Friends of the Earth Netherlands'
success
Akzo Nobel withdraws from controversial
project
Amsterdam, 8 January 2002 ---Akzo Nobel
has cancelled its plans to participate in the
construction of a pulp factory on the
Indonesian island of Kalimantan. Friends of
the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) has
been demanding the company do so since 2001.
Until recently, Akzo Nobel refused to
reconsider its plans. Friends of the Earth
Netherlands is pleased that Akzo has finally
taken this step.
Just a few weeks ago, on December 2,
Friends of the Earth voiced its protest by
draping a 'jungle curtain' accompanied by the
sound of chainsaws in front of the entrance
to Akzo Nobel's head office in Arnhem, the
Netherlands. The Friends of the Earth report
Paper from Forest Giants- Akzo Nobel's plans
in Indonesia was published
simultaneously.
Akzo Nobel was part of a so-called
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a
Singapore company that plans to build a pulp
factory in Kalimantan. Nearly 50 thousand
hectares of tropical rainforest would have to
be cut down and replaced by plantations to
supply the pulp factory with wood pulp. Akzo
had agreed to build a chemical plant that
would manufacture bleaching agents for this
factory.
FoE Netherlands is happy to see that Akzo
Nobel has shown it takes its own
environmental policy seriously by withdrawing
from this project. Akzo Nobel states:
'The four points raised by Milieudefensie
in their executive summary actually reflect
our own views: Akzo Nobel share their
concerns over mismanagement and
deforestation in Indonesia as well as in
other countries. It is in our interest and
a basis for our pulp and paper chemicals
business to develop and market more
environment compatible products and systems
for pulp bleaching and paper
manufacturing.'
Akzo is the second company in the Filthy
Five series of Friends of the Earth
Netherlands. The series highlights Dutch
companies that are not taking their corporate
responsibility seriously in foreign
countries. The alarming situations uncovered
in these cases illustrate the need for
binding international legislation for
multinationals.
For more information:
Press Office Friends of the Earth
Netherlands (Milieudefensie), tel: +31 20
5507 333
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