FSC's 'Green' Label for Wood Products Gets Growing Pains

By TOM WRIGHT and JIM CARLTON
October 30, 2007; Page B1
The environmental group that runs a widely recognized labeling system to identify "green" wood and paper products has acknowledged that some companies using its label are destroying pristine forests and says it plans to overhaul its rules. Read more

House’s Commission VII criticize APP, APRIL subsidiaries

Tuesday, 09 October 2007 Pekanbaru
(EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Environmental Commission dismissed a general hearing with PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) on Monday due to insufficient data provided by the company, Koran Tempo daily reported today (9/10/2007). Sonny Keraf, who led the hearing, concluded that the Commission VII would visit Riau to ensure whether PT IKPP and PT RAPP could be involved in illegal logging practice as the police probed currently, Riau Pos daily reported today. It is for the third time the hearing between Commission VII and PT RAPP (subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited /APRIL) was postponed following the company’s management no-show two weeks ago. Read more

Pulp executives no show, MPs blast

Pekanbaru (EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Commission VII blasted both President Directors of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP) and PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) who decline to attend a hearing that discussed Riau’s illegal logging issues on Monday (24/9/2007), official House website (dpr.or.id) reported Tuesday (25/9). More

MP: Riau forests logging moratorium needed

MP: Riau forests logging moratorium needed
Tuesday, 02 October 2007

Pekanbaru (EoF News)—A member of parliament who tackles forestry sector urges the Ministry of Forestry to stop issuing any logging license in Riau and review permits granted to companies, the official House of Representatives website (dpr.go.id) reported Monday (1/10/2007). More

Australian Supermarket Woolworths Withdraws APP sourced Tissue Products

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has withdrawn tens of thousands of units of tissue and paper products after ceding to NGO pressure over its links with an Indonesian paper supplier. NGOs have made allegations that a range of products labeled with a “Sustainable Forest Fibre” logo were sourced from unsustainable forestry practices. Woolworths sources these products from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). The Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) issued a press release in which it called on Woolworths to re-examine its supply chain. A3P has urged consumers to buy products with fibre sourced from sustainably managed plantations certified under internationally recognised sustainable forest management certification schemes such as the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (includes the Australian Forestry Standard) and the Forest Stewardship Council. Woolworths is now investigating the claims made in the logo. It has engaged WWF Australia to assist the company to examine its supply chain. More

Source: Forestry & Development E-News