Greenpeace Calls Out Asia Pulp and Paper for its Printing Paper Sourcing -Gail Nickel-Kailing

By Gail Nickel-Kailing

APP is not the only Indonesian pulp and paper company drawing fire. In April 2010, Smartwood—a Forest Stewardship Council certifier—suspended its interim controlled wood certification of Asia Paper Resources International Limited (APRIL) pulp products. APRIL failed to meet FSC’s minimum standard for “controlled wood” certification and was found to have violated the standards that forbid conversion of rainforests to create paper plantations, destruction of High Conservation Value Forests, including peatlands, and conflicts with communities.

With APRIL’s loss of its certified status and the earlier disassociation of FSC from APP, the two leading paper and pulp companies in Indonesia (which account for more than 80 percent of Indonesia’s production) have failed to meet FSC’s lowest requirement for environmental and social risk.

And a number of global companies are also threatening to cut ties with them [pdf] if they don’t change their “business as usual.” Adidas, Kraft, Nestlé, Unilever, McDonald’s and Mars, as well as retailers such as Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Metro are poised to cut APP off.

When sourcing paper, it pays to know where the pulp comes from! Does it come from carefully managed forests (and, yes, plantations), or does it come from sensitive rainforests and peatlands? Does it destroy the natural habitats of endangered animals like orangutans and Sumatra tigers?

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Business Management - Sustainability

Gail Nickel-Kailing Author's page A business adviser and problem solver, Gail is managing director of Business Strategies Etc., which provides strategic marketing and business planning services and manages the execution of marketing communications tactics that help companies:
• Define their sustainability strategies,
• Deliver a positive, sustainable image,
• Gain credibility, trust and respect, and
• Measure the results of their green initiatives and actions.

Gail is a nationally recognized speaker on a wide range of subjects and brings enthusiasm and a unique blend of experience to the podium. As an industry analyst and journalist contributing to publications in the United States, Canada, India and Brazil, she has covered a number of beats, particularly sustainability in printing and mailing, print on demand, variable data printing and direct mail.