7th August 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Woolworths Dumps Asia Pulp & Paper? –
Paper Workers Union Would Like to See
That!
In an announcement that may indicate the retailer is finally dumping its controversial business
partner, Asia Pulp & Paper, Woolworths has today announced it has “concluded its contract
commitments for the supply of Select paper product”.
Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) currently supplies Woolworths with its Select Brand paper products.
APP, based in Indonesia, is generally considered to be among the world’s least sustainable fibre
manufacturers.
Alex Millar, Secretary of the CFMEU Pulp & Paper Workers’ Branch called on Woolworths to
announce an immediate and permanent end to its relationship with Asia Pulp & Paper.
“Woolworths has had more than enough time to end their relationship with Asia Pulp & Paper.
It’s time for Woolworths to announce an immediate and permanent end to their unacceptable
relationship that has put Australian jobs and communities at risk.
“This so called great Australian company has not cared one bit for Australian workers whose
jobs are threatened by low standards, low quality, low cost imports like the Select Brand tissue
products made by Asia Pulp & Paper.
“If Woolworths has finally decided to do the right thing, they need to show us by a clear and
unequivocal statement they will never go back to APP and they will source their product from
Australia and support Australian jobs the way they expect Australian consumers to support
them.” Mr Millar said.
The CFMEU is concerned that the announcement may be just another stalling tactic by
Woolworths while they work out another way to use APP as their supplier.
“Woolworths has said quite a lot on this issue over the last year, but they have done nothing yet.
This announcement is more words, but the only action is they intend to continue selling the
Select Brand paper products made by APP.
“We will believe Woolworths are fair dinkum on sustainability and care about Australian jobs
when they actually do something.” Mr Millar said.
The CFMEU confirmed that it would immediately write to Woolworths’ Managing Director,
Mr Michael Luscombe, nominating industry experts to assist Woolworths to get their paper
products sourcing right.
“Woolworths have got this badly wrong to date and frankly, we think they have been poorly
advised. We will nominate some industry experts for them to use in the future so they don’t do
even more damage to the Australian industry. There’s too much at stake to just leave them to
it.” Mr Millar said.
Further comments – Alex Millar on 0419 872 844
NEWS 
