In 2006, the company carried out 150 supplier assessments and 252 logging site checks – covering suppliers responsible for around 85% of the wood procured in Russia.
UPM has also developed new methods for checking the quality and accuracy of the origin of wood documentation prior to the logging site check.
Last year, a lack of documentation saw the termination of two contracts and a deferral of payment to eight suppliers.
“During 2006, we have been developing our Russian forestry and wood sourcing organisation,” said Juhani Hongisto, UPM’s chief forester responsible for wood sourcing in Russia.
“Part of that has been to intensify our supplier assessment practices – and develop new ways to check origin of wood documentation.”
Supplier assessments, including logging site checks, are part of UPM’s origin of wood tracing system, which the company started in 1996.
“The tracing system has helped us to respond quickly and accurately to specific questions raised by interest groups and to assure our stakeholders that the wood purchased in Russia is sustainable, legal and not from protected areas,” Mr Hongisto added.
