress. Unfortunately, that arrangement may not last forever. Plus, it does nothing to protect other states. Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart need to stop selling unsustainable cypress mulch no matter where it is logged. They'd not only be doing what's right, but they'd actually be following their own corporate policies.
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1. For Lowe's, call 704-758-1000 and ask to speak with CEO Robert Niblock. They should transfer you to his office, and if he's not available, just leave a message with the operator or secretary. Then you can use the talking points below.

Hello! My name is ________________, and I'm calling from ____(your town)____. I'm calling to ask Lowe's to stop selling cypress mulch. The mulch you sell is coming from endangered forests on the Gulf Coast. Those forests are the best natural protection we have from hurricanes and flooding, they filter pollution from our water, and they provide important habitat for wildlife. Lowe's already has good sustainability policies, and its time to apply them to cypress mulch. Please stop selling unsustainable cypress mulch. Thanks.

2. For Home Depot, call Customer Care at 800-553-3199 and choose option 5. Tell the operator that you'd like to speak to CEO Frank Blake, or at least leave a message for him.

3. For Wal-Mart, call 479-273-4000 and ask to speak with new CEO Mike Duke. You'll be transferred to an operator who will ask your name and number. Make it clear that you'd like to talk to Mr. Duke, they probably won't let you, so just leave him a message.

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Which companies did you call and how did they respond?

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0-25 of 271 signatures

Number	Date	Name	Location	Which companies did you call and how did they respond?
271	December 22, 2008	Jamie Scott	McKinney, TX
270	December 16, 2008	James Lear	Brooklyn, NY
269	December 09, 2008	Sharon Rich	South Daytona, FL
268	December 07, 2008	Armand Rodriguez	New Orleans, LA	Lowe's no response
267	December 07, 2008	Sarah Matheis	Winooski, VT
266	December 07, 2008	Mark Carroll	,
265	December 06, 2008	Julia Broome	New orleans, LA
264	December 05, 2008	Shannen Winfield	Tallahassee, FL
263	December 05, 2008	Don Kirchoff	Houston, TX	HOME DEPOT: "Lisa" (800-654-0688 ext 76122) read their policy. I pointed out that moving their sources from LA only destroyed wetlands in other areas. When I insisted to be told where their cypress wood is now being harvested and how they know it comes from sustainable sources, she took my contact information, said she will file my complaint, and said that someone will contact me to let me know where they are now harvesting cypress trees. LOWES: "Brenda" read their wood harvesting policy. I requested to discuss their purchasing and control actions which assure that only sustainable harvesting takes place and to be told where they are harvesting cypress. She said she will file my complaint, took my contact information, said some will contact me with the informaiton.
262	December 05, 2008	Anonymous	new orleans, LA
261	December 05, 2008	dogan ozkan	dikilitas besiktas istanbul turk, AK
260	December 04, 2008	Anonymous	Lexington, KY	I could not call anyone. My minutes are used up for the month. Could I send an e-mail instead? Where? I once lived in New Orleans and have seen how magnificant the swamps have been and the cypress trees not being there helped Katrina do her damage.
259	December 04, 2008	CHRISTOPHER F DEL RIEGO, M.D.	SAN DIEGO, CA	HD: infinite hold LOWES: infinite hold WalMart: sent email
258	December 04, 2008	Phyllis Wilson	Lake Charles, LA
257	December 04, 2008	Byron Webb	Daphne, AL	Home Depot, left msg
256	December 04, 2008	Anonymous	New Orleans, LA	Calling Home Depot? Call Janna at 770-433-8211 x87742. She's CEO Blake's executive secretary. A more direct line than the comment line.
255	December 04, 2008	Chris Howarth	Chapel Hill, NC	Home depot, they were pleasant and took a long message to deliver to mr Blake
254	December 04, 2008	Chad Carson	New Orleans, LA	Called Home Depot Asked for CEO Blake, I was told he doesn't take calls and has no voicemail, but the customer service agebt took my message. She explained that Home Depot doesn't log in Louisiana anymore and I exlained that that wasn't enough. She "apologized for the disturbance." Strange.....
253	December 04, 2008	William Ferguson	Los Angeles, CA	I called home depot. The operator at Customer Care said he didn't have a number for the CEO, but that he had an address. While looking that address up he found the following number and extension for the president's office: 7704338211x87742. He transferred me to Janna, one of the people who takes his calls. I related our message to her. She apologized for any confusion but said that Home Depot does not buy mulch from cypress stands logged on the Louisiana coast. She asked for my phone number and address which I shared. She gave me her direct line and extension: Janna 18006540688x76128
252	December 04, 2008	Patricia Langston	Everett, WA	Home Depot kept me on hold 12 minutes so I sent a message on their web site
251	December 04, 2008	Juan Parras	Houston, TX
250	December 04, 2008	Albert Guidry	Metairie, LA	Home Depot 's "Tia" answered my call to please stopp selling cypress mulch. She was cordial and understanding. She claims that Home Depot has agreed and that they have told other contractors that they will no longer accept cypress mulch. Reference number 5252289. Lowe's was also cordial and Ms. Jullie Holloway said that a moratorium went into effect July of 2008 and was based on the requests of the Louisiana Forestry. Although a bit more abrupt, Wal-Marts' Ms. Catiga Barnes was also relatively nice and claimed she would pass the information on . She did not give any reference number to our conversation but like the others, did take my name, number and addrss to document the call.
249	December 04, 2008	Debbie Rubenstein	Charlotte, NC
248	December 04, 2008	Robert Levy	New Orleans, LA	Spoke with Lowe's, a secretary to CEO Robert Niblock, very friendly, assured me that as of past July, they have a three-year moratorium on cypress mulch farmed from La., i pressed for permanent, and she said she'd pass comments on to the CEO, and took down my contact info. Couldn't get through at home Depot. May try wal-mart later.
247	December 04, 2008	Anonymous	Dallas, TX	Spoke with WalMart and Home Depot. Long, friendly converstaions with both. WalMart person on the Priority service line was unfamiliar with the issue and took down my detailed commnets. The Hoem Depot person was very familair and she concluded after our discussion by saying that their purchasing policies are under continuous review. Hopefully this product will be discontinued soon.

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