3/22 Green Challenge to Fletchers at Stock Exchange

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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GREEN CHALLENGE TO FLETCHERS AT STOCK EXCHANGE
 
Auckland, March 22, 1996 Greenpeace will today challenge
Fletcher Challenge Paper to put totally chlorine free pulp and
paper production at the top of the new division's agenda.
 
Launching a report, national press advertising and a 6x3 metre
mobile billboard at Auckland's Stock Exchange this morning,
Greenpeace said the company's New Zealand-based Tasman pulp
and paper mill at Kawerau was one of New Zealand's dirtiest
polluters, and should commit to going totally chlorine free by
the year 2000.
 
Fletcher Challenge implements a share re-organisation today,
creating paper, energy and construction shares out of its
ordinary shares. Greenpeace will underline its
message at both the Stock Exchange and Fletcher Challenge
headquarters on a mobile billboard reading: "The Challenge is
Clear: Clean Environment, Clean Profits".
 
Greenpeace's Campaign Director, Stephanie Mills, said the
challenge to Fletcher Challenge Paper began at home with its
domestic operations.
 
"We urge Fletcher Challenge Paper to make wise strategic
decisions now, and take heed of market trends and regulatory
pressures which favour the total phase-out of chlorine
bleaching," she said.  "Internationally, market leaders are
now moving into totally effluent free mills.  However, here in
'clean, green' New Zealand, the Tasman Mill is planning to
invest in a chlorine-based bleaching process which will
reduce but not eliminate dangerous organochlorine and dioxin
chemicals. Tasman should leapfrog this technology and move
with the market leaders to a cleaner, totally chlorine free
closed-loop mill."
 
Tasman currently discharges up to 160 million litres a day of
effluent contaminated with organochlorines, heavy metal and
resin acid into the Tarawera River, known locally as the
"Black Drain".
 
She said Greenpeace was urging investors to get the full
picture as they considered allocation of their new shares.
 
"The question for investors is whether they want yesterday's
news or tomorrow's market share," she said."There is no
justification for continued investment in the stock of
environmental misfits."
 
WHAT:          Billboard unveiled
WHERE & WHEN:  Stock Exchange, Queen St, Auckland
10am-11.30pm, Friday                March 22nd and then 
               Fletcher Challenge Headquarters, Great South
Rd, Auckland, 12                noon-2pm, Friday March 22nd.
MORE INFORMATION:  Glyn Walters or Stephanie Mills, (09) 630
6317 or 025-790 817 or 025-931 363.
...more 
 
 
NOTE TO EDITORS:
 
1. Advance copies of the report by Greenpeace on the
environmental pressures and market trends constraining
Fletcher Challenge Paper are available.  Please contact
Glyn Walters at 09-630 6317.
 
2. The report on Fletcher Challenge Paper concludes:
*  Regulatory pressures and market trends are moving toward
totally chlorine free
(TCF) production as the leading edge technology.  Investment
in chlorine-based bleaching plant is short-sighted and risky.
* The market for TCF is frowing.  It grew from nil in 1990 to
5 million tonnes worldwide in 1995, and accounts for around 20
percent of pulp sales in Europe.  There are now more than 60
mills producing TCF pulp globally. * Europe's biggest pulp and
paper manufacturer, Soedra Cell, will have all its mills
TCF by the end of this year.  It plans to move to closed loop,
totally effluent free
(TEF) production by the year 2000.
* The image of chlorine-bleached pulp and paper products
continues to decline. The availability of TCF competitiors
will increasingly erode traditional chlorine-
bleached pulp and paper markets in Europe, North America,
Australasia and Asia. * Environmental and health pressures,
led by heightened pulbic concern over dioxin
and organochlorine discharges to the environment from pulp and
paper mills, are already having an impact on international
markets, and are likely to increase. * Liability for
environmental contamination is likely to become a pressing

issue,
particularly given Maori Treaty claims on the Tarawera River.
* Capital investment in a totally chlorine free (TCF) process
is similar to that required for a shift to ECF, but TCF mills
require between 12.5 and 50 percent of
the energy used by a chlorine-based mill, and have reduced
costs for wastewater treatment, sludge disposal, liability and
remediation.
 
3. The Tasman Pulp and Paper mill's discharge permit under a
special Act of Parliament has expired.  The company is
currently applying for new consents under
the Resource Management Act to continue its discharge into the
Tarawera River. Pre-hearing meetings are likely to occur in
the next two months. Greenpeace and other environmental groups
have made submissions regarding the company's application. The
oral hearing is likely to be in the second half of 1996.
 
4. A briefing for market analysts and fund managers will be

held by Greenpeace next week.
 
ENDS
Further information: Stephanie Mills or Glyn Walters, ph
09-630 7121 or 025-790 817.

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