Archived press release

UK Paper Companies Supporting Indonesian Rainforest Destruction

10 February 2003

Investigations by Friends of the Earth have revealed that UK paper merchants are still buying paper from Indonesian companies responsible for rainforest destruction, illegal logging and human rights abuses.

Last year research [1] by Friends of the Earth revealed that nine paper merchants in the UK were stocking paper made by APRIL, one of the most destructive paper companies. An earlier report [2] had highlighted how Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) sourced pulp from clear cutting wildlife-rich rainforest.

Recent investigations by Friends of the Earth has found that the Slough-based paper merchant David John is buying paper from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). At least 70 per cent of APP's pulp is sourced from clear-cutting rainforest which is the habitat for elephants, tigers and some of the world's most threatened plants. APP has been buying illegally-sourced timber and is accused by the NGO Human Rights Watch of human rights abuses in Sumatra. The paper products being sold by APP in the UK are made from pulped rainforest.

Friends of the Earth has discovered other paper merchants are still buying paper from the Indonesian paper manufacturer APRIL. Evidence has emerged that APRIL is also buying illegal timber. The paper merchants buying PaperOne paper products from APRIL include Ovenden Papers of Epping, Rosefox of Preston, Frederick Johnson of Enfield and the South Wales Paper Company, based in Barry, South Glamorgan. York and Ford of Leicester refused to confirm or deny whether it was buying Indonesian paper.

Although APRIL claims its paper products sold in the UK are from a plantation source, 70 per cent of APRIL's pulp source overall comes from clear-cut rainforest. Friends of the Earth is concerned that even if UK paper merchants are only buying plantation sourced paper from APRIL, they are still helping support rainforest destruction by doing business with the company. APRIL continues to buy timber sourced from the Tesso Nilo forest, one of the few remaining natural forest blocks left in Sumatra. Scientists consider this to be the most biodiverse forest for plant life in the world.

The rainforests of Indonesia have never been under greater threat. Deforestation has accelerated in recent years to 2.4 million hectares/year, the highest national rate of deforestation in the world. Approximately 80 per cent of all logging in Indonesia is estimated to be illegal.

Friends of the Earth's Forests Campaigner Ed Matthew said:

"UK paper merchants are fully aware of the impacts of APP & April's activities. By continuing to do business with them they are supporting the destruction of the most endangered rainforest in the world and inflicting untold damage on local communities."

James McNaughton, one of the UK's biggest paper merchant groups, recently announced its decision to stop buying Indonesian paper until it can be independently proven that it comes from a non-destructive source. Friends of the Earth is calling on all paper merchants to do the same.

Notes

[1] See www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/april_fools.pdf (PDF† 47K)

[2] See www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/asia_pulp_paper.pdf (PDF† 133K)

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust