Resolute Forest Products controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2016
US RICO litigation against Greenpeace
Resolute filed a US$300 million RICO action alleging that Greenpeace operated a global fraud and used misleading environmental claims. Greenpeace argued that the case was designed to intimidate critics and suppress public participation. Subsequent anti-SLAPP proceedings led to a 2022 order requiring Resolute to pay Greenpeace US$800,000 in costs.
2014
Forest certification and Indigenous-rights dispute
Following an appeal by the Grand Council of the Crees, three FSC certificates covering more than eight million hectares were suspended. The cited concerns included Indigenous Peoples’ rights, environmental impacts, forest benefits, monitoring, assessment, and high-conservation-value forests.
2013
Greenpeace sustainability criticism
Greenpeace criticized Resolute’s forestry and sustainability claims, including its alleged conduct concerning endangered-species habitat, communities, First Nations, and workers. Greenpeace later withdrew one earlier criticism after acknowledging that a previous campaign had misstated the company’s compliance with the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.
2013
Pension funding dispute
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada criticized Resolute’s pension contribution proposals while the pension plan was reported to be underfunded by approximately C$1.9 billion. A later agreement was described as increasing payments and seeking to stabilize the plan over the following decade.
2013
Defamation litigation against Greenpeace
Resolute filed a C$7 million Ontario defamation action against Greenpeace Canada and two staff members. The court dismissed the action in 2016, while the company maintained that the dismissal did not resolve its underlying allegations.