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“To maintain its credibility, we call on the FSC to firmly implement its policies, disassociate itself from Paper Excellence and recognize Paper Excellence’s relationship with APP, which has a poor record in terms of deforestation in Indonesia,” a- he declared.

In their complaint, the two organizations claim that Paper Excellence acquired Domtar, one of the largest pulp and paper producers in North America, in 2021. This move was followed by the acquisition of Resolute Forest Products, another giant forestry company this year. Paper Excellence now has 42 FSC-certified pulp and paper mills and sawmills in Canada, the United States and France.

In Canada, this company operates in five provinces and manages 22 million hectares of forest land. This includes approximately 7.3 million hectares in Quebec and Ontario that are FSC approved.

FSC is an international certification body that recognizes companies and producers of wood, pulp and other forest products deemed to have implemented responsible management based on sustainability.

In addition, Paper Excellence even holds a seat on the board of directors of FSC Canada through the company it acquired, Resolute Forest Products.

Evidence found during the investigation took the form of company records, lobbyist registrations and official government documents. Previously, in March 2023, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), joined by several Canadian media organizations, confirmed these findings.

This evidence then prompted Greenpeace Canada and Auriga Nusantara to file a complaint and ask the Central FSC, headquartered in Germany, to recognize Paper Excellence’s relationship with APP. They also requested that the FSC not issue a certificate to the company.

The FSC was also asked to sever its ties with Paper Excellence and its subsidiaries. This emphasis is based on FSC policy, which prohibits the activities of its member companies from being linked to parent companies, subsidiaries or parent companies (sister company) who violate FSC policy, particularly those who carry out forest destruction practices such as those carried out by APP.

“It is time for the FSC to make a firm decision. Allow the takeover of forests by giant multinational logging companies or be honest with the public. “Because more than 10,000 Canadians have asked Paper Excellence to be transparent and their calls are getting louder,” said Shane Moffatt, Food and Nature Campaign Manager at Greenpeace Canada.

Previously, in October 2019, Auriga Nusantara also sent a letter to the Managing Director of FSC and the Chairman of the International Board regarding the involvement of Paper Excellence owner Jackson Wijaya in APP. Despite the recognition of this link, the FSC still allows the Paper Excellence factory to maintain its certification.

In 2007, the FSC officially severed its ties with the APP. This decision was a result of APP’s involvement in environmental destruction.