Loss of FSC certification on Reflex

In August 2011, Australian Paper lost part of its FSC international environmental certification, after withdrawing from an audit of its wood supplies. It retains chain of custody certification, allowing it to produce FSC-certified product based on sourcing of material from FSC-certified operations and recycled content, as allowed under the FSC rules for Mixed and Recycled product.

Source: ABC (2011)

Greenwash with ENVI brand

ENVI 'carbon neutral' brand copy paper has been criticised as Greenwash. "Accrediting a paper which is sourcing part of their pulp from the worlds most carbon dense forests raises questions about the integrity of the 'Greenhouse Friendly' program and what 'Carbon Neutral' really means."

Source: bindarri (2010)

Carbon neutral range

Products produced at Australian Paper's Maryvale and Shoalhaven paper mills are certified as carbon neutral under the Australian Government-backed National Carbon Offset Standard.

Source: Australian Govt (2015)

FSC certification

This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC Mix, FSC 100% and FSC Recycled.

Source: FSC (2023)

Previous GFTN participant

This company became a participant in the Australian chapter of the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) in 2008. The Global Forest and Trade Network seeks to mainstream the principles of responsible forest management and sustainable trade throughout the global forest products industry, by providing technical assistance and fostering linkages between committed companies. Independent forest certification is a key tool in this process. The GTFN program was discontinued in Australia in 2017.

Source: WWF (2019)

Sustainability claims

This company has sustainability claims on its website under the headings recycling, wood supply, sustainability performance and certifications.

Source: Australian Paper (2020)

Previously carbon neutral certified

This company was certified carbon neutral by the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard from 2006 until 2023, when they withdrew from the program.

Source: Climate Active (2023)

No tax paid in 2019-20

According to data released by the Australian Tax Office in Jan 2022, this company was one of many local and foreign-based companies that paid no tax in Australia in 2019-20. Please note however that companies pay income tax on profits, not revenue (total income). While some companies use tax havens and loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Australia, other companies that paid no tax have perfectly legitimate reasons.

Source: ATO (2022)

Previous supporter of Gunn's destruction of Tasmania's forests.

Nippon Paper was named in the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) report, 'The Truth Behind Tasmanian Forest Destruction and the Japanese Paper Industry: Who Logs Them? Who Buys Them?' (2007) as the biggest buyer of Gunns' old growth woodchips -- purchasing over 1,400,000 tons in 2006.

Source: RAN (2007)

Previous boycott campaign

The Friends of the Earth 'Kick Reflex' campaign ran in 2010, calling on the Maryvale Mill and parent company Nippon Paper to cease purchasing logs from high conservation value forests, water catchments and threatened species habitat.

Source: Indy Media (2010)

Stop Wood-chipping campaign

Nippon subsidiary South East Fibre Exports did own the chipmill at Eden, NSW. (It was sold to Allied Natural Wood Exports Pty Ltd on 23 December 2015). This chipmill uses mainly native forest trees, most cut down solely for woodchipping. It does not use waste. Nippon Paper was the focus of a campaign to stop wood-chipping the South East and East Gippsland forests.

Source: Chipstop campaign (2011)

CDP Water Security score of C

In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of C.

Source: CDP (2023)

51/100 S&P Global ESG Score

This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 51/100 in the Paper & Forest Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.

Source: S&P Global (2022)