Some of the world's biggest environmental protection groups are urging Canfor Pulp Limited Partnership to reconsider its sale of Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) to a corporate family with a track record of environmental degradation.
Sierra Club B.C., ForestEthics, Greenpeace and Canopy released a joint press release and sent a letter to Canfor last week asking the company to explore other ownership options and not sell to Paper Excellence BV, the Dutch subsidiary of Indonesia-based Sinar Mas Group.
Sinar Mas, the groups say, engages in "worst practices" when it comes to harvesting rainforests for pulp, paper and palm oil including illegal deforestation, habitat loss and violence towards indigenous people in Indonesia.
Greenpeace B.C. director Stephanie Goodwin said Sinar Mas' practices represent a huge risk if used in the province.
"Sinar Mas or any of its paper tiger companies setting up shop in B.C. is a problem. They need to clean up their act abroad by stopping the destruction of natural Indonesian rainforests for pulp and paper and palm oil. We cannot risk Sinar Mas bringing what they consider business-as-usual practices to British Columbia," she said in the press release.
HSPP's president and chief executive officer Mac Palmiere said he can't speak for new possible foreign parent company, but he plans to continue operations that have won HSPP environmental accolades in the past.
"From Howe Sound's perspective, we've been very proud of our environmental track record over the years and our involvement in procuring qualified fibre from very good sources in Canada with outstanding environmental track records and I don't see that changing," he said.
"My expectation is that the Canadians involved in this should reflect what HSPP has been doing. We're Canadians here and we're British Columbians and we take great pride in our environmental performance and taking care of the environment. That value isn't going to change regardless of who the owners are."
Palmiere added he is not concerned about being associated with Sinar Mas and argued that HSPP cannot be judged by another company's behaviour.
"The initiatives we have done as a company need to stand on their merit," he said.
He said the deal also bodes well for HSPP's financial future.
Palmiere said the HSPP has already begun talks with Greenpeace and the other environmental groups to see what can be done to assure them HSPP remains committed to the environment.
"We do have a good relationship with those groups because of our involvement in the initiatives around the Great Bear Rainforest and we're talking to them about what we can do to stay involved going forward," he said.
In a later interview, Goodwin said Greenpeace will lobby Sinar Mas directly if the sale goes through.
"Everyone knows that as soon as you get a new owner, things can change dramatically. While we know Howe Sound Pulp and Paper has done some progressive work around British Columbia around sourcing and forest practices, Sinar Mas represents dinosaur days," she said.
Palmiere said the deal between Canfor and Paper Excellence is moving along and the deal should be closed by the end of September.
