UPM is committed to legal timber trade

UPM is to explore the possibility of restructuring its forestry work to improve cost-efficiency. During the autumn, the company will search for prospective partners and UPM is committed to legal and sustainable forest management. UPM shares concerns about illegal logging and aims to ensure in all its activities that it knows the origin of wood and that the wood is sustainably and legally sourced.

UPM supports the view of WWF and Finnish Forest Industry Federation published in a joint statement on 7th June 2006: "WWF and FFIF believe that both governments and civil society, including private sector, have a key role to play in the process to combat illegal logging and associated trade. Non-governmental organisations and industry can contribute in combating illegal logging by raising awareness among different stakeholders and through stakeholder dialogue. Industry should ensure credible and transparent traceability of timber and good governance/best practices in their wood procurement. Still, a stable environment in the forest sector, just as in any other sector of society, is a fundamental requirement for good governance and rule of law. The development, implementation and enforcement of legislation are primarily the responsibility of the authorities."

UPM has had an origin of wood tracing system in place for Russian wood since 1996 that has been continuously developed based on stakeholder feedback. The system is based on a statement of origin, GIS mapping system, database and supplier audits that include logging site checks. The origin of wood tracing system helps UPM ensure the origin and legality of wood and that its wood suppliers are operating responsibly.

"UPM imports about 4 million m3 of wood annually from Russia to the Finnish mills; equivalent to 80,000 truck loads. UPM has about 200 suppliers in Russia, whose operations we evaluate on a regular basis. In 2005, 112 wood supplier audits were carried out and field checks were conducted at 235 logging sites. The audits found 20 % of the sites had minor non-conformities related to health and safety, logging site management and logging practices. There were two serious breaches of contract and co-operation with the suppliers concerned has been terminated." says Juhani Hongisto, responsible for UPM's forestry and wood sourcing operations in Russia. "By working this way, we try to continuously improve our operations and ensure that wood is sourced legally."

Source: UPM