Stora Enso's practices in China have received renewed attention in the media
recently, with the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat publishing details
from an internal company report. The company's Indian operations have also come
under scrutiny with an investigation carried out by the two NGOs Finnwatch and
Swedwatch. The reports suggest that Stora Enso still has some work to do in
both countries when it comes to land issues and working conditions.
Helsingin
Sanomat got hold of an internal social work assessment report,
prepared by Luo Yang, Stora Enso's manager of sustainable development in China,
based on background material collected in autumn 2011. The focus lies on
Guangxi in southern China, where Stora Enso plans to build an integrated board
and pulp mill and where it has rented more than 90,000 hectares of land, used
mainly as eucalyptus plantations.In recent years local farmers have said that they have been forced to sometimes lease their land without pay or at a very low price. The farmers have complained of threats, demolished homes and other abuse.
In response, Stora Enso has said that it does not rent land in disputed areas or at unfair prices, and has blamed the misconduct on the local Chinese authorities, Helsingin Sanomat said.
