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Resolute will not pursue new FSC certifications

November 27, 2015 - Resolute Forest Products has announced the reinstatement of its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate for the Black Spruce/Dog River-Matawin forest in Northwestern Ontario, but in the same breath, has stated the company will not seek any new certifications from FSC.

"Receiving confirmation that our certificate has been reinstated is welcomed news," said Richard Garneau, Resolute's president and CEO. "This outcome is due in no small part to the diligence of our forestry team in Northwestern Ontario, and to the support of First Nations and a diversity of forest stakeholders, including local communities, unions, and anglers' and hunters' associations, to name a few."

Garneau expressed concern with a number of issues currently facing FSC and its members, but confirmed Resolute will continue to participate in the standards organization.

“These include the adoption of Motion 65, which aims to protect intact forest landscapes and its adaptation to the Canadian specific circumstances; the interpretation of Environment Canada's woodland caribou conservation strategy; the merging of all four Canadian FSC standards into a single one while simultaneously introducing a long list of new indicators; and several other issues," he said. "We recognize the considerable efforts of FSC and its membership to address these complex issues and Resolute will continue to actively take part in these efforts."

A company statement declares that Resolute “is concerned about the viability of FSC certification in the Canadian boreal forest, as are other companies. Until significant progress is made in addressing these matters, Resolute will work to maintain its existing FSC forest management certificates where possible, but will not pursue new certification.”

Resolute continues its commitment to sustainable forest management, and 100% of woodlands managed by the company are independently certified to one or more of the three forest management standards in use in Canada – Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and FSC.

Earlier this year, Resolute was reprimanded by FSC for not publicly supporting the organization’s policies, and reminded that upholding FSC’s credibility and reputation is one of the conditions of membership in the standards organization.

Read that story here.

Resolute Forest Products produces a diverse range of products, including newsprint, specialty papers, tissue, market pulp and wood products at more than 40 pulp, paper, tissue and wood products facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea.

November 27, 2015  By Pulp & Paper Canada