Which Corporations Are All-In For Putin’s Imperialist War?

Interesting to see how different corporations respond to Putin’s imperialist war. Many have pulled out of Russia, others have reduced operations and are seeing what is going to happen. Then there are those companies that just don’t care or are outright supportive of Putin. It will hardly shock you to find out that Koch is one of those companies.

Some of these companies have donated to international humanitarian organizations or announced vague re-evaluations of operations in Russia but have not taken any concrete measures to suspend or reduce their business there, beyond the bare minimum legally required by international sanctions. Others haven’t addressed the war at all.

Koch Industries — which makes products including Brawny paper towels, Quilted Northern and Angel Soft toilet paper and Dixie cups — employs about 600 people across two manufacturing plants in Russia. The company has condemned Russia’s invasion and the subsidiary that runs the plants has halted new investments in Russia. But it refuses to close its manufacturing plants, suggesting that if it did, Russia would nationalize the facilities. That may be true. But it’s a risk that hundreds of other companies have taken in deciding to pull out of Russia, and it’s one that a multibillion-dollar company like Koch can afford to take as well.

The response from International Paper has been even more timid. Since we published our data, International Paper has told us that it is reviewing its 50 percent stake in Ilim Group, a Russian forest products company. But as of April 1, International Paper had yet to actually divest from Ilim Group.

Koch is also heavily invested in the paper and timber industries. Georgia Pacific is a Koch subsidiary for example. That the Russians have huge forests with little regulation over forestry practices is perfect for companies like Koch and IP. They certainly don’t care about imperialism or mass death. Works for them.