Asia Symbol

Investigation links Borneo deforestation to Haleon's carbon-neutral packaging

An AFP and The Gecko Project investigation traced nearly 30,000 hectares of forest cleared in Kalimantan, Indonesia between 2016 and 2024 through supplier Phoenix Resources International to Asia Symbol pulp mills in Jiangsu and Shandong, China, and on to packaging marketed as carbon neutral for medicines sold by Haleon's Chinese subsidiary. Haleon ended its commercial relationship with Asia Symbol after the investigation was published. Asia Symbol says it remains committed to not using wood from natural forests or recently converted plantations.

Why this mattersThe case sharpens scrutiny of carbon-neutral claims in paper-based packaging and could push brand owners to tighten fibre-sourcing audits across Asian supply chains.

• The investigation identified about 30,000 hectares of forest cleared in Kalimantan between 2016 and 2024
• Wood passed from Kalimantan concessions through Phoenix Resources International to Asia Symbol mills in Jiangsu and Shandong, China
• Haleon ended its commercial relationship with Asia Symbol after the investigation was published
• Asia Symbol told AFP it remains committed to not using wood from natural forests or recently converted plantations, and said in 2023 it would stop sourcing from one of the flagged concessions
• Parent company Royal Golden Eagle committed in 2015 to eliminate deforestation from its supply chain and obtained USD 1 billion of sustainability-linked financing in 2024
• The investigation cross-referenced satellite imagery, government audits, commercial records and ship tracking data

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