 The Forest Industry in the 21st Century Top 5 Processor Companies
International Paper USA Worlds #1 Wood Processor International Paper is the world's largest paper and forest products company, processing just over 100 million cubic metres of wood per year. This figure is over a third more than its closest competitor, greater than the entire annual production of Sweden, Finland or British Columbia and nearly double the annual consumption of the UK. The company was founded in 1898 in the United States. It expanded into Canada and southern America in the 1920s and, in the 1950's, began to expand overseas. International Paper owns more than 14.8 million acres worldwide and is the largest private landowner in the United States with 12.5 million acres. International Paper is a global company operating in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America with production facilities in 50 countries and customers in more than 130. International Paper has more than 117,000 employees and sales in 2000 of $28.2 billion. The company claims a commitment to sustainable forestry, is undertaking ISO14001 certification and adheres to the American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The SFI is a competing industry-sponsored certification programme that is considerably weaker than FSC and, in WWF's view, does not fulfil the requirements of sustainable forestry. WWF is asking International Paper to prove the company's environmental commitment by joining the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) and demanding FSC accreditation for the company and its suppliers.
Georgia-Pacific Corporation USA Worlds #2 Wood Processor Georgia-Pacific is the second largest forest products company in the world, processing around 65 million cubic metres of wood per year. Founded in 1927 in Augusta, Georgia, the company has grown by expansion and acquisitions to become the world's leading tissues manufacturer and one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of paper and building products. The company employs more than 85,000 people at nearly 600 facilities in the United States, Canada and 11 other countries. Sales in 2000 reached $22 billion US dollars. Georgia-Pacific has an environmental strategy and advocates sustainable forestry. The company participates in the American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) programme, a competing industry-sponsored certification programme. However, the SFI is considerably weaker than FSC and, in WWF's view, does not fulfil the requirements of sustainable forestry. WWF is asking Georgia-Pacific to prove the company's environmental commitment by joining the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) and demanding FSC accreditation for the company and its suppliers. To date progress has been slow.
Weyerhaeuser USA Worlds #3 Wood Processor Weyerhaeuser processes around 50.1 million cubic metres of wood per year for lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, particleboard, market pulp, newsprint, paper and containerboard. Started in January 1900, Weyerhaeuser has grown through acquisitions to become the third largest wood processing company in the world with around 45,000 employees and $16 billion in sales in 2000. Weyerhaeuser claims a commitment to sustainable forestry, pollution reduction and prevention, conservation and recycling. The company has achieved ISO14001 accreditation for its Georgia Timberlands and Wood Supply Groups and has announced a further commitment to the standard. The company also produces an annual environmental report. Weyerhaeuser supports the American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) - a competing industry-sponsored certification programme. SFI is considerably weaker than FSC and, in WWF's view, does not fulfil the requirements of sustainable forestry. WWF is in constructive dialogue with Weyerhaeuser about their environmental commitment and joining the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) which demands FSC accreditation for the company and its suppliers.
Stora Enso Finland Worlds #4 Wood Processor Stora Enso is an integrated forest products company producing magazine papers, newsprint, fine papers and packaging boards and with extensive sawmilling operations. The company acquired the US-based, Consolidated Papers in 2000 and expansion is underway in Europe, North America and Asia. Sales in 1999 were $10.7 billion and the company employs around 45,000 people in more than 40 countries. The company owns approximately 2.6 million hectares of forest-land in Finland and Sweden, some 0.3 million hectares in the United States and significant forest areas in Canada and Portugal. Stora Enso has a company environmental and social responsibility policy and claims a commitment to developing business towards ecological, social and economic sustainability. The company is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index. The Swedish company Stora merged with Finnish company Enso in 1998. Stora continues to have FSC certification for all of its forest holdings in Sweden, amounting to nearly 1.5 million hectares. Enso, however, use the Finnish certification system FFCS. The Finnish national standard has not been accredited by FSC. Stora Enso in the US is certified under the American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Both of these competing certification programmes are considerably weaker than FSC and, in WWF's view, do not fulfil the requirements of sustainable forestry. WWF is asking Stora Enso to further demonstrate the company's environmental commitment by joining the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) and seeking FSC accreditation for the entire company and its suppliers.
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation USA Worlds #5 Wood Processor Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation produces containers and containerboard, cartons and packaging. The company buys much of its wood fibre on the open market, but also owns around 130,000 acres in Canada. Smurfit-Stone is one of the world's largest recyclers of paper fibre, used for the production of paperboard. The company collects and processes approximately 7 million tonnes of recycled paper per year. With its headquarters in Chicago, Smurfit-Stone has around 40,000 employees and sales in 2000 of $8.8 billion. Smurfit-Stone owns more than 300 facilities worldwide. No information was available on Smurfit-Stone's environmental policy or the company's perspective on sustainable forestry. WWF is asking Smurfit-Stone to demonstrate the company's environmental commitment by joining the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) and demanding FSC accreditation for the company and its suppliers. |