March 5, 2007

Report: Catalyst Top Canadian Forest Industry CSR Performer

Transforming the forest industrty into an environmentally sustainable one remains a challenge, The Globe and Mail reports. Producing paper and wood products still generates significant air and water pollution, and companies such as Abitibi-Consolidated, Norbord, Tembec and West Fraser Timber have all paid significant fines for violating environmental regulations in recent years. The Globe article grades nine Canadian Forest industry companies on their corporate social responsibility performance.

Catalyst (A-), the top-rated company,  has not been convicted or fined for violating health and safety or environmental regulations during the past five years. In December, 2004, Catalyst joined with Office Depot and PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop a system to track and verify that its paper meets environmental standards through all the production stages, from tree harvesting to manufacturing.

On the other end of the spectrum, Interfor (E+), since 2005, has twice been found guilty of discriminating against workers on disability leave. Also, 12 workersA?AA¢AA¢aAA¬AA¢a?A¬?some employed by contractorsA?AA¢AA¢aAA¬AA¢a?A¬?have died at Interfor operations since 2002.

Other companies rated include: Tembec - B+; Cascades -  B-; Norbord - B-; Canfor - C+; TimberWest - C; Abitibi-Consolidated - C-; and West Fraser Timber - D+.

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