Forestry company Resolute launches ad campaign against Greenpeace, ForestEthics

MONTREAL — Resolute Forest Products has launched a publicity campaign against what it says are inaccurate allegations from environmental groups Greenpeace and ForestEthics about the company's forestry practices.

Full page ads began to appear Friday in several Canadian newspapers.

The Montreal-based company says it plans to spend "significant" sums on advertising in national and regional publications, direct mail, along with digital advertising and social media campaigns.

Resolute (TSX:RFP) says it has been the subject of unwarranted attacks for years that have cost it business and threatened the livelihoods of workers, forest communities and First Nations.

Greenpeace spokesman Richard Brooks called Resolute's campaign a waste of money.

The campaign is just the latest development in an ongoing dispute between Resolute and environmental groups.

Two years ago, Resolute launched a $7-million lawsuit against Greenpeace alleging defamation. The case was brought forth after Greenpeace accused it of building roads and cutting down trees in regions of Quebec it had promised to stay out of under an agreement on forest preservation and harvesting signed by environmental groups and Canada's main forestry companies.

Greenpeace later retracted allegations it had made about road-building, but Resolute accused the group of repeating those charges.

Greenpeace later filed a statement of defence, saying its intention was never to harm the company but instead promote a vision of the boreal forest that includes Resolute and other companies playing an important role in a diversified forestry economy.

The Canadian Press