AF&PA Statement on European Commission Proposal

American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement regarding the European Commission’s recent proposal to integrate land use and forestry sector into its Climate and Energy Framework.

“The European Commission (EC) recently released its proposal to integrate the land use and forestry sector (LULUCF) into the European Union’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework. The EC’s proposal, released on July 20, reiterates its current accounting practice for bioenergy, with emissions related to biomass use reported and accounted for under LULUCF, i.e. biomass use in the energy sector is zero rated, to avoid double-counting.

“This proposal reinforces the need for the U.S. to appropriately recognize the benefits of biomass energy. The uncertainty caused by EPA is putting the U.S. out of step with the rest of the world, and puts our American workers and job creators at a competitive disadvantage.

“The forest products industry is the nation’s leading producer and user of carbon-neutral renewable biomass energy. Biomass is an important part of renewable energy solutions around the world.  Until EPA created uncertainty around biomass in their 2010 Tailoring rule, without notice and comment, biomass was properly recognized here at home as well.  The U.S. must keep pace with the rest of the world in its carbon accounting of biomass, or we will be left behind.   This latest EC proposal further reinforces the need for the U.S. to act.”
http://afandpa.org/media/news/2016/08/08/af-pa-statement-on-european-commission-proposal

Related Posts

Smurfit Kappa continues to build on sustainability achievements with new set of goals

The packaging leader has had a long-term commitment to making real and measurable progress against its five strategic sustainability priorities of forest, climate change, water, waste and people. Earlier this year, Smurfit Kappa announced that it had met, and in some cases exceeded, its previous sustainability goals in the areas of people, climate change and water with the last two goals achieved three years ahead of their 2020 deadline. While Smurfit Kappa’s paper-based packaging is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable, the paper production process itself is resource-intensive so a new set of goals has been outlined to build on the progress already made. These are: Maintaining >90% chain of custody certification of annual customer deliveries; Maintaining 100% chain of custody operating system certification; Assessing energy usage reduction opportunities in converting operations by 2020; Performing water risk assessments for paper mills not yet assessed by 2020; Decreasing water discharge intensity by 60% by 2025 compared to 2005; Decreasing paper mill fossil intensity by 40% by 2030 compared to 2005; Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill by 30% by 2025. Click read more below for additional detail.

Irving Consumer Products Announces Public Sustanability Goals for its Tissue Manufacturing Operations

Irving Consumer Products, a member of the J. D. Irving Group of Companies, is continuing its commitment to the environment by introducing sustainability goals for its tissue manufacturing operations. While the environment has long been a core value of the company, this is the first time Irving Consumer Products will publicly release sustainability goals. Irving Consumer Products tissue manufacturing operations’ 2030 sustainability goals include: *a 25% reduction* in its water footprint by decreasing the fresh water required to make its products. *a 25% reduction* in its virgin plastic footprint in its product packaging. *diverting 90%* of its manufacturing waste from landfills by repurposing it for beneficial uses. *use of sustainably certified fibre in its products.

Washington State Senate Passes Styrofoam Ban (waste360.com)

A bill passed on February 17 by the Washington State Senate would reduce pollution by prohibiting the sale and distribution of most expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) products. The bill passed on a vote of 29-19 and now heads to the House for consideration. Effective June 1, 2022, this bill would prohibit the sale, manufacture and distribution of Styrofoam-type foodservice products, coolers and packaging materials in or into the state of Washington. Foodservice products include food containers, plates, clamshells and hot and cold beverage cups. It exempts packaging for raw, uncooked or butchered meat, fish and poultry, as well as packaging for seafood, vegetables, fruit and egg cartons. It also exempts Styrofoam products used to transport or store biological materials such as medicals items. Wholesale or retail establishments that use Styrofoam coolers to transport perishable items are also exempt from this prohibition.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search