Are Woolies ‘sustainable’ tissues from illegally logged rainforests?

The Green Party is calling on Woolworths to reveal whether their "Select" brand of tissues and paper products, which are marketed as from sustainable forests, are actually sourced from illegal and unsustainable rainforest clearing in Indonesia.

"If so, Woolworths should stop telling consumers they are sustainable and seek an alternative source. Evidence has come to the surface in the last few days in Australia that the true source of the pulp for the ‘Select’ brand of paper products is the clearance of Indonesian rainforest, even though they have a ‘sustainable forest fibre’ logo on them” says Dr. Russel Norman, Green Party Co-Leader.

“The ‘Select’ box of tissues that I found in Woolworths on Friday states that they are made in Indonesia and packed for Woolworths in Australia, and it has the ‘sustainable forest fibre’ logo (see attached picture).

“The Select brand of paper products is sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper in Indonesia and recent reports indicate that APP has been clearing rainforests in Indonesia and abusing the human rights of its workers.”

Independent audits by the Forest Alliance, a group contracted by APP, found that APP operations were unsustainable and issued APP with correction orders that have not been implemented. The Forest Alliance has since ceased working with APP.

“APP representatives have told the media in the last two days that efforts by Indonesian police to crack down on illegal logging are restricting the supply of timber to APP mills, demonstrating their dependence on illegal timber sources.

“Woolworths have put a logo on these tissues stating that they are from 'sustainable forest fibre', but what is sustainable about clearing rainforest to produce paper pulp? It destroys biodiversity and releases greenhouse emissions. Twenty percent of all greenhouse emissions are a result of deforestation.

“If these reports are accurate, then Woolies should withdraw the products and find a sustainable alternative. If they refuse to act then we will approach the Commerce Commission to investigate the claims made on the packaging. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission closely monitors sustainability claims in Australia. I would like to see our Commerce Commission do the same thing.

“It’s good that Woolworths would like to stock paper products from sustainable sources, but APP is not sustainable and Woolworths must seek an alternate source.”

The Green Party is continuing a campaign against illegal and unsustainable rainforest destruction with a colourful protest outside the ANZ bank in Manners St, Wellington City on Monday morning from 7.30 – 9.00. It is calling on ANZ Banking Group to cut its financial support to Rimbunan Hijau, a large Malaysian-based logging company which is destroying rainforests across Asia and the Pacific.

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