Staples ends paper contracts due to sustainability concerns

Staples, the global office supplies company, has ended its contracts with Singapore-based Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), due to concerns over the sustainability of its paper production.

Until the cancellation, which took place in late January, the firm had used APP to supply as much as nine per cent its own-brand paper, the Wall Street Journal reported.

However, it had expressed concerns over APP using natural forest, with particular worries about the company's destruction of Sumatran rainforest for its pulp mill on the island.

As a result Mark Buckley, vice-president for environmental issues at Staples, told the newspaper that: "We decided engagement was not possible anymore."

"We haven't seen any indication that APP has been making any positive stride," he added, claiming that any decision to keep using the firm's products would have been "at great peril to our brand.

Staples is not the first company to stop using APP due to sustainable procurement concerns, with firms including Office Depot moving to alternative suppliers for their paper product needs. ADNFCR-1231-ID-18460609-ADNFCR