The conservation group ForestAlert has urged companies and individuals
to protest to Japan’s Nippon Paper Group about its sourcing of wood
chip from the Tasmania primary forests, where the world’s tallest trees
are found.
ForestAlert claims Tasmania’s forests are being destroyed and wants
Nippon Paper to phase out its purchasing of products derived from any
areas that should be conserved. It is asking for a boycott of the
company’s goods until this commitment is given.
The campaign follows Nippon Paper’s public consultation on its wood
chip sourcing policies. Nippon Paper, which says it has been trying to
promote overseas afforestation, started a CSR promotion system in 2003
to support its social responsibilities in its business management, and
set up a raw materials subcommittee last year to ensure that its
supplies came from sustainable sources. The subcommittee runs seminars
on responsible materials procurement and analyses procurement policies.
Another Japanese company, Mitsubishi Paper Mills, has recently decided
to purchase wood chip only from plantation or regrowth sources.
