Forestry conglomerate APRIL recruits previous Forest Stewardship Council head Kim Carstensen, with aims for potential re-certification
In a move that has sparked concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, Kim Carstensen, the former Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), has been appointed as senior sustainability advisor at Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) in July 2025.
During his 12-year tenure as FSC's leader, Carstensen oversaw the expansion of FSC's certification to cover nearly 216 million hectares of land across 89 countries. However, his leadership was not without controversy. In 2021, an Earthsight investigation revealed environmental destruction and human rights abuses at FSC-certified sites, with NGOs criticising systemic flaws that allowed some companies to exploit certification. This is particularly relevant as APRIL's certification by FSC has been contested by environmental groups alleging ongoing issues.
APRIL, seeking recertification by FSC, has hired Carstensen, a decision that raises governance concerns about impartiality and transparency, given the close relationship between the certifying body and client. APRIL's owner group, Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), has publicly denied any impropriety, framing the criticisms as attempts by NGOs to undermine APRIL's certification efforts.
The FSC, historically emphasising independence, transparency, and stakeholder engagement to ensure credible certification, has faced criticism for inconsistently applying these principles in complex cases like APRIL. Despite reforms and initiatives aimed at supporting Indigenous peoples and improving accountability during Carstensen's leadership, controversies about the robustness of FSC certification remain, especially when faced with large-scale industrial forestry operations.
Dr Subhra Bhattacharjee succeeded Carstensen as the Director General of FSC in April 2023. APRIL signed a memorandum of understanding with FSC in 2023, initiating a process to end their disassociation and work towards regaining FSC certification. However, NGOs have objected to this reassociation process, citing evidence of ongoing deforestation and conflict with local communities by APRIL's parent company, RGE.
The latest investigation by Greenpeace links the company and its Tanoto family owners to "shadow" companies, some of which are alleged to be responsible for forest loss in Indonesia. Recertification of APRIL by FSC would be considered "greenwashing on an industrial scale" by NGOs Earthsight and Auriga Nusantara.
It is important to note that Carstensen started his career with the conservation group as a programme officer in the late 1980s. Before joining FSC, he spent more than a decade as CEO of WWF Denmark. His advisory role will be effective across the RGE group, and although he is no longer the Director General of FSC, he remains an individual member of the organisation.
Carstensen's appointment at APRIL comes amidst ongoing debates about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of FSC's certification of APRIL's forestry practices. The FSC, under its new leadership, will have to navigate these complex issues as it works towards ensuring credible and sustainable certification for its clients.
- The debate about the integrity of corporate responsibility, particularly in the forestry industry, has been reignited following Kim Carstensen's appointment as senior sustainability advisor at APRIL, a move seen as a potential conflict of interest.
- Greenpeace's latest investigation links APRIL and its Tanoto family owners to "shadow" companies, allegedly responsible for deforestation in Indonesia, raising concerns about the company's commitment to SDGs and biodiversity.
- Controversy surrounds APRIL's certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), with NGOs claiming that continued certification would be an instance of greenwashing, threatening the credibility of FSC's sustainability claims.
- The science of environmental-science and the industry's financial implications are at the heart of this controversy, as many question the extent to which businesses prioritize sustainability over profits.
- The FSC, under its new leadership, faces challenges in maintaining its principles of independence, transparency, and stakeholder engagement while working with clients like APRIL, where conflicts of interest and environmental destruction remain a concern.
- As Carstensen, with a background in conservation and leadership roles at WWF Denmark and FSC, steps into his advisory role at RGE, questions persist about his influence on the group's carbon footprint, biodiversity preservation efforts, and overall commitment to sustainability.
