UPM publishes innovative web site on Tracing Russian Wood

Feb 16, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. UPM has published on February 16 an innovative internet site www.upm-kymmene.com/traceit focusing on how the company carries out its wood sourcing operations in Russia. The site is the result of cooperation with leading German and UK partners; Axel Springer, Otto and the Guardian Media Group. The site is the continuation and development of a United Nations award winning project that aims to increase transparency in the paper supply chain. The new site contains features such as: ∙ Stakeholder video clips from Greenpeace, Russian ministry of natural resources and the auditor Det Norske Veritas. These video clips provide views on the current situation in Russia, how UPM is performing and ideas on how UPM can improve its operations ∙ Flash presentations showing the path of a log from the Russian forest to the magazine shelf, and UPM's specialist carrying out a supplier audit in Russia ∙ An interactive TraceIT mapping system where you can click on the map to see real photos and logging site information from audits carried out in Russia ∙ The views of Russian people and professor Matti Kдrkдinen on the social and economic importance of forestry to Russia The site also features the results of UPM's Taking Responsibility Together project which focuses on health and safety as well as reduction of the impact from logging on soil, water, biodiversity and the landscape. In addition to the partner companies, valuable contributions were received from Greenpeace Russia, The Russian ministry of natural resources, Det Norske Veritas, UPM's suppliers Novtecles and ZAO FIRO-O and Professor Matti Kдrkkдinen. "The process to develop the traceIT site has provided a valuable forum for a wide range of stakeholders to openly give feedback on how UPM operates. As a result, all of the participants have developed a greater understanding of the issues involved in ensuring sustainable and legal wood supply from Russia", says Florian Nehm, corporate sustainability officer, Axel Springer. "Many of our customers ask where the fibre for their paper and wood products comes from. www.upm-kymmene.com/traceit gives them and their customers a unique opportunity to see where the fibre for a newspaper or a magazine might come from and how it is traced. It shows how UPM verifies the origin of wood and that it is sustainable, legal and not from protected forest areas", says Pдivi Salpakivi-Salomaa, Director, UPM environmental forestry affairs.