Norwegian criticism of Swedish forest companies « damages trust »
Certification FSC will guarantee sustainable forestry. Now the forest company wants SCA leave the certification, which DN has been able to reveal. Also Holmen considering following.
Among the co -owners of the forest companies are Norwegian financial giants – which are now reacting strongly.
Norway’s largest asset manager Storebrand manages over SEK 1,400 billion and is a partner in both companies. CEO Jan Erik Saugestad tells DN that now, to press as shareholders, criticized criticism.
-We have been clear: Ending with the FSC certification sends a negative signal about their will for conversion and contributions to sustainable forestry, he says.
According to Saugestad After all, FSC is an important quality stamp for customers who want sustainable wood.
-In addition, the FSC standard is generally known among investors. Leaving that standard then risks damaging the market’s confidence that forestry is conducted in a sustainable way.
The companies have argued that it is more important to continue to get raw material to replace fossil fuels and materials with so -called renewable fuels and materials, instead of focusing on what damage the harvests cause to the environment.
Will you act in any way, in addition to sending these signals?
– – Going as far as selling our holding is a last resort. We want to contribute to real changes in the companies.
Have you received any response from the companies?
– It is a dialogue we have and we are very clear with our point of view. They emphasize the arguments that you mentioned, including that wood products have a positive effect and that production must be maintained.
DN has previously revealed that forest companies in harvesting repeatedly violated the rules in FSC, but were still able to retain their certifications. Saugestad states that standards like FSC are not perfect.
– There are parts that are criticized by both environmental organizations and the forest companies. But the best thing is if the different stakeholders try to influence the standard from within instead of leaving it.
Also Norway’s largest pension company KLP reacts. Arild Skedsmo, senior analyst, writes in an email to DN that « it is a great disappointment that large forest companies threaten to abandon the FSC certification ».
Skedsmo continues:
« We have both a natural crisis and a climate crisis that managers of natural resources must take into account. The FSC certification gives investors an assurance that economic, environmental and social conditions are balanced in a good way. At KLP, we have been clear that we want more FSC-certified wood, no less, in all Nordic countries. »
DN has also revealed The fact that SCA has announced Sami villages that the villages, as SCA wants to leave the FSC certification, will also have a harder time saying no to harvests-something that contravenes the law according to experts DN spoke to.
This too, Arild Skedsmo is facing:
« Threat to circumvent Sami interests is of course unacceptable ».
The companies argue for cutting more for the sake of climate. It is also critical of this. He addresses that scientific consensus speaks for longer logging cycles and to leave biologically important areas untouched.
« We urge the companies to release the threats of shortcuts and instead take the time needed to find solutions that are acceptable for all parties. Meanwhile, the forest may be at peace and continue to absorb carbon dioxide ».
SCA’s press manager Robert Östholm writes in an email to DN that the company for a constructive dialogue with FSC International.
« When it comes to the dialogue with investors, it is carried in forum other than the media. That’s why we refrain from further comments, » he writes.
DN is looking for the islet.
