Canadian logging company claims activists more interested in ‘media stunts’ than dialogue 

By Danielle Lee

Greenpeace prevented Canadian logging company Abitibi-Consolidated from offloading a shipment of several thousand tons of newsprint for Dutch publishers in a Terneuzen, Netherlands, harbor Oct. 12 in protest of the logging company’s use of ancient forests and virgin fibers.

Abitibi logs in the largest intact—but mostly unprotected—area of boreal forest in Ontario, Canada, and Greenpeace charges that the company’s paper contains more than 90 percent virgin fibers.

Greenpeace protestors asked the Dutch government to evaluate the source of Abitibi’s paper, hoping to ensure that these shipments do not come from ancient forests. Greenpeace Canada is also requesting the Ontario and Quebec governments to declare a moratorium on the logging of remaining boreal forest from within their provinces.

“Greenpeace is using media stunts to express some concerns they have, which are different than today’s reality in the boreal forest,” said Abitibi’s Director of Public Affairs Denis Leclerc. “We [have been] trying to establish a dialogue with Greenpeace for many weeks now, but unfortunately they always refuse our invitation to work together to find solutions to their concerns. If they had chosen another boat they may have found paper made of 100 percent recycled content. Abitibi is largest recycler of old newspapers in North America.”

Abitibi serves clients in more than 70 countries and has logging permits for more than 41.6 million acres in Canada.

The company’s Dutch clients include PCM, Wegener and the Telegraaf, which  annually purchase 26,000 tons of Abitibi paper.