In the latest edition of The Page, we question if this is the end of greenwashing? With new European legislation and increasing regulations, companies are coming under more pressure to justify all environmental claims in their marketing… or potentially face a hefty fine! You can also read about the increased focus that Two Sides has on the paper packaging industry, and a sneak peek at some of the findings from Two Sides’ latest consumer research report, the Trend Tracker 2023: European Findings. Our popular recurring section, ‘Fresh Thinking’, provides a round-up of fantastic print case studies, which include: a food label that indicates when a consumer’s fridge is at the ideal temperature, a supermarket campaign that swapped discount signs for ones showing their CO2e saving, and Brazilian retailer offering its customers a printed copy of the country’s constitution at a 99% discount.

Amcor Rigid Packaging´s (ARP) Cali plant in Colombia is now powered by renewable solar energy. The solar energy is supplied to Amcor exclusively from Celsia, a new solar plant comprised of more than 16,000 solar panels generating nearly nine million watts of electricity. Incorporating solar power means the Cali Colombia plant is fully powered by renewable energy – a blend of solar and hydroelectric power. Adding solar power will reduce the plant's conventional electric energy consumption by 20%. The remaining 80% of energy used to fuel the plant is provided by renewable hydroelectric energy, also certified by Celsia. In addition, the transition between solar and hydroelectric energy will reduce total emission of 7,388 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

Klabin celebrates this month the 25th anniversary of the first certificate (1998) of excellence in forest management granted by Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), when it became the first Brazilian company in the pulp and paper sector in the Southern Hemisphere to obtain the seal. The FSC® green seal awarded by Klabin attests to the best practices in forestry management and is an indispensable commercial prerequisite in the paper and packaging segments, encompassing the chain of custody of industrial bags, paperboard and kraft paper at the units in Brazil and at the Pilar Unit in Argentina. Currently, Klabin has 100% of its forests certified by the FSC®. “As a company with a renewable forest base for industrial purposes and also the owner of large areas of preserved native forests, we understood from an early age the importance of adopting sustainable processes in our operations, guaranteeing respect for the environment and people in the regions where we are present. inserted. We are proud of our pioneering path with the FSC and of having inspired the sector in this regard”, says Francisco Razzolini, director of Industrial Technology, Innovation, Sustainability and Projects at Klabin.

Biodiversity is declining faster than at any other point in human history, and the risk of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse was identified as one of the top five global threats of the next decade by the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report. The decline of biodiversity will have far-reaching economic and societal consequences, as it underpins all natural ecosystems and is an essential element of human wellbeing – sustaining Mondi’s packaging and paper business, as well as our economies and societies in which we are located¹. Ecosystems provide essential services that can impact livelihoods, income, local migration and even political conflict². In addition to all this, over half of the world’s GDP is either moderately or highly dependent on nature - $44 trillion of economic value generation³. And yet, nature continues to decline at unprecedented rates. Not only was COP15 an essential reminder of the role governments and businesses must play in conserving our natural ecosystems, but it also highlighted the importance of sustainable business models – like Mondi’s.

TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste certified facilities divert a minimum of 90 percent of their waste from landfills, incinerators, and the environment. TRUE is a zero waste certification program verified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), an independent organization that provides third-party verification and credentialing of systems and business practices relating to sustainability. Atlantic’s TRUE certifications prove our organization’s commitment to building a healthy, sustainable future. As an increasing amount of waste places a strain on resources and communities, sustainable resource management and waste reduction practices create positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes.

As a forest-based company, Klabin considers the conservation of biodiversity to be an important guiding pillar of its operations, oriented towards sustainable development. Currently, the Company has 718,000 hectares of forests, 42% of which are dedicated to conversation and maintenance of biodiversity. The commitment to the agenda was made public through the KODS – Klabin Objectives for Sustainable Development –, which guide the Klabin 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, aligned with the UN agenda – with five specific goals for biodiversity conservation determined to be achieved over the next seven years. The goals involve recovery of degraded areas, nature conservation studies, reintroduction of extinct or threatened species and general care with the fauna.

Plastic waste doesn’t have to be waste at all. It can be a resource. With the support of GP Recycling, the Center for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC Global) is converting plastics into a concrete additive called RESIN8. Now instead of ending up in a landfill or the ocean, those plastics can be used to make the concrete that goes into homes, businesses and infrastructure. “First and foremost, the big value of RESIN8 is keeping the plastic out of landfills,” said Kevin Butts, director of strategy and business development for GP Recycling. “On top of that, you’re able to substitute plastic for traditional aggregates to improve the performance characteristics of the concrete.” Concrete produced with RESIN8 is lighter and provides better insulation, according to CRDC Global. In non-structural concrete applications, RESIN8 can improve insulation by up to 35%, per CRDC Global.

Have you heard that the earth is flat, literally flat? Yes, there are serious organizations making impressive-sounding arguments and throwing scientific jargon in every direction to disprove what real science and observation have taught us about our planet, but in the end the earth is still round. So it is with the claim that paper manufacturing is “a major contributor to climate change.” Too many ENGOs and other self-interested parties have invested years trying to refute the findings of global scientific authorities like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the paper industry is largely greenhouse gas neutral. But just like the Flat Earth argument, it takes only a little high school science, sound data and a bit of common sense to separate the truth from the blizzard of activist rhetoric posing as climate change “studies.”

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), one of the largest biodiversity conservation NGOs in southern Africa, and Mondi, a global packaging and paper producer, announced a three-year partnership to map biodiversity footprints in Mondi South Africa’s forestry operations. This partnership will include a pilot assessment of the biodiversity footprint of Mondi’s operations in South Africa using the EWT’s Biological Diversity Protocol (BD Protocol). The BD Protocol is an accounting framework that consolidates site-based biodiversity data to calculate any company’s total, negative and positive biodiversity footprints, allowing users to set meaningful targets and track changes on the ground and disclose these to stakeholders. "By working together with Mondi, we can reduce their business risks and enhance the protection of habitats and species." Dr Gabi Teren, National Biodiversity and Business Network Programme Manager at the EWT

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Assurance Services International (ASI) are launching a transaction verification (TV) loop on supply chains of all types of wood in Vietnam. The TV loop will include forest management (FM) certificate holders in the scope, in addition to specific types of chain of custody (COC) certificate holders. FSC and ASI decided to launch this TV loop – the second one focused on Vietnam – after detecting problems related to volume mismatch between the amount of wood sold by FM certificate holders and the amount used by COC certificate holders to produce wood pellets, in Vietnam. These problems were revealed during the Asia wood pellets TV loop that was conducted between 2020 and 2022. This poses a high risk to the integrity of FSC’s certification system in Vietnam.

International Paper released its 2022 Sustainability Report, which illustrates the progress made on our Vision 2030 goals and outlines our commitment to building a better future for people, the planet and our company. From planet-friendly packaging to pulp for absorbent products, we transform renewable resources into products people depend on every day. As one of North America's largest recyclers, we deliver circular solutions that reduce waste and build a better future for our planet. International Paper recognizes its impacts and dependencies on natural and human capital, and its responsibility to promote the health of people and our planet because we know that's what's needed for a livable world and a thriving society.

Some highlights from the FedEx 2023 ESG Report include: • Decreasing carbon dioxide emissions intensity on a revenue basis by 48.9% from Fiscal Year 2009 through Fiscal Year 2022, a period during which average daily package volumes grew by 142%. • Avoiding 150 million gallons of jet fuel through aircraft modernization efforts, reducing our total FY22 jet fuel consumption by more than 10%. • Providing mentorship and learning opportunities to more than 33,000 frontline team members in partnership with 1,700 mentors through the FedEx Ground Purple Pathways workforce career track program, which won the American Transportation Association DEI Change Leader Award this year.

Tronox Holdings plc, the world’s leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment, today announced the publication of its 2022 sustainability report. The report details the significant steps taken over the last year to advance its leadership role in sustainability and protecting the environment: *Reinforced Scope 1 and 2 carbon emission reduction targets, recommitting to the accelerated carbon intensity reduction targets of 35% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. *Created regional decarbonization roadmaps that will be integral to meeting the Company’s net zero by 2050 goal. *Set Scope 3 emissions targets to decrease emissions intensity by 9% by 2025 and 16% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. *Reduced waste to external landfills by 10% on an absolute basis from the 2019 baseline, keeping on course to meet the 2025 and 2030 reduction targets of 15% and 25%, respectively.

Climate change remains a major threat to the planet. Halting deforestation and protecting the world’s forests is seen as an important solution to the global crisis, but also as way to halt biodiversity loss and maintain ecosystem services. Further, forests provide us with alternative nature-based products including sustainable and renewable material for a circular economy. Siti Syaliza Mustapha, PEFC’s Deputy Secretary General/COO highlighted: “We all share a common objective - to promote sustainable forest management and supply chains that achieve high sustainability standards. We need to employ multiple tools to achieve positive effects of forest use and work together to promote forest education and dissemination of credible information to support our joint efforts.”

Results of the 2023 study show clearly that, whilst paper retains its place as a vital communication and packaging material, there remain misconceptions about the environmental impact of the paper industry. The 2023 study found that consumers still perceive forests are decreasing in size, with 60% believing European forests are shrinking, although this number has improved since 2021 from 64%. The number of consumers who understand European forests are actually growing in size has improved to 15% in 2023 compared to 10% in 2021. It shows that consumers are becoming more aware of these facts within the myths that surround the paper industry. The truth is, European forests are growing in size and between 2005 and 2020, grew by an impressive 58,390km² – an area larger than Switzerland and the equivalent to 1,500 football pitches of forest growth every day.[1]

Amcor Rigid Packaging has earned Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) 2023 Re | focus Leadership in Sustainability Innovation Award for its outstanding innovations in plastics manufacturing that further environmental advantages in design, material, and end-of-life management. ARP received the honor after earning the best overall score for its innovations. “This award further demonstrates ARP’s stewardship and commitment to developing cutting-edge innovations for sustainable plastic manufacturing that advances the circular economy,“ said Terry Patcheak, vice president R&D, sustainability and program management at ARP. "Our innovations are all examples of how we are providing our customers with sustainable plastic packaging solutions, and constantly innovating and improving to incorporate the latest advancements in technology and sustainability into our packaging.”

As U.S. consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of the products they use every day, there remains a wide gap between perception and reality when it comes to the sustainability of paper products – but the gap has narrowed over the past two years. Overall, 44% of consumers believe paper products are bad for the environment, down from 48% in 2021.This according to a new survey commissioned by Two Sides North America and conducted by global research firm Toluna. “It’s great to see improvement in consumer attitudes about paper and the environment, but we need to accelerate this trend if paper products are to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace,” says Two Sides North America President Kathi Rowzie.

Metsä Group aims to make Finnish forests increasingly vibrant and diverse. To achieve this, the company launched its regenerative forestry principles in March 2023. The goal is to help Finnish forests become more diverse and vibrant year by year and always transfer them in better condition from one generation to the next. Metsä Group Plus, a new forest management model which will be introduced in June 2023, is one of the key practical measures for achieving this target. The model pays closer attention than ever to forest biodiversity and forest nature in the implementation of forest work. What makes Metsä Group’s goal significant is that the company’s owner-members manage approximately half of Finland’s private forest assets. Metsä Group has long encouraged forest owners to adopt sustainable forestry, and in recent years, it has carried out numerous measures to improve ecological resilience. Currently, around 90 per cent of the wood purchased by Metsä Group comes from forests managed in accordance with international forest certificates. The Metsä Group Plus model is even more demanding than these certificates. Under Metsä Group Plus model, more retention trees and high biodiversity stumps are left per hectare of forest during felling. To accelerate the creation of decaying wood and to secure the living conditions of species that inhabit burned environments, more retention trees will be burned. As concerns valuable habitats and littoral forests, the model represents the highest level of requirements currently in use.

Assurance Services International (ASI) has accredited two new certification bodies, GCL International Ltd. (GCL) and Legallis certification to audit and issue FSC certificates. The two certification bodies were each evaluated by ASI and demonstrated their ability to conduct impartial assessments to issue FSC certificates according to the established criteria. Legallis will be able to audit and issue: *forest management certificates in the Ukraine and, *chain of custody certificates worldwide, excluding Belarus, China, United States of America and Canada. GCL will be able to audit and issue FSC chain of custody certificates (excluding controlled wood) worldwide, excluding Belarus and China.

Construction work began on the Koehler Group’s combined heat and power plant in Oberkirch with a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 21, 2023. The existing power plant is expected to be expanded and converted by fall 2024 to ensure biomass is burnt in an environmentally friendly way in future. This conversion is part of the Koehler Group’s climate strategy. Decarbonizing energy and steam generation is part of the Koehler Group’s climate strategy. In the long term, both Germany and the EU are striving to become climate neutral. The EU is aiming to reach this milestone by 2050, while Germany is targeting 2045. The Koehler Group has set out even more ambitious targets and is aiming to generate more energy from renewable sources than is required for paper production by 2030.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries, has released its 2022 Sustainability Report, summarizing the company’s environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) initiatives for the previous fiscal year. The report — Solenis’ third annual report and first as a Platinum Equity-owned company — is available for download at www.solenis.com/en/sustainabilityreport. “2022 was an outstanding year for Solenis,” said CEO John Panichella. “By maintaining our focus on people, performance and results, we are continuing to reach significant achievements. Last year, we posted Solenis’ third consecutive year of double-digit earnings growth; our best safety performance ever; our second Platinum rating from EcoVadis; improvements in diversity, equity and inclusion; and our highest-ever employee satisfaction rate.”

FSC’s Global Strategy identifies “Streamlining policies and standards towards outcome orientation” and “Scaling up benefits for Indigenous Peoples, communities, smallholders and workers” as priorities. One of the ways we are achieving these goals is by updating the FSC Forest Management Group Standard, which allows groups of individual properties to be certified under a single certificate. The result is to reduce the costs and administrative barriers to FSC Forest Management certification for family forest landowners and group managers. Group managers develop and maintain rules, policies, procedures, and other essential tasks. Recently, the Forest Management Group Standard changed in several ways, with the introduction of risk-based decision making, sharing standard requirements across a group, and other efficiencies.