|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friends of the Earth
Finland / Forest Group 17 September 1999
UPM-Kymmene and its Indonesian partner APRIL announced the cancellation of their planned fine paper alliance on September 16. Friends of the Earth is pleased to hear this. At the same time FoE points out that UPM-Kymmene is still a part of APRIL's pulp production in Riau and the problems related to it. Now UPM-Kymmene should stop financing APRIL's pulp mill, using the pulp in Chinese paper factories and sales of APRIL's paper in Europe. An urgent problem is the pulp production expansion plan APRIL has published. According to company it will start building the second pulp line in Riau. This would double production capacity in Riau to 1,3 million tons per year. Consequently the destruction of natural forests and deprivation of local communities' land in the area would also double. UPM-Kymmene's USD 121 milllion loan to APRIL is a part of the financing package for this expansion and thus directly supporting the acceleration of destruction of the rainforests. Another issue UPM-Kymmene is responsible of is the use of APRIL's Indonesian pulp in Chinese paper factories the two companies jointly own. If UPM-Kymmene would follow the guidelines in its own environmental policy, it could not use pulp from Riau. An example of the problems related to the use of the pulp is that UPM is not using the pulp in its German plants. A third problem is UPM-Kymmene's deal with APRIL to market its paper in Europe. According to APRIL its papers are sold through UPM-Kymmene's German subsidiary Nordland Papier. This is in sharp contrast with a declaration by German paper factories and magazine publishers, in which they state that no rainforest wood is used as a raw material for paper. UPM-Kymmene is the only western paper company selling paper originating from rainforests in Europe. Friends of the Earth has criticised UPM-Kymmene's and APRIL's way of producing pulp and paper in the Sumatran province of Riau in Indonesia. It is clear that APRIL is clearcutting habitats of endangered species and exploits lands of local communities without asking for their agreement. It is necessary to continue with the criticism. Although the planned extensive fine paper cooperation has been cancelled, UPM-Kymmene is still responsible of APRIL's unethical operations in Riau. UPM-Kymmene should carry its responsibility no matter where in the world its pulp is produced and be certain that its products are made without human rights abuses and destruction of biodiversity.
More information: Mr Otto Miettinen |
