FoE contacted 18 paper merchants dealing with APP last year and all said they had at least temporarily stopped doing business, said Matthew. "But we know theres still a lot of Indonesian paper coming into the UK," he added. "Its paper made from clear-cut forests that have the most biodiversity and companies are buying it when they know they shouldnt be.

"We have a very clear message to paper merchants: dont buy APP paper until its proven that they are operating sustainably."

Nonetheless, FoE has "broadly welcomed" APPs latest environmental initiative. AMEC Forest Industry Consulting is set to undertake an independent sustainability assessment and plan for APPs fibre suppliers, which are part of the Sinar Mas Group.

The move comes three months after APP enlisted AMEC to carry out a similar audit for its forestry operations (PrintWeek, 22 March 2002).

But Matthew warned that APP had taken a year to get to this stage and the fibre assessment would take six to nine months. "Thats an unacceptable delay," he said.

A preliminary audit in November 2001 concluded that APP and Sinar Mas used legally documented timber sources and were not polluting local rivers.

Story by Gordon Carson