Group claims chain is hurting environment

Students representing environmentalists from several Iowa schools plan a protest today at an office-supply store in Ankeny. The group “STEP” or Students Toward Environmental Protection says Staples is just one chain that’s come under fire for not offering enough earth-friendly products. Molly Matter says Staples should use only paper made from new forests planted for pulp production as old growth forests are home to diverse ecosystems that were there for a hundreds of years. The group’s Jeremy Nagamatsu says paper isn’t the only product they protest.He says Home Depot signed the group’s “contract” to phase out old-growth wood products. The group’s also protested at Menards and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores, asking that lumber not be taken from old-growth forests. The STEP members say it’s a “National Day of Action” and the group will hold similar protests in other states.