Asia Pulp and Paper: Nasty as They Want to Be

A new report released last week details how one of the world’s largest pulp and paper companies has broken numerous promises to protect forests in Indonesia, and is clearing forests in violation of Indonesian regulations.

“Anyone buying products from a company that sources illegally or from the clearing of high conservation value forests is contributing to the devastating loss of rainforests in Indonesia and pushing tigers, elephants and other wildlife closer to extinction” said Nazir Foead, WWF-Indonesia's Director of Policy & Corporate Engagement.

If you are buying products from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), like many who supply paper products in the United States, Europe, Japan and elsewhere are, you are participating in one of the most heartbreaking forest tragedies of our day happening right now in Indonsesia.

Additional clearing and burning of these forest will only further fuel the growing problem of climate change from a country that already ranks in the top five in the world of greenhouse gas emitters. The smoke and haze resulting from the uncontrolled burning of Indonesian rainforests this year has again sparked international tensions, halted air travel, created a public health crisis, and slowed tourism across the region.

WWF is calling on pulp and paper producers and buyers to avoid APP and other suppliers who use wood fiber from illegal sources and clear forests with a high conservation value. Some companies, like the Ricoh Group and Fuji Xerox Group, both headquartered in Japan, have stopped purchasing APP products.

Get all the details from WWF here....