Archived press release

Uk paper firms destroy best rainforest

11 February 2002

UK paper merchants are buying paper sourced from the world's most biodiverse lowland rainforest a new report by Friends of the Earth reveals today [1]. The Tesso Nilo rainforest in Indonesia is home to a number of endangered species, including tigers, elephants, gibbons and tapirs.

The report reveals that at least nine paper merchants in the UK are buying PaperOne products made by APRIL, one of the world's most destructive paper companies and owner of the world's largest pulp mill [2]. APRIL has already cleared at least 220,000 hectares off Indonesian rainforest, an area almost twice the size of Greater London. It is now logging Tesso Nilo, recently discovered by scientists to be the most biodiverse lowland rainforest on earth.

APRIL's operations have been supported by a number of other British companies. AMEC, one of the UK's largest construction groups helped build APRIL's pulp mill in Indonesia and a British bank has been involved in financing APRIL's development. Baring Brothers (now called ING Barings) arranged a £130 million loan for the construction of APRIL's pulp mill. Barclays also attempted to arrange loans of £140 million to APRIL subsidiaries but the deal collapsed following the Asian economic crisis.

FOE's investigation into APRIL reveals that since starting operations in 1995, the vast majority of the timber sent to its pulp mill has been sourced by clear-cutting Indonesian rainforest. APRIL has admitted that it will be destroying at least another 140,000 hectares of rainforest during the next six years. APRIL has also been involved in a number of high profile land disputes with indigenous peoples.

The publication of the “APRIL Fools” report marks the launch of FOE's Corporates Campaign. FOE is calling for global rules for business to make companies accountable for the environmental and social impacts of their activities.

Ed Matthew, Corporates Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“This is the second investigation by Friends of the Earth which has shown that UK companies are linked to some of the world's worst cases of forest destruction. These companies are profiting from environmental devastation. The Government must step in and bring them to account.”

www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/case_studies/april/

Notes:
[1] Friends of the Earth's Report, “APRIL Fools” (PDF†) format - 290K) & further information about FOE's Corporates Campaign can be seen on FOE's website:
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/
[2] UK paper merchants who are buying PaperOne paper include: David John Papers, Davies Harvey Murrel, GF Smith, SV Sier, Ovenden Papers, Rosefox, The South Wales Paper Company, Fulton Paper, Frederick Johnson.

It is not clear whether or to what extent these companies are aware of APRIL's environmental impacts and track record.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust