The report, which is the culmination of a nine-month investigation into the pulp and paper firms forestry practices, targets Aprils main product, PaperOne a multi-purpose office paper, which has ISO 9002 certification, and is made using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp.
It questions whether April has the necessary legal permits for logging in the Tesso Nilo rainforest in Indonesia, and claims that April has made false claims about the sustainability of its operations.
Nine merchants have been named as stockists of PaperOne: David John Papers, Davies Harvey Murrell, GF Smith, SV Sier, Ovenden Papers, Rosefox, The South Wales Paper Company, Fulton Paper and Frederick Johnson.
David John Papers director Colin Ross said: We are investigating the issues raised in the report, and are awaiting clarification from April, but we are very annoyed at the situation.
A statement issued by Ovenden Papers said it had ceased to trade with April and its European agents, until such time as the serious allegations can be substantiated or refuted.
A spokesman for April said: The company is discussing the issues raised in the report, and will issue a statement in due course in an effort to minimise the damage.
Story by Andy Scott
FoE targets April's forestry practices
A report by Friends of the Earth (FoE), <i>April Fools</i>, has claimed that at least nine UK paper merchants are buying paper from Indonesian manufacturer April, sourced from one of the worlds most biodiverse forests where illegal logging is reportedly taking place.
