HELSINKI (From news reports) -- Greenpeace activists interrupted the general meeting of Metsä Board at Finlandia Hall on Wednesday. Protesters entered the stage during the CEO's address and demanded the company commit to excluding wood from natural forests in its production.
Activists from Greenpeace Norden held up banners and played bird sounds through speakers to interrupt proceedings multiple times. They called on the company to adopt a clear and comprehensive policy ensuring that no wood from old-growth or natural forests is used in its products.
One activist handed a petition to Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Board. The petition included 400 pages of signatures calling for greater corporate responsibility in forest sourcing.
"I'm here to demand that Metsä Board and the entire Metsä Group leave old and natural forests alone," said Ida Korhonen, an activist from Greenpeace Norden. "The Orpo government's forest criteria fail to protect them. The forest industry is the main cause of biodiversity loss in Finland. Metsä Board must take responsibility and guarantee that no natural forest wood ends up in its products."
The activists also made verbal interventions during the meeting, demanding a credible and public commitment from Metsä Group to protect natural forests. Outside the venue, additional Greenpeace members demonstrated before the meeting began.
On the same day, the Finnish government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed new forest criteria. The criteria have been widely criticised by researchers for excluding many older forests in need of protection. Critics say the policy puts increased responsibility on buyers of wood, including forest industry companies, to ensure sustainable sourcing.
"The forest companies talk a lot, but what the forests need are actions," said Matti Liimatainen, Greenpeace forest specialist. "With logging pressure high, it is more urgent than ever to ensure that ecologically valuable forests are saved. The Orpo government's criteria won't achieve that, so the responsibility falls to large forest companies and their procurement practices."
Metsä Group, the parent company of Metsä Board, has stated it does not source wood from old-growth, natural, or ecologically valuable forests. Greenpeace says this claim is contradicted by documented logging plans in areas such as Salla. The group said the company's sourcing criteria and their implementation need urgent revision.
Greenpeace also staged demonstrations outside the Stora Enso general meeting in Katajanokka, Helsinki, on the same day.
