We’re excited to announce that registration is open for Stewardship in Action 2025, taking place the week of September 10th & 11th in St. Louis, Missouri. This year’s event brings together members, certificate holders, and key partners to explore the future of forest stewardship, sustainable supply chains, and FSC’s evolving role in climate, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. The agenda is now available, and we encourage you to register early to secure your spot. FSC US Stewardship in Action 2025 – View agenda details and register at: https://web.cvent.com/event/35312f78-490a-4963-bddb-60042483038a/websitePage:95084999-2ad0-462d-9eae-78ff38764047

The FSC Policy and Performance Unit has published the FSC Advice Note on the extension of the validity of Forest Stewardship Standards (ADV-STD-60-006_05), which comes into effect on 25 June 2025. This advice note extends the 5-year validity period of all existing Forest Stewardship Standards, developed in accordance with V5 of the Principles and Criteria, until they are revised, replaced, or withdrawn. As per the normative requirements in FSC-STD-60-006 V1-2, FSC-PRO-60-006 V2-0, and FSC-PRO-60-007 V1-2, an approved Forest Stewardship Standard remains valid for five (5) years from the effective date. By the end of December 2026, nearly half (44 out of 88) of the existing V5 Forest Stewardship Standards will exceed their period of validity. Therefore, this Advice Note ensures their continued validity until withdrawn or replaced by the next version of Forest Stewardship Standards based on the forthcoming FSC-PRO-60-006 and FSC-PRO-60-006a, currently under revision. By extending the validity of Forest Stewardship Standards, this initiative aims to mitigate and prevent the risk of non-conformance with Forest Management requirements by certificate holders.

FSC seeks applications for the members of the WG for the development of the ‘Procedure for High-Quality Carbon Credits’. The WG will consist of three chamber-balanced members, representing environmental, social, and economic interests, and three technical experts to deliver on the tasks and responsibilities outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToR). The WG should collectively bring strong technical expertise in carbon accounting, forest carbon methodologies, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and FSC procedures. Familiarity with key carbon standards, safeguards, benefit-sharing, and the voluntary carbon market is essential. Experience working with forest managers, including smallholders and Indigenous Peoples, is highly valued.

After years of hard work and dedication by US staff, board members, international staff, and countless stakeholders, the revised US Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) was conditionally approved in May 2025. The Standard Development Group (SDG) and US staff have worked to address these conditions, which are few and deemed of minor impact to the standard, and resubmitted for final approval in June 2025. The topline objectives of the revision of the US Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) were to align with the FSC Principles & Criteria Version 5 and International Generic Indicators, and to address stakeholder-identified priority topics. The process was initiated in 2018, with two FSS drafts publicly consulted between 2020 and 2022.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International, in close collaboration with Assurance Services International (ASI), has developed new training materials on Core Labour Requirements (CLRs)—a key initiative aimed at enhancing auditor competence and ensuring consistent implementation of labour rights safeguards across the FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) system. These materials are now available to all accredited certification bodies (CBs) to support the training of their auditors in this important area of the FSC normative framework. This work responds directly to the challenges identified following the introduction of CLRs in 2021, when the revision of FSC-STD-40-004 v3.1 came into effect. It introduced four fundamental labour principles into the CoC standard: No Child Labour (7.2), No Forced or Compulsory Labour (7.3), No Discrimination (7.4), and Freedom of Association and Effective Collective Bargaining (7.5). These requirements marked a significant shift by introducing a level of social auditing not traditionally embedded in FSC certification. Nearly two years into implementation, gaps in understanding and inconsistencies across regions have prompted this renewed focus on training and alignment.

UPM has been working systematically for the benefit of stream waters since 2016. Over the years, the objectives have become more specific and UPM is involved not only in releasing streams, but also in promoting research to better monitor the positive changes in biodiversity after restoration activities. From now on, UPM's stream water program will also include assessment of UPM-owned land areas in the catchment area. This means that forest management practices in the catchments of released or restored watercourses will be reassessed on a case-by-case basis. "Water protection is part of sustainable forestry. We can influence water quality already in the catchment area, on the forest side. In addition to adequate buffer zones for water bodies, this may involve, for example, restoring peatlands", says Miika Laihonen, Senior Environmental Specialist at UPM Forest. UPM's first own dam removal site was the old mill dam in Sapsokoski, which was demolished in 2020. The next site, the Arvajankoski dam in Jämsä, was demolished in summer 2022.

FSC and its assurance partner, Assurance Services International (ASI) are launching a new transaction verification (TV) loop on FSC-certified takeaway food containers. This TV loop will investigate the supply chain of paper-based takeaway food containers from producer markets in Asia to consumer markets in America, Europe, and Oceania, covering 28 countries. This is the first TV loop on FSC-certified paper products. There is an increasing demand for fibre-based disposable packaging and wooden cutlery in the food industry across the world. Over the past three years, ASI has found evidence of potential prevalence of fraudulent manufacturing and trade of paper-based dinnerware coming from China. FSC analysed the information about potential false claims and took action by blocking Ningbo Yinzhou Happy Paper Products and Ningbo Yinzhou Yongshun Foreign Trade from the FSC system for making false claims. FSC and ASI are addressing these risks to the integrity of certified takeaway food container supply chains by examining transaction data from 710 certificate holders who trade in materials and products related to paper-based food containers. These certificate holders will submit records of transactions that took place between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is paving the way for companies to address past environmental and social harms in their forestry operations through the FSC Remedy Framework. The Remedy Framework is the first of its kind in the forestry sector, opening the door to restore millions of hectares of forests and bring restitution to thousands of communities. The implementation of the Remedy Framework supports companies to restore and heal degraded forest landscapes through a structured and transparent process, and make amends and rebuild trust with impacted communities. With the completion of a remedy process, companies previously excluded from the FSC system will become eligible for association and certification with FSC. FSC is committed to continuous learning and acknowledges there are still improvements and supporting systems needed to ensure the integrity of the process and the quality of remedy outcomes. FSC is working towards addressing these challenges transparently and constructively, while staying true to the principles that guide this work.

Beverage cartons have found a new life as part of a groundbreaking development for the automotive industry. With the launch of the latest model of Fiat Grande Panda, Fiat has become the first car manufacturer to incorporate recycled materials from used beverage cartons in a vehicle. Each Fiat Grande Panda contains recycled material from the thin layers of polyethylene and aluminium used in 140 beverage cartons. This recycled material is used inside the plastics of the car’s interior. Specifically, it is used in the central console, dashboard, interior front and rear door panels. PolyAl is a combination of polymers and aluminium components recovered during the recycling of beverage cartons. Beverage cartons are made of, on average, 70% paperboard, 25% polymers and 5% aluminium. This combination of materials is the key to aseptic packaging, where ultra-thin layers of aluminium and polymers protect the food or beverage inside, extending the product’s shelf life without the need for preservatives or refrigeration.

The American Forest & Paper Association released a statement after the Maine Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 1423, “An Act To Support and Improve Municipal Recycling by Updating the Stewardship Program for Packaging,” which includes measurable improvements to Maine’s existing extended producer responsibility (EPR) program. The full statement by AF&PA Vice President of Industry Affairs Terry Webber is below: "AF&PA applauds Maine Governor Janet Mills and state lawmakers for advancing LD 1423, which makes much needed improvements to the state’s EPR policy. “We appreciate policymakers’ measured approach while crafting this legislation. By working together, we can achieve our shared goal of improving recycling for materials with low recycling rates without disrupting the effective systems that are already in place for highly recycled materials, like paper and paper packaging products.

FSC has launched a new publication, Integrating FSC Certification into Impact Investing, offering investment analysts data-driven insights into how FSC certification contributes to financial, environmental, and social outcomes. Drawing on research findings, case studies, and global sustainability frameworks, the publication provides an illustrative resource for investors seeking to incorporate certified assets into their strategies. The recognition of forests’ critical roles in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic development is fuelling demand for sustainable forest management. According to the Global Impact Investing Network’s survey of 293 impact investing organizations, investors increased their allocations towards forestry from 2023 to 2024, reflecting a 53% increase in assets under management.

With sustainability as a core aspect of our business strategy, Lecta's 2024 Sustainability Report again underscores the company's progress in meeting targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) defined for 2030 in its ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) roadmap. "Lecta has made significant progress in sustainability this year, earning external recognition from organizations like EcoVadis and SBTi. As we continue working toward the environmental, social and governance targets set out in our road​map for 2030, Lecta remains focused on generating a positive impact. Our efforts are driven by a clear vision: creating a more sustainable future for the next generations", states Lecta CEO Gilles Van Nieuwenhuyzen.

On 20 May 2025, FSC Italy and Scavolini, one of Italy’s leading furniture companies, officially launched an innovative ecosystem services project to protect pollinators. An inclusive and accessible wooden ‘bee chalet’ will be built inside Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park, an FSC-certified protected natural area in central-northern Italy, protecting pollinator populations and offering environmental education activities to schools and eco-tourists. Pollinating insects in Europe, such as wild bees, bumblebees and butterflies, are going through a major decline due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. According to data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity (IPBES), about 37% of bee and butterfly populations in Europe are declining, causing incalculable damage to the environment and food crops.

The report affirms progress toward its 2K30 goals and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the Pregis Purpose: to Protect, Preserve, and Inspyre. In 2024, Pregis made notable progress across multiple areas of its sustainability strategy: *92% of operational waste was diverted from landfill and incineration *52% of total revenue came from sustainable products—defined as paper-based, biobased, or containing ≥30% recycled content *Matched the electricity consumption at 6 production facilities with renewable energy *38 million trees saved through sustainable material sourcing and innovation *130,397 lives positively impacted through clean water access, disaster relief, and community programs. “In 2024, we made progress that matters. The engine behind this momentum is our people. Their creativity, passion, and persistence power every milestone. In 2024 alone, our teams helped achieve measurable reductions in carbon emissions, diverted more waste from landfills, and scaled production of circular materials—all while continuing to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving market,” said Kevin Baudhuin, Chairman and CEO of Pregis. “As we look toward the future, our focus remains clear: to create sustainable value for our customers, employees, communities and investors.”

This summer, Irving Woodlands is employing 121 tree planters and 28 tree planting staff to plant 28 million seedlings across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Maine. It marks a 10-million-seedling increase over 2024 – the boost in tree planting capacity buoyed by the fact that 38 tree planters and 17 tree planting staff are returning for another season. Returning employees bring with them a familiarity with processes, culture and expectations that contribute to increased productivity and efficiency. Irving Woodlands is committed to providing a positive and rewarding work environment and takes pride in its ability to retain top talent year over year.

London Climate Action Week (LCAW) is Europe’s premier city‑wide climate festival, founded in 2019 by E3G and the Mayor of London. Each June, over 45,000 attendees converge on the capital to accelerate decarbonization, resilience and climate innovation – and inspire cities worldwide to replicate its success. Forests and their stewards are indispensable partners in nature‑based solutions. At LCAW 2025, FSC will advocate for sustainable forest management as a cornerstone of climate action, forging alliances with NGOs, governments and financial institutions to build on our solutions, such as ecosystem services, Verified Impact, and climate finance. FSC-certified forests protect and strengthen ecosystems, boosting carbon capture in trees, soils and biomass while preventing deforestation and degradation. Collaborating with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, our rigorous standards deliver measured environmental, social and economic benefits on the ground.

22 new projects focusing on biodiversity management and restoration were selected for Metsä Group's Nature Projects funding programme. A total of EUR 600,000 was granted. A new focus in this year's funding was on increasing school cooperation. The aim of the funding programme for nature projects is to strengthen biodiversity outside commercial forests. A diverse range of projects received funding, including restoring stream waters, fighting against alien species, and strengthening of wetland nature and the status of bird waters. The new goal this year was to increase school cooperation. Funding was granted, for example, to the The Finnish Association of Nature and Environment Schools, Salo Upper Secondary School and Lastu School of Architecture and Environmental Culture, whose projects implement concrete measures that increase diversity and strengthen the nature relationship and understanding of biodiversity among children and young people.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is transforming the packaging landscape, and businesses across the entire supply chain must adapt to these new standards. Seven states—Oregon, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Maine, Maryland, and Washington—have passed EPR bills, with Oregon set to collect its first fees in July 2025. As these regulations take effect, understanding how EPR works, who it impacts, and how your business can adapt is more important than ever. Read as we break down everything you need to know, from compliance strategies to the financial implications of packaging choices, ensuring you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

 California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, also known as the Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), has drawn criticism from businesses who oppose rising financial burdens, and environmental…

In the pulp and paper industry, achieving carbon neutrality is an ambitious but increasingly urgent goal that reflects the sector’s critical role in the global climate equation.  Carbon neutrality means…

Tighter enforcement: New guidelines reinforce the Competition Act’s amendments, mandating proof for environmental claims. Risk of major penalties: Fines for deceptive environmental marketing can reach up to 3% of global revenue or $15M per violation. Strategic…

Big changes are coming to packaging in the EU. The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will set stricter rules for recyclability, impacting businesses across industries. From 2030, all…

What Are Biofuels?  Biofuels are a class of renewable fuels derived from organic material known as biomass. These organic materials for biofuels include agricultural waste, corn, algae, and trees. Biomass…

by Phil Riebel, President, Sustainable Paper Group Inc. Sustainability reporting has become a cornerstone of credible environmental stewardship. For companies in the pulp, paper, and packaging sectors - industries that…

Brazil is home to some of the world's most significant Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) – large, unfragmented stretches of primary forest that are critical to biodiversity and climate resilience. Ensuring…

If you’ve been following the global conversation around plastic pollution, you’ve probably heard of microplastics. These small particles have turned up everywhere from the depths of the ocean to the…

The paper, pulp and print sector is one of the lowest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for 0.8% of European CO2 emissions in 2022.[1] The paper industry’s carbon emissions…

The Safeguarding biodiversity and carbon-rich forest Networks in Europe (SafeNet) project launched 20 May 2025 to address biodiversity loss and boost ecosystem resilience in European forests. Funded under the European Union’s Horizon…

When a devastating fire tore through Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in April 2019, it wasn’t just a building that was lost. It was a deep cultural and spiritual symbol, a…

Atlantic Packaging is a member of the Composting Consortium, led by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy. The Consortium has just launched its 2025 Grant Program in collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for the U.S. composting industry, offering critical funding to help composters and municipalities expand their capacity to process certified compostable packaging and food scraps. While consumer demand for food waste diversion continues to rise, most composting facilities in the U.S. still only accept yard trimmings. This grant program aims to change that by supporting infrastructure upgrades, public education, and market development that enable the inclusion of compostable materials—helping to divert more food waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funding can be used by eligible U.S. compost manufacturers and municipalities in various ways, including: *Installing new equipment to reduce contamination from conventional plastics *Conducting trials for compostable packaging inclusion *Updating signage and outreach materials to improve participation and reduce confusion

In Sweden, FSC certificate holders conduct forest management in the same area used by the Sámi—Indigenous Peoples in Sweden—for their traditional reindeer herding activities. FSC Sweden’s national forest stewardship standard (NFSS), which is based on the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), plays a key role in facilitating landscape sharing between the two parties. Assurance Services International (ASI) conducted an investigation into the effectiveness of the NFSS in fostering dialogue and preventing disputes between Sami reindeer herders and FSC forest management certificate holders in northern and central Sweden. FSC initiated this investigation because of an increase in complaints and incidents ASI recorded since 2016 regarding disputes between Sámi reindeer herders and FSC forest managers. Stakeholders have voiced their concerns about the impact of forest management (FM) activities like timber harvesting and road building on the reindeer herding activities of the Sámi. Through this investigation, ASI and FSC sought to understand if the normative changes in the latest version of Sweden’s NFSS, effective from 2020, have improved the dialogue between the Sámi reindeer herders and FSC certificate holders, thereby resulting in a sustained reduction in disputes between the two parties.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) acknowledges the recent Milieu study conducted on behalf of the European Commission assessing how forest certification systems align with Closer-to-Nature Forest (CNF) Management Guidelines. The findings confirm that FSC standards already reflect core CNF principles in several EU countries and highlight FSC’s ability to balance environmental, social, and economic values in forest management. With over 70 million hectares certified in Europe and more than 160 million globally, FSC is the pioneer of forest certification . Since 1994, FSC has united environmental, economic, and social stakeholders under a transparent, independently verified, and continuously evolving system. Our standards are rooted in real-world forest management and evolve using cutting edge innovation such satellite and blockchain monitoring. The report recognises the maturity and credibility of FSC stating: “these standards have evolved over decades of practical implementation and refinement, likely reflecting more closely the complex realities of forest management and the forestry sector in terms of its operations on the ground.” The message is clear: we should build on proven systems, not reinvent them.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is committed to ensuring that responsible forest management contributes positively to the environment, local communities, and protects the rights and well-being of workers across certified operations. We take labour rights and occupational health and safety seriously, and these principles are embedded throughout our certification system. This includes the Congo Basin – a key region where tropical timber is commonly sourced - in which FSC is actively engaged in maintaining the integrity of certification through robust standards, verification, and oversight. FSC explicitly addresses workers, customary, community, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights in its Principles and Criteria (P&C), ensuring that forest management interventions uphold social responsibility. These areas are where FSC can drive meaningful impact through its standards and verification mechanisms. FSC requires all certificate holders to implement health and safety practices to protect workers from occupational hazards and to comply with workers' rights protected by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions, which cover the abolition of child labour, the elimination of forced labour and discrimination, the freedom of association and right to collective bargaining. These requirements are reflected in both the Forest Stewardship Standards (FSS) and Chain of Custody (CoC).

In a significant move towards RED III (Renewable Energy Directive), PEFC has been working on the development of the PEFC RED III standards; these standards were approved by the PEFC General Assembly on 8 May 2025. The vote in the PEFC General Assembly is a final step in the PEFC standard-setting process, which adheres to robust and stringent requirements in a participatory and inclusive way. The approval of the new standards by the highest PEFC decision-making body adds significant weight to the new PEFC RED III certification scheme, which has already received a positive technical assessment from the European Commission (EC) in April 2025. These new standards will enable PEFC chain of custody certified organisations seeking RED III compliance to obtain a PEFC RED III certificate and use the PEFC certification scheme to demonstrate that the forest biomass they use meets the relevant RED III sustainability criteria.

In a significant move towards RED III, PEFC has been working on the development of the PEFC RED III standards; these standards were approved by the PEFC General Assembly on 8 May 2025. The vote in the PEFC General Assembly is a final step in the PEFC standard-setting process, which adheres to robust and stringent requirements in a participatory and inclusive way. The approval of the new standards by the highest PEFC decision-making body adds significant weight to the new PEFC RED III certification scheme, which has already received a positive technical assessment from the European Commission (EC) in April 2025. These new standards will enable PEFC chain of custody certified organisations seeking RED III compliance to obtain a PEFC RED III certificate and use the PEFC certification scheme to demonstrate that the forest biomass they use meets the relevant RED III sustainability criteria.

Sonoco Products Company released its 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report, marking its transformation into a more sustainable packaging company following the acquisition of Eviosys, Europe’s leading metal packaging manufacturer. The union significantly enhances Sonoco’s sustainability footprint, global reach and circular packaging portfolio with an additional 6,300 new employees and 45 facilities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Company is now a global leader in metal and fiber packaging, serving some of the best-known consumer and industrial brands, yielding measurable results toward sustainable solutions that achieve our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life. ® Renewable energy and energy efficiency investments have helped Sonoco advance towards its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets of 25% by 2030 from the 2020 baseline. They include solar installations in Hartsville, S.C., Texas, and Italy; high-efficiency turbo blowers in Stainland, U.K. and Subang, Indonesia; and a new biogas boiler in Subang.

It’s important for companies and consumers to understand the end-of-life pathways for paper materials, like paper recycling or composting, so that they can make smart choices. Exploring the compostability or biodegradability of various types of paper and the advancements in bio-based coatings can help organizations make informed decisions that align with environmental sustainability at a time when consumers are demanding sustainability and transparency around practices. When paper products are not recycled, they typically end up in landfills. In these anaerobic environments, organic materials like paper decompose slowly, potentially releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Alternatively, some paper waste may be processed through combustion with energy recovery, contributing to energy production but also emitting carbon dioxide. Recycling paper products, which can be collected and reused to make new products, is the ideal solution, but recycling infrastructure can vary from state to state, even city to city. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) estimate U.S. paper recycling at 65%-69%.

In the Republic of Congo, Olam Agri is demonstrating that conservation and economic growth can be allies as it partners with conservation NGOs, government bodies, and ecotourism operators for local forest stewardship. Together, they drive not only biodiversity preservation but also local economic development, proving that conservation and growth can go hand in hand. This partnership is shaping the future of forest management in the Congo Basin. Watch 3 minute video at: https://fsc.org/en/newscentre/stories/a-new-model-of-forest-management-emerges-in-the-congo

This document highlights the Company's unwavering commitment to responsible business practices, which have guided its vision and operations for decades. Today, Kruger is taking this legacy further by looking through the lens of sustainable prosperity. This holistic approach aims to reach a harmonious balance between economic growth, environmental health, and social equity to drive positive outcomes for all stakeholders, society, and the planet. "Sustainable prosperity requires us to act on all fronts, from fighting climate change and protecting our resources, to enhancing energy efficiency, cultivating a healthy work environment, supporting education, and forging strong partnerships with our host communities and Indigenous peoples. This report proudly presents our recent accomplishments across these critical areas while acknowledging the journey ahead." —Eric Ashby, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kruger Inc.

The report details the sustainable approach Smurfit Westrock is taking in what was a milestone year during which Smurfit Kappa and WestRock combined to become a global leader in paper-based packaging. In addition to detailed, transparent reporting, assured performance data for the two legacy companies on specific key performance indicators is included in the report. The report also covers how it is delivering for its customers in providing sustainable packaging solutions such as the delivery of 16,000 recyclable bed frames for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The company also reported winning over 100 awards for its sustainable and innovative packaging solutions. Another highlight includes the raising of $2 billion in Green Finance. The report reflects the strength of the combination as Smurfit Westrock continues to put sustainability at the forefront of its efforts to drive both business success and sustainability results.

The global environmental non-profit CDP has published the corporate scores for 2024 disclosures. Out of 22,700 companies scored, only eight companies globally received the best Triple A rating across climate, forests and water security. Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, was one of these eight companies and the only forest industry company among these highest scored companies. This is the third time Metsä Board has received the prestigious Triple A rating. Metsä Board publicly publishes mill-specific measures towards its 2030 climate change and water use reduction targets in a detailed and interactive roadmap on the company’s website. Forest-related targets also support Metsä Group’s ambition to promote regenerative forestry.

The report shows progress in the key areas that support a circular use of plastic – an increase in the post-consumer recycled (PCR) content across the product portfolio as well as the product offering of a comparable alternative that is designed for recycling. Trioworld also reports an increase in the volume of the product portfolio offering a Loop alternative, meaning a product with a minimum of 25% PCR. “The 2024 report reflects our firm commitment to our sustainability targets and our role in driving the transition to a circular use of plastic, while navigating global economic headwinds and the adjustment to new policies and regulations”, says Oskar Karlsson, Chief Procurement Officer, and VP Sustainability at Trioworld Group.

NCCF’s Sustainable Forest Management System has been submitted to PEFC for assessment. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 13 May to 12 July 2025. NCCF, the PEFC national member in India, revised the country’s national forest certification system to ensure its forest management standard is up-to-date and continues to meet stakeholder demands and expectations. To provide you with additional information about this revised system, we are holding a webinar on 13 May 2025 at 11:30 CEST. Register for the webinar at: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/58cc7876-d603-4019-88a2-ba3f56272d5e@cd75f75a-3441-4da3-bd89-4b993277c652

Two Sides North America (TSNA), a non-profit organization advocating for the sustainable attributes of print, paper, and paper-based packaging, is pleased to announce Visual Media Alliance (VMA) as its newest member. This partnership highlights VMA’s commitment to tell the sustainability truths around paper, print, packaging, and direct mail to the greater industry and membership they serve in Northern California. “VMA is excited to be a new member of Two Sides, shared Shannon Wolford, Director of Sales and Membership. “We fully support their mission of dispelling environmental misconceptions regarding print, paper, and packaging. The content and research provided by Two Sides will be extremely valuable to VMA members as they strive to practice sustainable manufacturing. It is inspiring to know that we are part of a broader movement working toward a sustainable future.”

There is a need for additional protection of forests with significant nature values. By establishing a conservation foundation, Metsä Group wants to complement the conservation network and offer the forest owner compensation for forest sites of conservation value. The foundation will be established in the coming autumn, and its operations will start at the beginning of 2026. The conservation foundation supplements Metsä Group's services, with which the forest owner can strengthen the biodiversity of their forests. The conservation foundation focuses on the permanent protection of forests with high biodiversity value and thus supports the development of the forest conservation network. Metsä Group's impacts on biodiversity are greatest in commercial forests. The aim is to strengthen the state of nature of commercial forests through regenerative forestry measures, such as the Metsä Group Plus management model.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable investing, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to unlock responsible finance for planted forests, sustainable management of natural forests, and other land-use projects. This strategic alliance aims to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, including deforestation, soil degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss, and to promote equitable economic development and inclusiveness. Sustainable forest management is essential for enhancing climate resilience, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring decent livelihoods for local communities. In 2022, the world lost 6.6 million hectares of forests, primarily in tropical regions, contributing to significant biodiversity loss and an increase of 2.7 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions[i]. Through their partnership, FSC and Mirova aim to champion best-in-class forest conservation, large-scale reforestation, and responsible production of forest-based materials.

On April 3, 2025, Nature published a research paper titled “An Experimental Study on the Susceptibility of Purchasing Managers to Greenwashing.” The study shows that greenwashing—whether intentional or accidental—erodes trust in sustainability claims, even among experienced professionals. Its key finding: purchasing managers often struggle to distinguish between legitimate certifications and misleading environmental assertions. This highlights the growing urgency for clarity, verification, and third-party validation in environmental communications. As more companies position themselves as climate-conscious and socially responsible, the risks of overstating environmental progress—or failing to back up claims with hard data—are increasing. Even the appearance of greenwashing can undermine brand credibility, expose organizations to regulatory penalties, and stall genuine sustainability efforts. What Is Greenwashing? Greenwashing occurs when businesses exaggerate or misrepresent their environmental impact—whether deliberately or due to poor communication (OECD definition). For example, labeling a product as “eco-friendly” without measurable proof invites skepticism. Without robust frameworks to verify such claims, even well-meaning companies risk reputational harm, regulatory consequences, and loss of stakeholder trust.

At Stora Enso, we replace non-renewable materials with renewable products for the good of people and the planet. Using all of a tree resource-efficiently, we are experts in creating renewable materials that store carbon, can be recycled, and regenerate as new forest is planted. We accelerate the needed transition to a circular bioeconomy. On Earth Day 2025, themed “Our Power, Our Planet”, we are reminded of the crucial role of cutting our emissions to reinforce the circularity of our products. To strengthen the renewable nature of our materials, we set our ambition to align with the 1.5-degree scenario of the Paris Agreement in 2021. Our target is to halve the emissions from our direct operations and purchased energy (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030, compared to the 2019 baseline. This target was reached for the first time in 2024, when we achieved a 53% reduction in these emissions. A similar target is set for indirect Scope 3 emissions in the value chain, with the 2024 reduction at 39%. This milestone reflects our long-term commitment to proactive decarbonisation efforts through numerous smaller actions, such as: *investing in, and modernising production equipment for resource efficiency *switching to biofuels in production *use of renewable energy sources *powering our transport with biogas, electricity and hydrogen fuels *developing ways to monitor our performance to maintain and improve our progress

FSC has commissioned Assurance Services International (ASI) to conduct an investigation into the current state of Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) in and around FSC-certified forests in Brazil. ASI launched this investigation on 1 April 2025. FSC’s normative framework already has an Advice Note (ADV-20-007-18) on the management and protection of IFLs. It identifies countries where IFLs exist according to Global Forest Watch maps, and where there is no approved and effective forest stewardship standard based on the International Generic Indicators (FSC-STD-60-004 V2-0). FSC is currently revising the requirements for IFL protection based on a revised landscape approach for FSC stewardship in these lands of high conservation value. As part of this investigation, ASI will analyze Brazilian certificate holders' conformance with FSC's IFL protection requirements, since 2017. ASI will also study the effectiveness of the auditing practices of certification bodies in the certified management units included within this investigation’s scope. Based on the findings of the investigation, ASI will propose recommendations for making improvements to FSC’s normative framework.

FSC has commissioned Assurance Services International (ASI) to carry out an independent investigation into audit quality and integrity in Türkiye. The goal is to better understand how well FSC audits are addressing integrity risks. This investigation is a part of a broader FSC initiative to strengthen and improve the overall quality of auditing in the FSC system. FSC invites all stakeholders to share audit quality and integrity concerns related to Türkiye to ASI through the incident submission platform here, before 31 August 2025. For this investigation, ASI will request all current certification bodies, auditors and certificate holders in Türkiye to submit information relevant for this investigation. ASI will look into stakeholder concerns about certification/accreditation fraud, violation of workers’ rights, unethical behaviour of certification bodies, and risks associated with transfer of certificates. ASI will also consider analytical papers, such as corruption related risk assessments, and recent media coverage about wood fraud.

The SAFAS Regional Scheme has been submitted to PEFC for assessment. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this new regional system, will run from 5 May to 4 July 2025. SAFAS has expanded its forest certification system to become a regional system for Southern Africa. By providing the policy framework and administrative support, the regional system will enable other Southern African countries to develop their national sustainable forest management standard and achieve PEFC endorsement by joining the regional system. In addition, SAFAS has revised its national sustainable forest management standard to ensure its forest management standard is up-to-date and continues to meet stakeholder demands and expectations.

On 10 April 2025, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was notified of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget’s (SCA) intention to self-terminate its forest management certification in Sweden as of 1 June 2025, while keeping their forests in the Baltics certified and maintaining the Chain of Custody certification as well as membership in FSC Sweden. We regret this decision, but acknowledge SCA’s continued commitment to FSC, and its openness to finding a solution through engagement with FSC and other stakeholders. FSC, a membership-based organization, is founded on the belief that lasting solutions to complex problems require diverse voices at the table. Our unique three-chamber governance structure brings together environmental, social, and economic interests, ensuring that no single perspective dominates, and that consensus guides our decision making. It is this inclusive, democratic model that gives our system its strength and resilience. Choosing to step away rather than engage in the critical process of finding consensus means missing the opportunity to directly influence the responsible management of forests worldwide.

REI remains committed to bringing our voice and the power of our community to the fights ahead, cooperatively. Today, we are proud to announce that we are taking a leadership role in a new coalition, REI remains committed to bringing our voice and the power of our community to the fights ahead, cooperatively. Today, we are proud to announce that we are taking a leadership role in a new coalition, Brands for Public Lands. See video message at: https://www.rei.com/newsroom/article/deepening-our-commitment-to-public-lands

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is launching the 2nd public consultation on the revision of FSC-STD-50-001: Requirements for the Use of FSC® Trademarks by Certificate Holders. This document contains requirements for labelling and promotion of FSC-certified products with FSC trademarks, as well as the promotion of an organization’s status as an FSC certificate holder. The consultation will provide an opportunity for interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft version of the standard on how to use the FSC trademarks. The consultation will be open from 7th April 2025 to 6th June 2025, on the FSC Consultation Platform and will be available in English, Spanish, and French. FSC is revising the trademark standard to:  *Simplify the rules for using the FSC trademarks, while preserving the integrity and credibility of the FSC certification scheme.  *Adapt to market dynamics and trends that impact FSC certificate holders.  *Ensure compliance with new legislative developments in environmental labelling and claims.  *Align with the updated chain of custody normative requirements.  *Incorporate improved standard wording and remove ambiguous clauses.  *Incorporate relevant advice notes and interpretations. 

The packaging industry is increasingly turning to post-consumer recycled (PCR) content to reduce reliance on virgin plastics and promote sustainability. A recent article from Packaging Dive highlights the efforts of industry players, including Atlantic Packaging, to leverage B2B closed loops, among other strategies, to increase supply. This transition presents both challenges and opportunities, as industry leaders share their insights on how to navigate this complex landscape. While studies cited in the article show that the majority of consumers surveyed agreed that companies should increase their use of packaging made from recycled materials, and more states are requiring increased use of PCR in plastic beverage containers, there are still obstacles including infrastructure challenges as a barrier to increasing the supply needed to provide consistency and quality. One of the primary concerns in using PCR in food-grade packaging is avoiding contamination in the recycling stream. Contamination can occur from seemingly small actions, such as placing a paper label on a plastic film, as Atlantic Packaging senior manager, Stewart Whitmire, notes in the article. This can significantly hinder the recycling process and reduce the quality of the recycled material. Therefore, careful consideration of the materials used in packaging is essential to ensure they do not contaminate the recycling stream.

FSC is extending the suspension of the Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the FSC Remedy Framework until the end of June 2025. The extension of the suspension is due to a conflict of interest identified between Domtar and the law firm FSC identified for conducting the legal review of APP and Domtar’s corporate groups. FSC is identifying a different independent, third-party law firm to conduct this legal review. In January 2025, FSC suspended APP’s remedy MoU until the end of March 2025 because of the changes APP and Domtar announced regarding the concentration of sole beneficial ownership of the two corporate groups. FSC is commissioning a legal review of the corporate groups of Domtar and APP to better understand the implications and the effect of this change, and any impacts on the scope of the APP remedy process and the MoU.

Subaru of America is launching a nationwide tree distribution program in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. The initiative corresponds with National Arbor Day, which in the United States is the last Friday in April, although states observe the event on different days according to the best planting time. As part of the Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, Subaru retailers will provide 100,000 mature regionally appropriate trees in communities across the country, which will have tangible benefits for generations to come. This is the largest corporate event in the nonprofit’s history.

The FSC Risk Assessment Framework provides step-by-step guidance to assess and mitigate risks effectively. With 64 indicators covering social, environmental and economic aspects, the Risk Assessment Framework aligns with FSC’s Policy to Address Conversion and EUDR regulatory requirements, facilitating compliance for companies affected by the Regulation. FSC’s robust forest management certification ensures sustainable practices in certified areas. However, assessing risks in non-certified regions is equally critical, and requires a deeper look. To support companies in meeting regulatory compliance requirements such as the EUDR, FSC offers free country and regional risk assessments, developed through regular/centralized processes led by experts or through national chamber-balanced processes. These risk assessments can help organizations evaluate forestry sector control systems, providing vital insights into sourcing risks. FSC is developing updated risk assessments for 90 countries. The next generation of FSC’s risk assessments for controlled wood sourcing will be based on the updated Risk Assessment Framework and valid for both Regulatory Module users and Controlled Wood users. If a country risk assessment is unavailable, organizations can access FSC’s Risk Assessment template and supporting tools to implement effective due diligence.

International Paper announced it exceeded its sustainability goal of conserving and restoring 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland. This milestone achievement enhances biodiversity protection, strengthens carbon sequestration, and supports sustainable land management, reinforcing the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience. "We are thrilled to have surpassed one of our Healthy and Abundant Forest targets to conserve 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland by restoring nearly 1,158,00 total acres, and we did so six years ahead of schedule," said Sophie Beckham, Chief Sustainability Oficer, International Paper. "Reaching this milestone is a testament to the company's ongoing commitment to nature conservation and to the great work of our conservation partners." In 2024, IP reaffirmed our dedication to conserving forest ecosystems, nature and biodiversity with a $15.3 million investment to renew strategic alliances with key conservation partners including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. For over a decade, the Forestland Stewards Partnership has supported projects that, once complete, will restore, enhance or protect more than 2.2 million acres of southern forestlands. This initiative earned the 2024 Leadership in Sustainability Award from the American Forest and Paper Association, recognizing IP's collaborative approach to forest and wildlife conservation in Southeast U.S. forests.

After a participatory process involving FSC members, public consultations, and field testing, Brazil now has a new FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Natural Forests. This will replace the previous version (SLIMF and “Terra Firme”) and will come into effect on 1 October 2025. Natural forests certified under this new standard will ensure environmental and social benefits, promoting biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and the protection of the rights of local and Indigenous communities. Additionally, it will enable Brazilian forestry companies to respond to the growing demands of both the local and international markets. Brazil is home to one of the largest expanses of tropical forests in the world, essential for global biodiversity and climate balance. FSC certification has guided forest management in the country for more than two decades, but an update of the standard was necessary to align it with FSC’s Principles and Criteria and to strengthen its impact. The new standard aims to balance responsible forest production with conservation, ensuring that Brazilian forests continue to provide ecological, social, and economic benefits in the future.

Billerud’s annual and sustainability report for 2024 is from today available on the company’s website. The sustainability statement has been prepared in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Read the report at: https://www.billerud.com/globalassets/cision/documents/2025/20250327-billeruds-annual-and-sustainability-report-2024-en-0-5016394.pdf

Atlantic Packaging has elevated its support to become the newest Pinnacle Member of The Conservation Alliance (TCA), it was announced today by TCA Executive Director Paul Hendricks. “Since initially joining as a member of The Conservation Alliance in 2022, Atlantic Packaging has brought an important and unique voice to the work we do,” said Hendricks in making the announcement. “As a Pinnacle member, their elevated level of support will allow TCA to go above and beyond in our advocacy and grantmaking efforts to protect our most cherished wild places.” Founded nearly 80 years ago, Atlantic Packaging has consistently pioneered innovative solutions within the packaging industry, placing sustainability at the forefront of its mission. Through its global initiative, A New Earth Project, Atlantic showcases a deep commitment to the health and well-being of future generations by accelerating regenerative business practices and advancing responsible packaging solutions. Atlantic’s longstanding industry leadership, combined with A New Earth Project’s collaborative network of athletes, artists, and conservationists, uniquely positions the company to amplify the impact of this Pinnacle membership and drive meaningful conservation outcomes.

The UK is preparing to roll out a new packaging levy under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme—a move that will shift the financial burden of packaging waste management from taxpayers to the businesses that produce the packaging. With the potential to raise up to £2 billion annually, the policy is designed to encourage companies to adopt more sustainable packaging and improve recycling infrastructure. However, it also raises concerns about increased costs for both businesses and consumers. One of the most significant effects of the EPR scheme will be on the types of packaging businesses use. Since fees are based on the weight and recyclability of packaging materials, companies will be financially motivated to switch to materials that are easier and cheaper to recycle.

Aptar was recognized for its actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and further the low-carbon economy, based on the data reported by the Company through CDP’s 2024 corporate questionnaire. In 2024, over 700 financial institutions with over 142 trillion USD in assets requested companies to disclose data on environmental impacts, risks, and opportunities through CDP’s platform. A record-breaking 24,800 companies responded. Through significant demonstrable action on climate, Aptar is a leader in corporate environmental ambition, action and transparency worldwide. “We are proud to be recognized by CDP as a leader on climate related topics. Our actions that demonstrate our continuous efforts in this area, and the products and solutions we provide, play an important role in improving everyday life for consumers and patients around the world,” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO. “As we focus on the future, we intend to continue our efforts on reducing climate risks and increasing actions that lead to a more sustainable future.”

AptarGroup, Inc. announced that it has entered into a renewable energy supply agreement with Mercuria Energy America. This agreement reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and provides a more localized source of renewable energy dedicated to Aptar. Beth Holland, Aptar’s Chief Sustainability Officer, remarked, “We have already achieved over 95% annual sourcing of renewable electricity within our operations with a target of sourcing 100% by 2030. By entering into this partnership with Mercuria, we are taking the next steps along our Carbon Transition Plan.” As shared by Philippe Robert, Aptar’s Chief Procurement Officer, “In addition to sourcing 100% renewable electrical energy, Aptar is committed to increasing the portion of Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) in its electricity mix as a collaborative approach to increasing the availability of renewables where we operate.”

In its annual report, Stora Enso reports the seedlings planted in own forests or delivered to other forest owners: a little over 20 million of the seedlings end up in our own forests in Sweden, and more than 19 million were planted on private forest owners’ lands in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Baltics. In addition, we delivered approximately 23 million seedlings to other external customers, such as other forestry companies. Forest regeneration is a crucial part of even-aged forestry – the most common forest management method in Northern Europe. When new trees are planted after final fellings, we make sure there will be new forest growing to replace the felled trees. This is also required by law. Planted seedlings are grown in nurseries – both in Store Enso’s own nurseries in Sweden as well as by suppliers in Finland and the Baltics. The seedlings are grown from seeds produced in tree breeding programmes to enhance growth and other characteristics over time. These programmes are set up to ensure that the tree seedlings will be fit to the environmental conditions in the forest, now and over the decades to come.

UPM Specialty Papers is proud to announce that its packaging papers have been certified as recyclable according to both European CEPI and U.S. WMU testing methods. All UPM barrier papers, barrier base papers and flexible packaging papers have successfully passed the new CEPI recyclability test. These papers are technically recyclable in a recycling mill with conventional process according to CEPI-Scorecard version 2.0 (January 2025). The certified papers according to CEPI method include: •Barrier papers: UPM AsendoTM, UPM AsendoTM Pro, UPM ConfidioTM, UPM ConfidioTM Pro •Barrier base papers: UPM PregoTM, UPM SolideTM Lucent •C1S packaging papers: UPM UniquePackTM, UPM UniquePackTM Strong, UPM FlexPack TM

According to recent life cycle assessment* conducted by Metsä Board, switching from white-lined chipboard (WLC) to Metsä Board’s folding boxboard can reduce the carbon footprint of food packaging by over 60%. The LCA study, which compared MetsäBoard Classic FBB to corresponding grades available in European markets, was verified by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The reduction in carbon footprint is possible due to the high share of fossil-free energy used in Metsä Board’s manufacturing process and the light weight of fresh fibre paperboards. Although Metsä Board folding boxboards are typically lighter than similar products made of recycled fibres, they retain the durability and functional properties of traditional heavier grades thanks to the fresh wood fibres used in their production.

UPM is participating in the NorthDIVeRSITY project led by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), which is developing eDNA (Environmental DNA) tools for monitoring fish and forest species suitable for the Nordic nature. The project aims to find more effective methods for monitoring the effects of restoration, for example, by studying species distribution before and after restoration. "New methods for assessing environmental biodiversity are needed to complement traditional ones. eDNA is a promising alternative for monitoring fisheries, for example, but its performance in northern conditions needs further development," says Pauliina Louhi, Senior Researcher at Luke. One of the project's research sites is located in the Kelvänjoki river and its catchment area in Lieksa, North Karelia. Kelvänjoki flows into the Pielinen river. In the summer of 2024, the old mill dam on the Ala-Kelvänjoki river was dismantled and the rapids were restored. UPM's stream water program was one of the funders of the restoration site. Different kinds of samples were taken from the water body before the restoration started, and monitoring will continue in the coming years.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is thrilled to announce the launch of the FSC Brand Hub, a user-centric platform designed to streamline trademark management, marketing resources, and brand assets for all FSC stakeholders. Developed with input from users around the world, the FSC Brand Hub is tailored to the needs of certificate holders, promotional licence holders, certification bodies, and other FSC partners. This new platform replaces the legacy system, offering an improved, modernized experience that is: *Simple and intuitive: Easy navigation and streamlined journeys for all users. *Comprehensive: Access to trademark designs, customizable assets, campaigns, and guidelines all in one place. *Personalized: Features like bookmarks and notifications create a personalized experience to fit various needs. Whether you're managing trademark designs, building marketing campaigns, or creating custom assets, the FSC Brand Hub is a one-stop solution.

Solenis LLC, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, is proud to honor Sappi’s Ehingen mill in Germany with the 2024 Solenis Sustainability Award. This recognition highlights the mill’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, optimizing resource use, and enhancing operational efficiency through innovative fiber use strategies and strength-improving additives. Producing liner packaging grades that meet the physical demands of the packaging market requires a delicate balance between fiber composition and sustainability choices. To optimize pulp utilization, Sappi partnered with Solenis to implement a customized chemical strength system that had a positive impact on strength levels measured by short-span compression testing (SCT).

The first-ever PEFC Trees outside Forests certificate was issued to the municipality of Zwolle in the Netherlands, marking a milestone in recognising the importance of urban trees. In the Netherlands, PEFC Trees outside Forest (TOF) certification is a game changer for sustainable urban forestry. It acknowledges the vital role of trees outside of traditional forests, from city parks to roadside plantings and offers municipalities the unique opportunity to protect their green capital and actively contribute to the circular economy. “Sustainability doesn't stop at the forest edge. In the Netherlands, half of the trees grow outside traditional forest areas, significantly contributing to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health. Certification of these trees is therefore crucial, particularly as governmental organisations and companies nearly always require certified materials,” explained Marten de Groot, National Secretary of PEFC Netherlands.

Amazon is using proprietary artificial intelligence solutions to help ensure its buildings contribute to corporate net-zero carbon goals. The online giant is helping its buildings conserve water and improve energy efficiency using AI-based tools built on its Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosted cloud platform. This effort is part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge to operate more sustainably and be net zero carbon across its entire business by 2040. Amazon’s suite of AI-based tools that enhance the efficiency of its buildings and utility management systems include FlowMS, which tracks and traces water leaks. In addition to FlowMS, Amazon built the Base Building Advanced Monitoring (BBAM) tool. It leverages the AWS machine learning tools Amazon SageMaker and Lambda to monitor the company’s HVAC systems.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) welcomes the successful conclusion of the resumed UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16.2) in Rome, which has delivered crucial agreements on resource mobilization and the financial mechanisms to implement it. With the focus now shifting to implementation, delegates also adopted other pending decisions to help advance the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), including mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and reviewing. For the first time in biodiversity negotiations, countries have agreed to a text specifically on tracking their own progress, including the way that the indicators will be measured and used. This will ensure that all Parties are tracking progress in a way that can be interpreted by national policymakers and provide data that can be aggregated up to the global level to provide an integral picture of implementation for the KMGBF. FSC welcomes the outcomes of the Rome meeting, particularly the decisions made on biodiversity monitoring and reporting.

The biggest wind turbines yet installed in North America are set to soon be turning near the small town of Mulgrave, Nova Scotia. Construction is now underway on the $450 million Goose Harbour Lake development, a project featuring 24 giant seven megawatt (MW) machines supplied by German manufacturer Nordex. The 168 MW wind power project in eastern Nova Scotia is being co-developed by the UK’s RES and Port Hawkesbury Paper (PHP), whose local pulp and paper mill accounts for up to 25 per cent of the provincial grid's peak demand. Once power starts flowing to the grid in 2026, the Goose Harbour Lake wind farm will be the largest operating in the Canadian Maritimes. The project will meet roughly 60 per cent of power demand at PHP, a major local employer, while cutting provincial greenhouse gas emissions by more than 350,000 tons a year.

Lecta has achieved DIN CERTCO industrial compostability certification for its EraCup Natural paperboard, an innovative product for food service applications. Why is this certification important? The certification ensures that compostability claims are scientifically validated and that items are accepted in industrial composting facilities, unlike "biodegradable" products that may not fully degrade. In addition to the recyclability certifications already obtained, this new certification guarantees that the product contributes to the circular economy without leaving any harmful residue.

Cardboard is one of the most recycled materials in the U.S. It is collected from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. From the shipping box at your doorstep to large appliance packaging and produce bins at the grocery store, cardboard recycling plays a crucial role in the paper industry. In 2023, nearly 33 million tons of cardboard was recycled, resulting in a cardboard recycling rate of 71% -76%. That’s about 90,000 tons per day—a staggering amount of material being diverted from landfills. Collected cardboard is first sorted and non-cardboard material is removed. After it is processed, it is sent to paper mills. Recycled cardboard is used at paper mills to produce new packaging materials. Around half of all recycled paper went into making containerboard—the material used to make cardboard boxes – in 2023. Additionally, about 80% of U.S. paper mills use some recycled paper to create new products.

Stakeholders globally are invited to give their feedback on the new PEFC RED III standards, developed to enable organisations to demonstrate compliance with RED III requirements and make RED III compliant declarations. RED III, the European Union’s (EU) Renewable Energy Directive 2023/2413, is the revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II Directive). RED III raises the overall target of the renewable energy shares and strengthens the sustainability criteria set out for biomass. RED III also tightens the requirements of data reporting throughout the supply chain and ensures the setup of the Union Database at the Commission level to collect data from organisations via recognised voluntary schemes.

No fooling! We’re coming to the Great Lakes area to meet with certificate holders and promotional license holders. Our morning in Minneapolis will be filled with work sessions designed to get your input on key issues and initiatives impacting forest managers, chain of custody certificate holders throughout the supply chain, and retailers that have promotional licenses. In the afternoon, we’ll highlight the new materials and services that are now available to certificate holders, including the just released Verified Impact Ecosystem Services Program Version 2.0 and FSC Aligned for EUDR.

I am pleased to report from our February vantage point with a sense of optimism and determination. Yes, the world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Yes, the future presents both immense opportunities and complex challenges. And yes, FSC in the US has significant hurdles to overcome. But through it all, our commitment remains steadfast. With our boots planted firmly on solid ground, we are ready to navigate uncertainty and drive meaningful progress – this year and beyond. What does progress look like? At its core, progress for FSC US means two things: 1. Expanding the acres of FSC-certified forestlands in the U.S. 2. Delivering tangible value to the landowners and forest managers who provide society with the many benefits forests offer.

A few years ago at a PRINTING United Alliance’s Digital Packaging Summit, a panelist from Microsoft explained that the company vets every printer and converter it works with by looking for a statement of sustainability on the company’s website. What happens if there isn’t one? It doesn’t do business with that company. While that might seem like an extreme example, Gary Jones, vice president of Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance, explains that with new regulations and legislation being passed on a regular basis, there has been a “transition from sustainability being a ‘nice thing to do’ to a ‘must thing to do.’” That’s why it’s important to have a sustainability plan in place and to be prepared to speak with your customers about it on a deeper level. “Customers easily see through empty sustainability initiatives,” Jones says. “In addition, some of them are hiring sustainability professionals that will be asking the hard questions. To have a productive conversation with customers that have sustainability as a key initiative is to be prepared with a genuine and transparent message.”

Mactac was awarded Critical Guidance Recognition (CGR) for its polypropylene (BOPP) pressure-sensitive labels with CHILL AT® hot-melt adhesive for flexible polyethylene (PE) film packaging materials. The labeling solution exceeded voluntary requirements for APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition, meeting the most stringent, industry accepted criteria for design features that affect plastics recycling. Mactac is the first manufacturer to hold CGR for a hot-melt adhesive for flexible PE. Mactac was also the first to earn CGR for a hot-melt adhesive for polypropylene (PP) recycling applications in 2024, and for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers in 2023. “Achieving the APR’s Critical Guidance Recognition is an important step in our Simply Sustainable® initiative to promote a more circular economy,” says Kim Hensley, Senior Marketing Manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. “Mactac was the first label manufacturer to offer a hot-melt adhesive solution for HDPE and PP recycling applications, and now we are the first to earn recognition for PE flexible recycling applications. We are proud of our commitment to improve sustainable practices and promote recyclability.”

Metsä Group has updated its 2030 sustainability targets. The update includes both changes to existing targets and new targets focusing on logistics emissions, personnel diversity and occupational safety, for example. Sustainability targets are part of Metsä Group’s strategy work. “We are updating our ambitious targets and reinforcing our commitment to fossil-free operations, the improvement of the state of forest nature, an inclusive and ethical corporate culture and occupational safety,” says Anni Kovanen, Metsä Group’s Director, Sustainability Management. The targets were last updated two years ago, when measures improving forests’ biodiversity and health as well as measures promoting fossil-free production were added to them.

Many business owners striving to adopt eco-friendly practices have begun to view direct mail and other responsible paper use with skepticism based on false information and “greenwashing.” However, the paper and mailing industries have long been proactive in implementing sustainable practices that not only mitigate environmental concerns but also contribute positively to our planet’s health. The paper industry has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. In the U.S., over 1 billion trees are planted annually, with the industry playing a significant role in these reforestation efforts. This dedication ensures that forested areas remain stable, supporting biodiversity and contributing to carbon sequestration. Forests are pivotal in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂), acting as significant carbon sinks. Recent studies indicate that global forests absorb approximately twice as much CO₂ as they emit annually, sequestering around 7.6 billion metric tons of CO₂ each year.

Hood Container has joined Box to Nature program – Paper and Packaging Board’s (P+PB) residential recycling program. Developed by P+PB in collaboration with participating paper and corrugated manufacturing companies and industry partners, Box to Nature is an initiative where box manufacturers work with e-commerce brands to print a graphic on their boxes that encourages consumers to recycle. The Box to Nature graphic provides specific instructions on how to easily recycle (empty, flatten, recycle), and features a QR code that directs them to Box2Nature.org where they will find memorable, easy-to-recall messages to encourage recycling habits. When the message was tested before launching the program, 75% of consumers indicated they would be more likely to recycle their e-commerce box after exposure to the graphic. The goal is to increase the estimated 40% residential box recycling rate 1 (The Recycling Partnership) and recapture more fiber to make new paper-based products. Brands also get a positive lift in perception among consumers due to the association with their choice to use sustainable, recyclable paper-based packaging.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an international non-profit organisation that promotes environmental transparency by encouraging organisations to disclose their environmental impact. It is highly recognised for its structured approach, broad participation, and strong support from the investment community. The CDP assesses data from over 22,000 companies, ranking them on their transparency, tangible action and environmental leadership. Based on data reported through CDP's 2024 climate change questionnaires, Tetra Pak was among the small number of companies that achieved an 'A' score, which it has done for the fourth time in five years. As part of its climate change mitigation strategy, Tetra Pak is working with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders to achieve net-zero GHG emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2050 across its value chain. As of 2023, the company reduced the total absolute GHG emissions across the full value chain by 20% compared with a 2019 baseline. Over the same period, it reduced emissions from its own operations2 by 47%, as well as upstream emissions3 by 21% and downstream emissions4 by 17%5.

Billerud is placed on CDP's top A-list in the “Climate” category out of a total of nearly 25,000 companies globally reviewed in 2024. "Billerud's ranking is both honorable and a testament to our systematic and long-standing sustainability work that is world-class in a global comparison. Production in our European operations is almost fossil-free. We are now continuing our journey to reduce fossil emission in the American operations," says Ulrika Wedberg, EVP Sustainability & Public Affairs at Billerud. "Billerud's high-performance products in renewable paper and packaging materials also contribute to a fossil-free society by replacing other materials," continues Ulrika Wedberg.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is committed to maintaining the highest standard of responsible forest management, ensuring that all timber entering FSC-certified supply chains complies with legal and ethical requirements. We recognize the ongoing concerns surrounding illegal timber trade, particularly from sanctioned countries such as Russia, and the need for transparency in global supply chains. All certification systems carry inherent risks of misuse and illegal trade. The complexity of global supply chains - whether in timber, agriculture, or textiles - can expose them to risks such as false claims or illegal trade. Unfortunately, misconceptions regarding FSC certification and its processes continue to appear in some reports and public discussions, leading to misinterpretations of the system’s integrity. As such, it is important to take this opportunity to address these issues and provide a clearer understanding of the robust measures FSC has implemented to prevent illegal timber from entering certified supply chains.

At the recent United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) event, “Who Pays? For the Implementation of Sustainability-Driven Regulations”, Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International, took the stage to shed light on how smallholders - and the entire supply chain - can navigate the European Union’s new sustainability regulations, particularly the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and how they can benefit from PEFC certification. Thorsten identified three primary challenges that smallholders face under new regulatory frameworks such as the EUDR: Compliance - Smallholders often struggle to understand exactly what they must do to comply. Cost - Meeting new regulatory requirements can be prohibitively expensive for small producers. Support - Capacity-building is essential, yet fragmented guidance and resources leave many smallholders unsure of how to implement necessary changes.

MM Group has once again been recognized for its outstanding environmental stewardship, earning leadership ratings (A-) from CDP two years in a row for Climate, Forests, and Water Security. During 2024, CDP collected data from 2023 to determine that MM’s efforts again deserve the leadership distinction. The CDP ratings underscore MM Group’s commitment to transparency, responsible resource management, and continuous environmental improvement. MM Group’s unique approach to integrating recycled and virgin fibre production enables precision control over manufacturing inputs, ensuring transparency and accountability across climate, forestry, and water security metrics. Through strategic investments and rigorous environmental management, MM has proven it can set and achieve ambitious sustainability targets. CDP’s repeated recognition amplifies the company’s unique voice as a trusted industry leader.

A collaboration of four parties is working on a major demonstration project to recycle stretch film, a flexible plastic wrap. This is despite frequently being told, “No customer will ask for it.” The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) supported the parties with the CPNL subsidy and acted as a discussion partner. “Showing people that it is possible”—this, alongside sustainability, is one of the key motivations for Jolien Stevels to participate in the SKILLS project. Stevels is the Director of Research & Development at Trioworld, a producer of packaging solutions. SKILLS stands for Closing the Loop on Industrial LLDPE Stretch Film. “Customers don’t ask for recycled stretch film because they believe it’s not possible. But if you place a roll on the table, they will start asking for it. We all have great faith in this project.” Stevels quickly convinced three other key players in the supply chain to join her firm belief that recycling stretch film is possible. Stretch film has become a crucial and highly demanded product for securing goods on pallets—ensuring they are transported safely, securely, and efficiently. This means there are significant opportunities for improvement within the industry.

By the end of 2024, Stora Enso achieved a 53% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, surpassing the target of a 50% reduction by 2030 from the 2019 base year. This milestone reflects the Group's long-term commitment to proactive decarbonisation efforts. In 2021, Stora Enso set its ambition to align with the 1.5-degree scenario of the Paris Agreement with a target of absolute Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction by 50% by 2030 from the 2019 base year. The 53% reduction by the end of 2024 is mainly attributed to mitigation measures, such as fuel switches and improvements in energy efficiency, and the impact from site closures. While Stora Enso acknowledges this progress, the Group's target is to maintain this level until 2030 and explore opportunities to further improve. “I am pleased to share this progress on our path towards net zero as part of our long-term commitment to sustainability. Through driving efficiency in the way we work, we are able to reduce our climate impact and support our customers achieve their climate ambitions,” says Hans Sohlström, President and CEO, Stora Enso.

Sustainability is a top priority for consumers, so aligning your business with these values is crucial for building long-term loyalty. Transparency, authenticity, and a commitment to sustainable practices are essential for maintaining customer trust and relevance in a competitive marketplace. Companies like REI (SGP certified facility) exemplify how prioritizing sustainability can drive loyalty while responding to shifting market demands. 1. Understanding Consumer Expectations - Today’s consumers are increasingly focused on sustainability. 2. Aligning Business Practices with Customer Demands - To build trust and loyalty, sustainability needs to be embedded in your business practices. 3. Employee Engagement in Sustainability - While sustainability often starts at the top, fostering a culture of sustainability within your organization is essential. 4. Leveraging Sustainable Supply Chains - A sustainable supply chain is a necessity for meeting consumer expectations and building credibility.

This achievement highlights Ahlstrom’s strategic and systematic efforts to reduce climate impact across the value chain while reinforcing our dedication to transparency and action in tackling climate change. CDP’s evaluation is based on comprehensive disclosures covering climate strategy, targets, governance, risks and opportunities, and concrete actions taken over the previous year. The score reflects the meaningful progress Ahlstrom has made in cutting emissions and motivates the company to accelerate its efforts even further. "We have made significant strides in reducing emissions through our energy transition program. Since 2021, our Scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions have decreased by 16.2%, demonstrating the tangible impact of our initiatives. In 2024, we further strengthened supplier engagement to drive down Scope 3 emissions, reinforcing our commitment to reducing carbon footprint across the entire value chain," says Johan Lunabba, Vice President, Sustainability and Public Affairs at Ahlstrom.

On 7 February 2025, the global environmental non-profit organization CDP recognized UPM with an A score for its leadership in corporate transparency and action on climate change mitigation, and an A- for forest and water stewardship. On 11 February 2025, UPM was recognized in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook as one of the top 10% performers in its industry. “We see sustainability as one of the most important drivers of growth and competitiveness, and we are seizing the opportunities presented by sustainable consumer choices and stricter regulations,” Sami Lundgren continues.

Two Sides North America (TSNA), a non-profit organization advocating for the sustainable attributes of print, paper, and paper-based packaging, is pleased to announce RWT Production, LLC as its newest member. This partnership highlights RWT Production’s dedication to sustainability within the direct mail and print industries. “At RWT Production, we recognize the crucial role that direct mail serves in many successful fundraising and marketing initiatives. Aligning with Two Sides North America complements our mission to provide our clients with sustainable and effective print solutions for their campaigns,” stated Jeff Thomas, Director of Business Development at RWT Production. “Together, we can further promote the essential role of direct mail and its environmental responsibility.”

The European Union’s SUP Directive May Pose Unintended Challenges for Non-Plastic Packaging. Fibre-based packaging manufacturers are unclear about how the European Union’s Single Use Plastic (SUP) Directive, adopted in 2019, will impact their business. As it applies to specific measures for minimizing litter from single-use plastic and “plastic”-containing packaging, the Directive has taken effect through national legislation. Still unclear is how the directive applies to fibre-based packaging that uses small amounts of plastic as a protective layer for perishable items. For example, cartonboard cups incorporate an internal layer to keep liquid products from seeping through the cartonboard; and fibre-based food containers often include a plastic barrier to protect the food from oxygen and to keep food oils from leaking through the packaging.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has been recognised for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change, forests and water security by global environmental non-profit CDP. Based on data reported through CDP’s 2024 Climate Change, Forests and Water Security thematic questionnaires, Metsä Board is one of a small number of companies that achieved a triple A, out of over 22,000 companies scored. This is the third time that Metsä Board scored the prestigious triple ‘A’. “We have ambitious sustainability targets including 100% fossil free production and products, and reduced process water use by the end of 2030. In our wood supply, we promote regenerative forestry practices to strengthen the status of forest nature. The high score in CDP assessments year after year is a confirmation on the positive progress of our systematic work," says Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Board.

Metsä Group has completed a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its Kuura textile fibre. The assessment shows that Kuura’s global warming potential (GWP100, fossil) score is less than one-third of the next best option, viscose. The Kuura project is currently in a demonstration phase. The new textile fibre is being developed by Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring. The LCA was made by Etteplan. The LCA study and comparison to alternative cellulosic fibres were critically reviewed by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. GWP is a term used to describe the relative potency, molecule for molecule, of a greenhouse gas, considering how long it remains active in the atmosphere. Kuura's GWP is only one-fourth of cotton fibre and up to over 80 percent lower than the impact of the closest reference commercial product, lyocell fibre.

2024 was yet another year of high seedling deliveries from SCA. Nearly 100 million seedlings were delivered to private forest owners and SCA's own forests. "It feels good to be able to contribute with seedlings of high quality that provide good growth in Sweden's forests, and thus significant climate benefits," says Thomas Vestman, head of NorrPlant, SCA's seedling operations. In 2024, SCA delivered almost 100 million seedlings, which is slightly fewer compared to the previous year. "It was a good delivery year, despite the prolonged winter. But when summer arrived, it came early in May which put our nurseries in full speed. We see, however, that more and more customers choose to plant in August, which has now become our largest delivery month. That’s good, because it’s perfectly fine to plant well into the autumn," says Thomas Vestman.

CDP assess companies based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership. Improving corporate awareness through measurement and disclosure is essential to the effective management of carbon and climate change risk. “It is a strong endorsement of the approach and actions we take on climate change that we are a CDP Climate Change ‘A List’ company. We are committed to a continued focus on reducing emissions in our own production, as well as across our value chain in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s 1.5-degree pathway.” says Toby Croucher, Chief Sustainability Officer.

For more than 100 years, FPAC (formerly the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association) has provided a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, paper and wood-based bioproducts producers in government, trade and environmental affairs. Its member companies also help develop action plans that advance Canadian forest health while supporting workers, communities and the environment. “Domtar and its predecessors have been member companies for many, many years,” says Derek Nighbor, FPAC’s president and CEO. “Today, Domtar operates mills all across Canada. Each region faces unique challenges, so the geographic diversity of our relationship with Domtar and their engagement across all key function areas has been great. Together, we’ve done a lot of work on forest management policies, environmental priorities, transportation, Indigenous relations and more.”

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has been recognised with an ‘A’ score for both climate change and forests in CDP’s 2024 disclosures. CDP also awarded Mondi an ‘A-’ score in the third category of water. These scores earn Mondi a place on CDP’s annual A List for the sixth consecutive year, demonstrating the Group’s leading sustainability practices. "We are delighted to have maintained our position on CDP’s A List. Our top scores for transparency on climate change and forests reflect our commitment to taking action on climate and our understanding of the link between climate action, sustainable forestry and water security in driving progress that reduces our impact. We are working to reduce our GHG emissions in line with our science-based Net-Zero targets, upholding our zero deforestation commitment across our supply chain, and prioritising water and biodiversity as key focus areas of our sustainability efforts." Gladys Naylor, Head of Sustainable Development at Mondi

According to a recent Metsä Board study, optimising the choice of paperboard can notably reduce the carbon footprint of packaging for beautycare and cosmetic brands. The assessments*, conducted by Metsä Board and verified by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, demonstrated the significant carbon footprint reductions achieved by switching to Metsä Board’s fresh fibre paperboard, compared to grades representative of European markets. According to the recent life cycle assessment study, switching from a solid bleached board (SBB) to Metsä Board’s folding boxboard can reduce the carbon footprint of packaging by over 50%, while replacing folding boxboard can achieve a 40% reduction or even higher. The compared grades represented board grades available in European markets.*

Stora Enso is proud to announce that its NeoLigno bio-based binder is integral part of ECOR Global’s new product line, a groundbreaking fully bio-based, recyclable and formaldehyde-free board. This innovation meets the increasing demand for healthier, recyclable, high-performance materials, particularly in furniture and flooring manufacturing. The collaboration partnership between Stora Enso and ECOR Global underscores a shared vision for advancing sustainability and high climate ambitions. By replacing traditional fossil-based binders with NeoLigno, ECOR Global has successfully created a product free from formaldehyde and isocyanates, eliminating harmful chemicals while delivering performance. The two companies’ technical collaboration is leading to additional breakthroughs solidifying their commitment to sustainability.

Tetra Pak has received the Environmental Initiatives Award at the 2025 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards for its Approach to Nature framework. The SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership) Award recognises Tetra Pak’s framework as an industry-leading example of how major companies can leverage their expertise to guide and collaborate with partners throughout the value chain to realise their own sustainability goals and address regulatory requirements.  Tetra Pak launched its comprehensive Approach to Nature framework in 2024 to address nature-related impacts across the value chain. This ambitious approach is built upon concrete actions and more than 20 measurable targets and practical actions, defining the company's contribution to halting and reversing nature loss, supporting the restoration of ecosystems and enhancing water security. As well as internal goals and actions, the framework also addresses supplier and customer nature-related impacts, including those connected to packaging end-of-life.

International technology group ANDRITZ has acquired ATN Engineering B.V., a Dutch company specializing in advanced recycling technologies. This strategic acquisition strengthens ANDRITZ’s position as a global leader in recycling solutions by adding ATN’s state-of-the-art degassing and de-oiling systems to its portfolio. ATN Engineering is recognized as an innovator in the recycling sector with its unique drill head system, which enables the safe and efficient removal of hazardous oil and gas from end-of-life refrigerators. The company also supplies feeding logistics and equipment for the recycling of industrial coolers, air conditioning equipment, and heat pumps. ATN provides engineering, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and servicing of recycling equipment. To date, the company has delivered more than 200 degassing units worldwide.

We are revising the PEFC Project Certification requirements to respond to stakeholder needs, add value to companies, and align them with the latest version of the PEFC Chain of Custody standard, and we are looking for your feedback! Project certification provides independent verification of the use of certified timber in construction and other projects with a defined time and site. This survey aims to gather your valuable feedback to help improve these requirements. It is part of a broader effort to increase global demand for PEFC project certification and the procurement of PEFC-certified materials. Take part in the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JKCG3QR

UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have renewed their contract to build a smarter future beyond fossils together. During the new three-year contract period the collaboration will focus on enabling the development of circular economy and promoting privately protected areas, especially wetlands in Poland. The three-year contract will also involve UPM Raflatac's internal and external stakeholders to increase engagement and support for these two important initiatives given the challenges we are facing today. “As part of the packaging value chain, we are constantly looking for ways to promote circular economy not only through our product and service offering, but also through collaboration. We are also committed to climate-positive forestry and enhancing biodiversity as well as sharing our expertise and assets with the communities in which we operate,” says Vera Bartsch, Director of Sustainability Development, UPM Raflatac.

In November 2024, FSC International launched the revision of the FSC US Controlled Wood National Risk Assessment (US NRA) published in 2019. FSC Risk Assessments assess the risk of sourcing material from supply areas, such as controlled wood from non-certified forests, and establish mitigation measures to address those identified risks. In 2024, FSC International published the revised FSC-PRO-60-006b FSC Risk Assessment Framework, which now aligns with recently revised FSC policies and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements (see background info here). Among the main changes to the Risk Assessment Framework are that the number of categories of risk has gone from five to twelve, and the number of indicators has gone from 32 to 64; the majority of the 64 new indicators are comprised of disaggregated original indicators and seven cover new subject matter. The US is one of seventeen countries updating national risk assessments based on the revised FSC Risk Assessment Framework. To facilitate the revision of the US NRA, FSC International has contracted two US-based consulting firms: Green Value and American Green Consulting Group, LLC. Their work is being done in collaboration with FSC US and according to the timeline below.

The European Commission has officially recognised PEFC as a RED II compliant certification scheme. Companies in the forest biomass supply chain and energy producers from forest biomass fuels will be able to use PEFC RED II certification to comply with RED II obligations. More specifically, PEFC RED II certification has been formally recognised by the European Commission (EC) to demonstrate the compliance of consignments of biomass fuels derived from forest biomass, ligno-cellulosic processing residues from forest related industries, and ligno-cellulosic waste with the sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29(6) and (7) of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II).

We are hosting two information sessions to keep you updated on EUDR developments. Register today and join us on Thursday, January 16th for one of the following sessions: • Option 1: 9:00-9:40 EET (8:00-8:40 CET) • Option 2: 16:00-16:40 EET (15:00 - 15:40 CET). During the information session we will cover: • Updates to EU Deforestation Regulation • UPM’s implementation and EUDR compliance • Q&A from audience. register at: https://www.upmpaper.com/campaign/eudr-information-session/

Two Sides North America (TSNA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Love Paper Campaign, an innovative initiative to educate and inspire consumers about the sustainability, versatility, and everyday benefits of paper-based products. Now accessible at www.lovepaperna.org, the campaign highlights the essential role of paper in our lives, from books to pizza boxes, magazines to milk cartons. The Love Paper Campaign provides fact-based insights and practical tools to make informed decisions about supporting sustainable print, paper, and paper-based packaging. “At Two Sides North America, we’re passionate about sharing the story of paper as a renewable, recyclable, and responsible choice,” stated Jules Van Sant, Executive Director of TSNA. “The Love Paper Campaign is designed to inspire confidence in paper-based products and dispel misconceptions about their environmental impact, helping consumers recognize the vital role paper plays in building a sustainable future.”

Amcor has again been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI): Australia Index (DJSI Australia), recognized for its commitment to environmental, social and governance sustainability performance. Amcor ranked within the top 12% of the packaging and containers industry, reaffirming its leadership position in the sector. “This recognition is particularly meaningful to us – not only because it happens in the country in which we were founded 165 years ago, but also because it highlights our progress in providing responsible packaging that benefits both our customers and the Earth,” said Tracey Whitehead, Amcor’s global head of investor relations. “We remain steadfast in driving innovative change and revolutionizing product design across a wide range of materials to deliver more sustainable packaging solutions for our customers.”

UPM has been listed as the only forest and paper industry company in the Dow Jones Global and European Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the years 2024-2025. “We are committed to creating value for our customers by using sustainable, renewable resources, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing our positive societal impact. Sustainability is a core strategic value for UPM,” says Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibility at UPM. This commitment is strongly visible in the company’s updated strategy published in September. UPM’s business portfolio is based on sustainable feedstocks and fossil-free energy, positioning the company for growth in renewable fibres, advanced materials, and decarbonisation solutions, while graphic papers continue to generate strong cash flows.

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is the concept where brand owners, producers, and material manufacturers pay for the end-of-life costs to recycle or dispose of products they put on the market. Types of EPR are in place in countries around the world, including in Europe and Canada. It’s also in place in the U.S. too. Fees for producers vary based on the EPR program. Generally, fees might help cover: Material collection; Waste disposal; Technology upgrades; Educational materials; Program administration; Development of recycling end-markets.

After five years of effort, Taiwan has achieved a significant milestone in the Asia-Pacific region, with 100% of public forests now certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The certification covers nearly 1.6 million hectares, representing 71.5% of Taiwan’s total forest area—the highest certification rate in the region. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture introduced the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system since 2018 to promote sustainable forest management. Mr. Lin Hua-qing, Director of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, emphasized that this accomplishment will help reduce Taiwan’s reliance on imported timber. By sustainably managing domestic plantations, Taiwan aims to increase self-sufficiency, reduce energy consumption, and cut carbon emissions from long-distance timber transportation.

Bio-based materials are on the rise as companies strive to phase out fossil-based materials and transition to bio and circular economy. Today, non-forest bio-based materials are mixed with forest-based materials in FSC-certified products such as textiles, packaging, and furniture. Currently, non-forest bio-based materials are considered neutral in FSC-certified products and are exempt from FSC Chain-of-Custody requirements. FSC’s Circularity Hub is currently analyzing the use of non-forest bio-based materials in FSC-certified products to explore the potential of these emerging materials and FSC’s approach to them in the future. To gain insights into the actual use of bio-based materials, the Circularity Hub has launched a survey that FSC stakeholders are encouraged to participate in.

Since its founding in 1994, FSC has championed sustainable forest management, spanning economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability. With its rigorous and trusted forest certification system, FSC is contributing to healthy and resilient forests, upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and forest sector workers, promoting gender equality, and safeguarding biodiversity. Strong relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders are central to FSC’s mission and impact. As of 2024, FSC’s impact across the globe includes: *160+ million hectares of forest certified worldwide *1,150+ members from 89 countries offering environmental, economic and social perspectives *300+ staff across 42 local offices extending FSC’s reach and advocacy *60,000+ certifications issued verifying sustainable practice *1,700+ brands holding an FSC promotional licence, helping drive awareness

Last week, we held the latest instalment of the PEFC alignment to EUDR webinar series, sharing news from the European Commission as well as the roll out of the new PEFC EUDR compliance support solution. With our PEFC experts Hubert Inhaizer (Sustainable Forest Management), Maja Drca (EU Affairs), Marta Martínez Pardo (Chain of Custody), and Rob Shaw (Data and Integrity), we touched on the alignment of our Sustainable Forest Management benchmark, the PEFC EUDR DDS module, partnerships with technology experts to ensure data management, and the latest new from the Commission. If you missed the webinar, you can see the recording at: https://pefc.org/news/on-the-path-to-eudr-alignment-see-our-webinar-recording

For the printing industry and its supply chain, embracing sustainable practices is not just a smart business decision—it’s essential for our future. Reducing your carbon footprint is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to a healthier planet while ensuring long-term business success. The following five strategies are practical, actionable, and designed to make a significant difference for businesses of all sizes. 1. Track Your Emissions - Before you can reduce your emissions, you need to know where they originate. 2. Implement Energy Efficiency Measures - Improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. 3. Reduce Waste - Reducing waste is a key component of sustainability. 4. Update Your Machinery - Modern machinery often incorporates innovations in automation and energy efficiency, making it more environmentally friendly than older models. 5. Validate Your Carbon Emissions and Reductions - Third-party validation of your carbon emissions and reductions adds credibility to your sustainability efforts.

The new PEFC RED II standards are a significant move towards PEFC providing companies with a tool to demonstrate their compliance with the RED II sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria across the European Union (EU). These new standards will enable PEFC chain of custody certified organisations seeking RED II compliance to obtain a PEFC RED II certificate and use the PEFC certification scheme to demonstrate that the forest biomass they use meets the relevant RED II sustainability criteria.

In an exciting collaboration between Wilfa and Papira® by Stora Enso, the wood-based packaging of the ProBaker kitchen mixer becomes a masterpiece creating a recipe for a more sustainable future. A collaboration that requires no compromise on either company’s strong focus on design, quality, safety and innovation. Who knew sustainable materials could look this good? Norwegian company Wilfa is dedicated to environmental responsibility and is actively seeking sustainable alternatives in packaging materials. With their ProBaker kitchen mixer they needed a solution that could meet their demands on sustainability, without compromising on protective features and design. “We will always try to challenge some established truths and technologies. The ProBaker has been developed together with professional bakers and users, and we’re becoming the favourite of advanced and demanding home bakers! When Stora Enso reached out to us with Papira®, we found this to be a perfect match for the ProBaker”, says Arnt Sandvik Nilsen, Category Director at Wilfa.

Tetra Pak has received the ‘Resource Efficiency’ Award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024, for its paper-based barrier material innovation. The awards recognise the most innovative advancements in sustainable packaging over the past year. A world-first in the carton packaging industry, the paper-based barrier when combined with plant-based polymers, reduces the carbon footprint of aseptic food packaging by up to one-third, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and performance. The carbon reduction achievement has been verified by the Carbon Trust.1

In alignment with the FSC Strategic Framework on Diversity and Gender (2022-26), and furthering the foundational efforts of the Free to Grow in Forestry Movement, the co-leadership of FSC Canada, FSC US and FSC International, a North American Council comprised of FSC economic, Indigenous, environment and social chambers, and the International Forest Students Association (IFSA), are now working collaboratively to lead the sector toward strengthening their workplace culture for the betterment of all people. The FSC Strategic Framework on diversity and gender calls for a “paradigm shift” in workplace culture that can only be achieved by the joint efforts and contributions of all members of society. With that in mind, FSC has established an Inclusion Council for its North American membership. This council will provide strategic guidance on the development of an action plan, serving as a pilot case study for fostering the transformational change FSC aims to create internationally.

Metsä Group introduces voluntary nature compensation measures in its environmental deviations. Part of regenerative forestry, nature compensation overcompensates the harm to nature resulting from any legal violations. The operating model ensures that corrective measures linked to defective performance result in greater benefit than harm to nature. Nature compensation will be applied in matters related to the Nature Conservation Act and the Forest Act – key legislation in terms of biodiversity. The development of the compensation model is ongoing, and it will be applied retrospectively from 2023 for deviations detected. During 2025, an independent expert group invited by Metsä Group will participate in the determination of nature damage and compensation measures for these sites, while the operating model's methods are developed for the future.

Billerud’s new Science Based Targets have been officially approved, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to contributing to a low carbon society. This approval highlights Billerud’s ambition to lead the industry in producing high performing, renewable paper and packaging materials. As part of this commitment, Billerud has committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year. “We have already made significant progress in European operations, and while continuing our efforts there, the largest reductions going forward will come from our North American operations. We have established plans including a dedicated organization and the necessary investments to achieve these targets,” says Ulrika Wedberg, EVP Sustainability & Public Affairs.

Pregis® has taken a transformative step toward its 2040 net-zero pledge. In 2024, the company will match 100% of the electricity consumed at six facilities with wind power. The sites selected primarily produce curbside recyclable paper mailers. This milestone reduces market-based scope 2 emissions by over 4,000 metric tons of CO2e annually—the equivalent of driving from New York City to Los Angeles 3,723 times. This renewable energy initiative accelerates the company’s comprehensive decarbonization strategy, which includes: *Transitioning all global operations to renewable energy *Enhancing energy efficiency and electrification in manufacturing *Expanding on-site solar energy installations *Innovating sustainable products with lower carbon feedstocks

FSC met with representatives of Domtar to discuss the potential implications of the transfer of the beneficial ownership of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) to Mr. Jackson Wijaya (the current beneficial owner of Domtar) and to agree on the next steps forward in the legal review of the corporate and ownership links between Domtar and APP. We understand that the transfer of the beneficial ownership of APP to Mr. Jackson Wijaya has not yet taken place, and no details are available to us on the date of the expected transfer. The parties agreed to cooperate on a fast and rigorous process of review to examine the shareholding and ownership relationships, if any, between Domtar and APP because of this planned transfer. This review will be commissioned immediately and concluded after the transfer of beneficial ownership of APP to Jackson Wijaya is complete.

With a joint investment of around €3 million by Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams, a new recycling plant is set to start operations in Ittervoort (The Netherlands) in the second half of 2025. The facility will handle the non-fibre component (polyAl) from used beverage cartons, boosting the recycling capacity in the European Union (EU). Strategically located near the Belgian and German borders, the plant has the potential to process the entire volume of polyAl from beverage cartons recycled in Belgium and The Netherlands, and part of the volume from Germany. Featuring an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes, this second Dutch plant complements the existing 8,000-tonne capacity at Recon Polymers’ facility in Roosendaal, marking a significant increase to the region’s recycling capacity. It also adds to the existing and well-established recycling infrastructure in the EU, where beverage cartons are recycled in 20 specialised paper mills, with polyAl currently processed by ten facilities.

The European Parliament, Council of the European Union (EU), and EU Commission have agreed to a one-year delay in the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), amongst other outcomes. This decision underscores the complexity of tackling deforestation and degradation whilst ensuring regulations are both rigorous and enforceable. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) remains a staunch supporter of the EUDR’s ambition to create deforestation-free supply chains, in Europe and globally. This delay should not deter immediate action for sustainable forestry. We urge stakeholders to take the tangible steps already available and continue advancing forest stewardship together. FSC’s recommendations: 1. Act as if the EUDR is already in effect 2. Accelerate supply chain traceability 3. Strengthen collaboration with EU authorities 4. Empower smallholders and Indigenous Peoples while collaborating with governments

November 27th, the European Parliament approved the revised text of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). It means that the legislative process for the new regulation is soon finalised. What remains is the approval by the Council and then publication in the EU Official Journal by the European Commission. Since the European Parliament in April approved the provisional agreement made with the Council, the text has been on a legal and linguistic revision. One important change in the revision concerns the general obligations for re-use of transport packaging in Article 29 paragraph 1. It has now been clarified that the requirement applies in total and not for each of the listed packaging formats. The obligation on economic operators using transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transportation is that at least 40% in total of the listed packaging types must be reusable within a re-use system from 1 January 2030,.

As many brands have made commitments to using more sustainable packaging, a top priority tends to be shifting to recyclable or compostable packaging where possible. For brands who rely on flexible plastic films for their packaging, this can pose a challenge because of the lack of infrastructure in the U.S. to recycle these films through curbside programs. Given this challenge, companies are left with a few options to shift their packaging to: 1. Curbside-recyclable, fiber-based flexible packaging. 2. Compostable flexible packaging. 3. Rigid plastic packaging that is generally accepted for curbside recyclability. 4. Store drop-off, mono-material PE plastic. In other words, switching to an SDO-eligible film is just one option companies have when considering how to make their plastic film packaging more circular. So, when does it make the most sense to switch to each kind?

Domtar is a separate company from APP with its own management structure and governance. Domtar and APP will remain distinct entities, with no operational overlap and independent governance structures. The companies under the Domtar brand have long been among the most supportive champions of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Domtar actively engages with FSC policies, procedures, and practices, consistently seeking opportunities to engage suppliers to source more FSC-certified fiber. Domtar is continuing that engagement directly with FSC International to analyze and understand the implications of the Policy for Association and the Remedy Framework in light of this development. Domtar’s historical commitment to sustainable forest management and responsible fiber sourcing – as previously affirmed by the FSC – and its distinct separation in governance from APP should be considered in regards to its certification. The company remains committed to maintaining and continuously improving the sustainability of its operations while fostering strong collaboration with Indigenous partners and local communities.

FSC has extended the blockage period of a Chinese bamboo plywood manufacturer by 1.5 years for repeatedly making false claims on large volumes of bamboo plywood. Despite being blocked by FSC in 2022 for making false claims, FSC found evidence that the company recertified itself under a different name. The company did not disclose its certification history to the new certification body and continued to make false claims on its products despite being blocked by FSC. The company has certified itself under the following names: Zhejiang Anji Double Tiger Bamboo & Wood Industry Co., Ltd. (referred to as Anji Double Tiger); Zhejiang Anji Shuanghu Bamboo & Wood Industry Co., Ltd. (referred to as Anji Shuanghu). FSC considers the actions and intentions of Anji Double Tiger (and Anji Shuanghu) to be a serious threat to the integrity of the FSC system. Thus, in accordance with FSC’s Advice Note 18 (FSC-ADVICE-40-004-18 V2-0), FSC has blocked the company till July 2027.

Electronic communication is often presented as a “green” alternative to paper. Emails, cloud storage, or online bill payment and account management offer quick, cheap, and efficient options to paper-based communication and record-keeping, but the high environmental costs of the ever-expanding digital infrastructure are becoming harder to ignore, with its rising energy consumption and significant use of resources like rare-earth minerals and water. It’s essential to explore the overlooked environmental consequences of electronic communication and to understand the true sustainability of digital solutions versus paper-based alternatives. The push for digital communications, data storage, and other trends have led to enormous server farms that run 24/7, consuming staggering amounts of electricity. For example, a report in The Times (UK) revealed that the water consumption required for ChatGPT is four times higher than previously estimated. Additionally, tech giants like Google and Amazon seek new energy sources, including nuclear, to power their data centers. These centers are critical to electronic communication and data storage and now account for a significant portion of global electricity consumption.

Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced a 10-year, $34.5 million renewal of the historic Acres for America conservation program. This new commitment from Walmart, combined with previous contributions, represents the largest corporate donation to NFWF since the Foundation’s creation by Congress in 1984, for a total of more than $100 million since the program began. Acres for America began in 2005, when Walmart U.S. made its first commitment of $34.5 million to NFWF to fund the conservation of one acre of wildlife habitat for every acre of land developed in the United States — estimated to be approximately 138,000 at the time. Over its 20-year history, Acres for America has far surpassed that goal, with more than 2 million acres of wildlife habitat protected — an area greater in size than the combined land area of Rhode Island and Delaware.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the world's most credible sustainable forestry solution, is now looking toward outer space as a part of the European Space Agency (ESA) 's new Bioeconomy Task Force, including its working group on sustainable forestry. The initiative, led by ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions programme, will bring together private, public, and non-profit industry leaders to advance sustainability across Europe and beyond. Space-based technology offers exciting opportunities for the future of sustainable forestry. It can help FSC measure ecosystem services – carbon storage, biodiversity health, and other benefits forests provide – to support Verified Impact claims for forest managers. Ben White, Ecosystem Services Technology Officer for FSC Investment & Partnerships, says, "We can leverage this resource to ensure sustainable practices, help meet regulatory requirements, and improve integrity and transparency. This is especially important in the face of increasing regulatory expectations, like the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), which will require more verifiable data on forest health from companies bringing products into the EU."

FSC strongly endorses the EUDR and its mission to drive deforestation-free supply chains in Europe and globally. Our missions are mutually reinforcing, and we have been actively supporting companies in preparing for compliance, developing tailored solutions to ease the transition, and getting ready to support EUDR implementation. Regardless of the final agreement among the EU Institutions, we remain steadfast in our commitment to resilient, thriving forests and forest communities. This is why FSC Aligned for EUDR – a set of solutions that FSC Certificate Holders can use to support compliance – has FSC Certification at the core. Our standards not only prevent deforestation but offers the strongest social and environmental safeguards for working forests, actively protecting biodiversity and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Any company, anywhere in the supply chain, who chooses FSC also chooses the highest standards for forest stewardship, no matter where the product is traded.

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear called upon the nation’s heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers to abandon their agreement with California regulators to abide by the state’s increasingly untenable and unachievable zero-emission vehicle regulations. “By strong-arming our industry into unachievable targets and timelines void of operational and economic reality, the California Air Resources Board’s mad dash to zero has set our industry up for failure, sowing the seeds of another supply chain crisis,” Spear wrote in a letter to the nation’s truck and engine makers. “California’s ideological approach has cratered the truck market; sales are down by over 50 percent compared to last year. Availability of California-certified diesel engines are hard to come by and expensive, rationed due to zero-emission truck sales requirements.”

The Green Innovation Awards, held at SIMEI's 30th edition in Milan, recognized Amcor Capsules’ business for its innovative products advancing packaging in the wine and spirits sector: *ESSENTIELLE, the industry's first plastic-free aluminum and paper sparkling foil. By replacing plastic with paper, the carbon footprint of this product is 31%* lower compared to standard complex foils, while the aluminum component is designed to be recycle-ready. *STELVIN® Goes Greener was recognized for achieving up to a 35%** reduction in carbon emissions compared to a standard screw cap produced with European aluminum sheets by incorporating up to 46%*** recycled and low-carbon primary aluminum.****

The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has recognized Green Bay Packaging Inc. at the Green Master level within its Green Masters Program®. Recognizing Wisconsin businesses that are prioritizing sustainability, the Green Masters Program® categorizes participants into four status levels that reflect the degree to which sustainability has been integrated into their business model: Adapting, Advancing, Maturing, and Green Master. Green Master status signifies that an organization has identified and is effectively managing its material sustainability issues and performance related to those issues, takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability, and is actively leading the transformation to a more sustainable society. Green Bay Packaging (GBP) continues to lead in sustainability, propelled by innovative initiatives and cutting-edge technology, consistently pushing the frontiers of environmental stewardship. At GBP’s Wisconsin 100% recycled paper mill, a biogas generator for increasing onsite renewable electricity was installed to further decarbonization. Company-wide, GBP grows trees on more than 250,000 acres of sustainably managed forests, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable forest practices with benefits to environment and communities. GBP continues its zero waste to landfill initiative, with 99% landfill diversion across paper converting, folding carton, coated products (Green Bay) and lumber operations.

In an important step towards ensuring the raw materials coming out of a PEFC-certified forest comply with EUDR requirements, the revised PEFC Sustainable Forest Management benchmark standard was approved by the PEFC General Assembly on Wednesday 13 November 2024. This revised standard, PEFC ST 1003:2024, comprises several new and amended requirements that will enable EUDR alignment for PEFC-certified material coming directly from a PEFC-certified forest. This marks an important step in our PEFC roadmap to EUDR alignment.

Mativ announced the release of its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, the company’s first comprehensive, enterprise-wide report following the publication of its 2022 ESG Tear Sheet earlier this year. The 2023 report provides an in-depth look at Mativ's key achievements and ongoing initiatives in environmental sustainability, product stewardship, and social and governance topics, including workplace health and safety, ethics and integrity, and more. “At Mativ, we’re committed to creating long-term value for our shareholders through continuous improvement and an intense focus on good business practices,” said Julie Schertell, president & CEO of Mativ. “This report highlights the progress we’ve made advancing our environmental, social and governance efforts at all levels of our business and sets the stage for future advancements. By openly sharing our approach and achievements, we’re building trust with our stakeholders as we continue to grow responsibly.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced that 65-69% of paper available for recovery in the United States was recycled in 2023. The 2023 paper recycling rate is the first using AF&PA's updated methodology, which utilizes extensive industry data, subject matter expertise and detailed U.S. trade data to account for the continued shift of the U.S. balance of trade towards imports. The 2023 calculations show that paper remains one of the most highly recycled materials in America, with the industry recycling nearly 60% more paper today than it did in 1990 when initial recycling rate goals were established.

Diversey has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NatureLoop, a Kuala Lumpur-based organization dedicated to addressing the global plastic waste crisis. The partnership focuses on upcycling single-use plastic waste into new, useful products. Amrinder Sethi, country business director for the Philippines and Malaysia at Diversey, and Brandon Chong Chee Wing, Founder and CEO of NatureLoop, formalized the collaboration. The signing was witnessed by Sherif Fahmy, vice president for Southeast Asia at Diversey, and Siew Zhi Zhou, designer and production manager at NatureLoop. As the global plastic waste problem intensifies, this collaboration aims to transform used plastic containers from Diversey customers into sustainable products like coffee tables, stools, wall clocks, tissue boxes, sports medals, and decorative items. Under the MOU, NatureLoop will collect between 200 to 500 kg of empty plastic containers from Diversey customers each month, with support from Diversey Malaysia. These containers will be processed at NatureLoop's local facilities to create high-value upcycled products.

Prioritizing packaging made from recycled materials that can be recycled again simplifies sustainable choices for consumers. The easier the process, the more likely consumers are to participate — reducing the chances that packaging ends up in landfill. However, that doesn’t mean there is a simple solution for businesses as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. By exploring various options, businesses can strike a balance between functionality and sustainability. Ultimately, the choice of packaging depends on factors like cost, environmental impact, operational fit, and consumer preference. Sustana offers solutions like Sustana EnviroLife™, a sustainable recycled fiber designed for food-safe packaging, which balances durability with eco-friendly practices. By thoughtfully choosing and innovating packaging options, businesses can support sustainability while meeting their operational goals.

Huhtamäki Oyj has signed a EUR 450 million sustainability-linked syndicated multi-currency revolving credit facility loan agreement (“RCF”) with a maturity of five (5) years. The RCF refinances an existing EUR 400 million sustainability-linked syndicated revolving credit facility signed in January 2021 and will be used for general corporate purposes of the Group. The RCF has two one-year extension options at the discretion of the lenders. The Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners of the RCF are Citi, Nordea Bank Abp, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), BNP Paribas, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, Danske Bank A/S, DBS Bank Ltd., London Branch, J.P. Morgan SE, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale, OP Corporate Bank Plc., Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Standard Chartered Bank AG.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) recently announced the results of its 2024 Sustainability Awards, and Domtar was among the winners. Our winning project was our water conservation program, which began as a pilot program in 2023. It will save more than 1 billion gallons of water annually and contribute to our goal to reduce water use by 20 percent per unit of product by 2030 (compared to a 2019 baseline). AF&PA’s Leadership in Sustainability — Water Management award recognizes our efforts to reduce our water usage as part of our overarching sustainability goals. “Sustainability is foundational for our members, and our awards program reflects that,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock in a recent press release. “These award-winning projects demonstrate sustainability leadership and innovation in action. We are proud to recognize real-world examples of how our forest and paper industry sustainability goals come to life.” We launched our award-winning water conservation program in 2023. We dedicated a portion of capital spending solely for water-reduction projects. This water reduction fund was designed to attract innovative projects and ideas from teams within the Domtar network. Mills could submit proposals for a chance to earn a portion of the available funds. “The projects didn’t need to provide a financial return. The priority was saving water,” explains Brian Kozlowski, senior director of environment and sustainability for Domtar’s Paper and Packaging business unit. “That gave our employees the chance to think beyond the bottom line, and they really did!” The results from 2023 were impressive. The water conservation program completed ten projects at seven mills that will save more than 1 billion gallons of water annually. That’s enough water to fill more than 1,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

FSC is excited to announce the launch of a new eTraining on the Continuous Improvement Procedure (CIP) (FSC-PRO-30-011 V1-1), a stepwise approach that enables Small or Low-Intensity Managed Forests (SLIMF) and community forests to progressively achieve FSC certification. This tool provides flexibility and reduces barriers, helping smallholders and communities engage with FSC standards over time. The CIP eTraining covers essential elements of the procedure, such as core crtieria. It explains how the procedure supports users in achieving core criteria first and then advancing towards full conformity with FSC’s standards within the certification cycle of five years. The interactive format offers practical insights and guidance on structuring an Action Plan, initial self-check requirements, and regular self-monitoring for ongoing improvement.

The 2023 Mondi Group Sustainable Development (SD) report is once again ranked among ‘Top performers’ in the latest Reporting matters edition. We have maintained our position among the leaders in transparent and effective sustainability reporting since 2018. Over 180 sustainability reports were assessed this year as part of the long-standing World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Reporting matters assessment. The analysis highlighted that Mondi Group’s 2023 SD report clearly included a robust discussion of the impacts of external and regulatory trends. Other notable highlights mentioned were that our MAP2030 sustainability framework and the progress against it are presented in a clear and comprehensive manner, with creative design elements helping readers navigate the report and access key information.

​​In accordance with its ESG strategy and in line with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology, Lecta calculates its organizational carbon footprint (OCF) and its product carbon footprint (PCF) providing a comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from its operations. On both targets, Lecta has reduced its emissions every year since 2021. This effort has in turn enabled it to commit to ambitious group-wide CO2 emission reduction targets. Lecta has set a 45% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 35% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030, compared to the 2021 baseline. To solidify its commitment to decarbonization, Lecta has already submitted its reduction targets to SBTi for validation in September 2024. This strategic move underlines the company's commitment to transitioning to a resilient, net-zero economy based on scientific principles.

Tredegar Corporation announced that it has completed the previously announced sale of Terphane, its flexible packaging films business headquartered in Brazil, to Oben Group. Commenting on the sale, John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer said, “The sale of Terphane completes a strategic goal that we’ve been working on for well over a year. We believe that Terphane will have greater scale and growth opportunities with Oben, a global player in the highly competitive flexible films industry. We wish the best for the employees and stakeholders of Terphane and Oben.” Gonzalo Belaunde, Oben’s chief executive officer, said, “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of Terphane. We believe that combining our capabilities will improve the service and quality provided to our customers and markets. We welcome Terphane to the Oben team.”

“PEFC has been promoting nature-positive and people-positive sustainable forest management for the past 25 years, and the structures that we have put in place can be scaled up to bring even more forests under sustainable management,” said Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International, at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) yesterday. Speaking at the side event “Sustainable Forest Management: Key to Biodiversity” he explained that not only about a quarter of the world’s production forests is certified under PEFC, but also one million smallholders have achieved PEFC certification. Smallholders manage a significant portion of the world’s production forests. Recent estimates suggest that smallholders are responsible for managing around 25% of all production forests globally. This highlights the crucial role they play in sustainable forest management and the broader forestry sector, and PEFC has successfully made certification accessible to them.

Economic pressures continue to drive many cases of greenwashing, with numerous organizations that have previously relied on paper for communication shifting their customers from traditional paper-based services to digital platforms to cut costs. This transition is often accompanied by misleading and unsubstantiated environmental marketing claims like “Go Green – Go Paperless” or “Choose e-billing and help save a tree,” – but this is misleading and greenwashing. Globally, Two Sides has engaged over 2,800 organizations making misleading claims about paper. In North America alone, nearly 200 companies, from large Fortune 500 companies to small local utilities, have removed or changed these statements. Consumer preferences are being ignored in the push for digital communications. Data from the 2023 Two Sides Trend Tracker report revealed that 81% of U.S. consumers believe they should have the option to choose and do not want to be forced over to digital communications.

FSC has blocked Join Bums (Shandong Join Bums Eco Tissues Co. Ltd. - FSC-C159817/SCS-COC-007503), an FSC certificate holder from China, for making false claims regarding the bamboo toilet paper rolls it sold to its clients in the United Kingdom. Between May 2021 and March 2024, Join Bums sold large volumes of bamboo toilet paper rolls with FSC 100% claims. However, the company reported zero sales and purchases of FSC-certified material to its certification body since it was granted FSC certification in 2020. Join Bums also waived two surveillance audits in 2021 and 2023. Earlier this year, FSC was alerted to a possible integrity risk in its certified bamboo toilet paper supply chain. In March 2024, a British media outlet published an investigative article, alleging that bamboo toilet paper sold by FSC-certified companies contained very little bamboo fiber, despite claims of being 100% bamboo. Tests revealed that the toilet paper rolls contained high amounts of acacia and eucalyptus instead.

We are proudly supporting the largest conservation easement project in South Carolina history, dedicating over 62,000 acres of the Pee Dee Basin to permanent protection. The $50 million grant, administered by the U.S. Forest Legacy Program and supported by Atlantic Packaging, the Open Space Institute, the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the South Carolina Office of Resilience, aims to balance sustainable forestry, recreation, and environmental resilience for generations to come. This historic project addresses the urgent need for conservation amid South Carolina’s rapid population growth. Protecting these vast lands, equivalent to three times the size of Hilton Head Island, ensures clean water, flood mitigation, wildlife habitat preservation, and a boost to South Carolina’s timber economy.

Beyond Board is a set of services designed to address the evolving needs of Stora Enso’s customers in the packaging industry. The portfolio focuses on sustainability services, and spans from trainings and regulatory support to circularity assessment and LCA services. The sustainability training aims to build a foundation of sustainability knowledge throughout organisations, including sales, sourcing and product management. While these teams are experts in their products, they can benefit significantly from guidance on topics like forestry and fibers, circularity, recyclability and impact on the climate. As sustainability becomes increasingly vital in decision-making, this training provides valuable knowledge for our customers.

Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global organization committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable world. By becoming a member of WBCSD, Ahlstrom will collaborate with some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies to further the global sustainability agenda. Together, Ahlstrom and WBCSD aim to tackle urgent environmental issues, including climate change, the need for clean air and water, decarbonization, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution. “At Ahlstrom, we are committed to being part of the solution to global sustainability challenges. We believe that sustainability is a complex journey that requires collaboration to drive meaningful change. Our purpose, ‘Purify and Protect with Every Fiber for a Sustainable World,’ guides our efforts to innovate fiber-based solutions that are safe and sustainable by design,” says Helen Mets, President & CEO of Ahlstrom.

How to incentivise smallholders for sustainable commodity production in a world of increasingly complex supply chains was part of discussion at the “Next-Gen Forest Solution – Financing A Systemic Solution for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation” side event at COP 16 in Cali, Columbia. “In the end, it is producers whom we want to produce commodities sustainably, and many of them are smallholders,” highlighted Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International, during the panel discussion. “It has been important that brand owners and retailers have specified PEFC in their procurement policies, as this has led to widespread adaption of certification, yet it has also placed a financial strain on producers who must absorb the costs of compliance.”

AptarGroup, Inc. reported strong third quarter results due to solid operational performance and margin improvement across the company. Results were driven by growth in proprietary drug delivery systems, as well as increased demand for closure technologies. Reported sales and core sales increased by 2%, as currency and acquisition effects did not impact the quarter. Aptar reported net income of $100 million for the quarter, a 19% increase from the prior year. “Aptar delivered another strong quarter driven by our Pharma and Closures segments. We saw increased demand for our proprietary drug delivery systems, active material science solutions and closure technologies, especially for food applications. The Beauty segment saw growth in the personal care and home care markets, but it was not enough to offset tough comparisons from tooling and fragrance dispensing solutions from the prior year period. All three segments continued to demonstrate solid operational performance and margin improvement. We are proud of the strong results and progress we have made for the first nine months of the year and are positioned to achieve double-digit adjusted EPS growth for the full year,” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO.

Clearwater Paper Corporation released its 2024 Sustainability Report, an annual update on the company’s progress against their multi-year sustainability goals. Aligned with the company’s strategic sustainability framework, Everyday Responsibility, the report details sustainability work and initiatives spanning three distinct yet equally important pillars: Resource Stewardship, Trusted Products, and Thriving People and Communities. “Reflecting on 2023, I am pleased with what we accomplished throughout the year,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “All our people play a role – every day – in ensuring that we make and deliver excellent products in sustainable ways and work collaboratively with our stakeholders and each other.” This year’s report shares progress the company made throughout 2023, as well as impactful stories and achievements that exemplify Clearwater Paper’s commitment to Everyday Responsibility.

The European Commission announced a proposal for an extra 12 months of phasing-in time of the EUDR. FSC continues to strongly support the creation of deforestation-free markets, in Europe and worldwide, while underlining the continued urgency of swift action to prevent deforestation. Read our response here. FSC remains committed to supporting EUDR implementation and business compliance in the timber and rubber value chains and we encourage companies to continue their preparations. To do so, the following critical updates, clarifications, and resources, recently released by the Commission complements FSC’s mission to streamline the compliance journey. All these materials can be found on the revamped EUDR website. Guidance document: This long-awaited, non-binding guide complements the EUDR text and will be useful for both operators and Competent Authorities. It features sections for legality, timelines, certification systems, and product scope.

SCA has become a co-owner of SE technology and the pilot facility developed and operated by SweTree Technologies. With SE technology, it is possible to quickly and efficiently produce more plants from the best seed material from forest breeding. SweTree Technologies is running a pilot project to develop automated plant production via Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) in collaboration with forestry companies Stora Enso, Sveaskog, Södra, and Holmen. Now, SCA has also joined the project as an SE company and become a co-owner of SE technology and the pilot facility developed and operated by SweTree Technologies. So far, the development has focused on spruce plants, but with SCA's involvement, SweTree has also started the development of SE technology for pine. This is being done jointly with all participating companies, parallel to the ongoing development for spruce.

The first results of the Natural Resources Institute Finland on the forests of Metsä Group's owner-members demonstrate the need for new initiatives that increase biodiversity. According to indicators, biodiversity in forests has developed both positively and negatively over the past decades. Based on the results, the number of trees and also deciduous trees has increased significantly. The increase in the number of trees based on our native tree species indicates a positive development for their companion species. Increasing the proportion of deciduous trees is an important measure in adapting to climate change and also significant for the health of forests. It is good to regenerate forests into mixed forests using, for example, pine-spruce mixed cultivation, as well as increasing the share of birch through natural regeneration. In addition, it is increasingly important to protect less common deciduous trees in order to safeguard biodiversity.

Guess Inc. is stepping up its sustainability efforts with the launch of “Guess Again,” a new apparel recycling program for U.S. online customers. The program launched Oct. 10 in partnership with textile recycling platform SuperCircle. Going forward, Guess will let consumers recycle pre-owned clothing from any brand, participating in a broader circular economy for retailers. Through the Guess website, customers can request a shipping label to send in unwanted clothing. In return, they receive Guess credits for future purchases. From there, SuperCircle handles the rest of the process. Later steps include collecting and sorting the clothes, as well as disassembling them. Then, materials are sent to recycling partners that specialize in different fibers.

On 11 October 2024, the European Commission announced the positive technical assessment for the PEFC RED II certification. The European Union’s (EU) Revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Under RED II, the European Commission (EC) can recognise voluntary certification schemes as compliant with the rules included in the RED II to help verifying that the production of fuels and energy from forest biomass complies with the EU sustainability criteria as well as relevant methodologies. By using voluntary certification schemes, participating economic operators can demonstrate their compliance with the RED II sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria and provide the necessary assurances. To achieve recognition from the European Commission, PEFC has developed a set of new standards: the PEFC RED II standards. The PEFC RED II scheme is built up over the PEFC Chain of custody. PEFC RED II certification covers forest biomass, ligno-cellulosic material derived from processing residues originating in forest-related industries, waste, and biomass fuels produced from ligno-cellulosic material for heating, cooling, and electricity production.

As a co-op, we often ask our members, employees and broader community to support policies that enable everyone to enjoy time outside. In recent years, we’ve collectively supported the protection of 246 million acres of U.S. lands and waters; $45 million in federal funding for safe trails to bike and run; and more than $1 billion in funding for state parks. Today we are raising our collective voice in opposition to Washington Ballot Initiative 2117. If ratified by voters in a few weeks, I-2117 would strip billions of dollars in climate investments across our home state—draining programs that support air quality, transportation, wildlife habitats, wildfire prevention, recreation infrastructure, and the health of our public lands and waters.

Metsä Group recently launched a national media campaign “Growth, with a future”. It comes at a time when the requirements for sustainability communication are becoming increasingly strict due to stricter regulation and critical attitudes. As things stand, many marketing professionals may consider a campaign communication strategy known as greenhushing. It means that companies opt to remain silent about sustainability themes to avoid critical attention. This approach may be adopted accidentally, or it may stem from not knowing how to communicate about sustainability, with our world and its regulations in a continuous flux. Greenhushing may also be a conscious choice. Things that just a few years ago were considered typical marketing measures can easily be labelled as greenwashing today. What may seem like minor miscalculations can quickly blow up into a media storm and lead to reputational damage. It’s positive that people today are more conscious, and that greenwashing is recognised more easily. This encourages businesses to pursue genuine sustainability efforts and prevents communication becoming empty words.

Opinel, a symbol of French craftsmanship and proud ambassador of the Savoie region in France, has taken another step forward in its commitment to forest sustainability. During an official ceremony at its Chambéry workshops, the company was awarded PEFC certification, confirming that the wood used in its iconic knives comes from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. For 135 years, world-renowned company Opinel, has continued to stand out for its local roots, unique expertise, and environmentally friendly approach. The achievement of PEFC certification strengthens this historic commitment.

Despite being a common practice for decades, misconceptions about recycling – such as the belief that it mostly ends up in landfills, doesn’t make a difference, uses more energy than it saves, and is economically unviable – persist among consumers. To combat these myths, businesses can focus on education and clarity. They can simplify recycling processes by providing clear instructions, like those offered by the How2Recycle label, and using social media to raise awareness. Collaborations, like those between McKinsey and NielsenIQ, show that environmental claims on packaging can drive consumer interest. Sustana is a proud pioneer and leader in sustainability and circularity. We’re always looking to share our sustainable vision with our customers. We think the most effective time to educate and guide consumers on the best ways to recycle our sustainable fiber-based and paper products is all the time – not just when they’re about to discard a product and trying to remember how to recycle it.

From the forest to the marketplace, what matters most to your business when it comes to forest certification? We are conducting a brief survey to better understand what is important to you regarding forest certification, from responsible sourcing at the forest level to reaching the end consumer. Your feedback will help us enhance our value offering and shape future services. Whether you're a retailer, brand manufacturer, supplier, PEFC-certified company, or source PEFC-certified materials, please share your thoughts! The survey takes approximately 12 minutes to complete and is divided into three sections: Sustainability issues; Certification performance; Training needs and other areas. Take part in the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PEFCmarketSurvey2024

Amcor's overall score increased from 70 to 73, placing the company in the 95th percentile of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. This recognition highlights Amcor's extensive work and positions the company among the top 5% of all companies evaluated. Notably, Amcor ranks in the top 1% of companies in its sector for sustainable procurement. The EcoVadis Gold medal underscores the company's commitment to implementing impactful initiatives and achieving measurable progress throughout the year. David Clark, chief sustainability officer at Amcor, said, "We understand that our customers seek partners who not only share their values and support their strategic goals but also consistently demonstrate the highest standards. We are thrilled that EcoVadis has recognized Amcor's with a Gold medal. It serves as a testament to our dedication and the tangible progress we've made in our journey."

The latest sustainability report shows Sun Chemical’s progress toward its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, with 2013 as a baseline, and becoming net carbon neutral by 2050. Sun Chemical approaches its three business pillars of operations, products and services, and collaborations using the ‘five Rs’ framework – Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle, and Redesign – to guide its sustainable initiatives and products in an effort to achieve a circular economy. “As the industry’s spotlight on sustainability grows brighter, brand owners and converters need supplier partners who can help them adhere to regulations and meet their goals,” said Michael Simoni, Director, Global Sustainability, Sun Chemical. “We are proud to announce that Sun Chemical is 86 percent of the way to meeting its own 2030 target to cut carbon emissions in half. Our ‘five Rs’ framework has focused our strategic efforts on reducing waste and improving efficiency, recyclability, and compostability while maintaining the highest standards of performance to best serve our customers.”

Holmen’s operations already benefit the climate today through forest carbon uptake in growing forests, products that can replace fossil-based products and generating renewable energy from water and wind. Despite this, the work continues to minimise the very low fossil emissions that remain at Holmen’s mill in Iggesund. Holmen’s mill in Iggesund, Sweden, places great emphasis on sustainability and reducing its climate impact. Over the years, it has delivered on this through steady improvements. Last year alone, the mill reduced its direct fossil CO2 emissions (from 2022 to 2023) by almost 25 per cent – and this was achieved without any major investments.

“We welcome ongoing developments in forestry legislation and sustainability initiatives worldwide, and we strongly believe that mandatory and voluntary actions must work hand-in-hand to achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes,” said Matteo Mascolo, FSC's Lead for EU Affairs & Engagement. FSC fully supports the creation of deforestation-free markets and continues to underline the urgency of swift action to prevent deforestation. FSC was one of 170 NGOs co-signing a letter of urgency for the timely implementation of the Regulation.

The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding the European Union’s Commission decision to extend the EU Deforestation Regulation implementation deadline to December 2025. “We appreciate the EU Commission for being responsive to U.S. government officials and the numerous partners across the globe who have voiced concerns about the complex requirements and significant technical barriers of EUDR. Today’s additional guidance and extension of the implementation deadline provides industries like ours with more time to engage on workable solutions that avoid trade disruptions. “AF&PA fully supports the EUDR goal of deforestation-free supply chains. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation." "We believe in balanced and achievable regulations, and are a strong proponent of international efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation. As such we welcome the Commission's commitment to a stronger cooperation framework."

Siemens Financial Services launched the Decarbonization Business Optimizer (DBO™), a cloud-based tool created to help address the overwhelming complexity of decarbonizing buildings and the financing needed to get to net-zero emissions. The DBO is a free, digital web tool that removes the initial knowledge barrier and uncovers more efficient strategies to help decarbonize a company’s facilities. The scenario modeling and optimization tool aggregates and leverages data from relevant governmental agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Companies, specifically those in the supply chain, are increasingly asked to report their carbon footprint to their customers -- yet many do not know where to begin,” said Anthony Casciano, President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services, Inc. “The DBO addresses these barriers by taking action and puts companies of all sizes, and at all stages, in a better position to create long-term value, accelerating participation in the transition to net-zero emissions.”

Consultation on revision of FSC's General Accreditation Standard, Certification Transfer Procedure and Procedure for Auditor Training Programme is open from 23 September 2024 to 21 November 2024 for your input. FSC is revising the general accreditation standard FSC-STD-20-001 V4-0 General Requirements for FSC Accredited Certification Bodies. The standard ensures that FSC certifications are managed in a competent, consistent, impartial, transparent, rigorous, reliable and credible manner. The standard is revised together with two related procedures FSC-PRO-20-003 Transfer of FSC Certificates and License Agreements and FSC-PRO-20-004 General Requirements for FSC Training Programme. Please access the process page here to learn more about this joint revision.

Lecta is proud to announce that it has been recognized by EcoVadis with the Platinum Medal in its second year assessed and rated at Group level. This shows Lecta's firm commitment to sustainability and its significant progress and achievements made aligned with its ambitious ESG strategy. EcoVadis is the world's most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, and its scores are based on a rigorous methodology that evaluates companies' sustainability performance in four areas: Environment, Ethics, Labor and Human Rights, and Sustainable Procurement. With a score of 85/100 Lecta is placed among the top 1% of over more than 130,000 companies currently assessed by EcoVadis and among the 10 best companies out of the more than 300 rated in the Pulp, Paper and Paperboard industry.

“The sustainable management of tropical forest contributes significantly to safeguarding forests, protecting biodiversity, contributing to rural communities and sustainable livelihoods”, said Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International at the Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF) 2024 in Macao SAR last week. “Yet we are facing a dichotomy. While we are all well aware of the tremendous benefits that sustainable forest management provides, topical timber has grappled with numerous challenges as it has struggled to maintain its stake in the international timber markets, especially in terms of public perception”, he remarked in his opening speech of the first session, Together Towards Reliable and Effective Global Timber Supply Chains.

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a transformative piece of legislation aimed at halting global deforestation by imposing stringent compliance measures on businesses importing or exporting commodities associated with forest degradation. While its environmental impact is undisputed, the ripple effect on global supply chains is profound, influencing not only operational frameworks but also the future landscape of supply chain management. 1. Redefining Supply Chain Transparency - The EUDR mandates companies to prove that their supply chains are deforestation-free, requiring traceability of products from their origin to the point of sale. 2. Increased Costs and Compliance Burden - Businesses must invest in data collection technologies, hire specialists, and reconfigure their supply chains to guarantee that raw materials sourced are in line with EUDR mandates. 3. Risk Mitigation and Strategic Shifts - Companies are prioritizing partnerships with suppliers that can provide clear evidence of sustainable practices, while others are exploring new sourcing regions where deforestation concerns are less pressing. 4. The Role of Technology in EUDR Compliance - Technology plays a critical role in ensuring EUDR compliance, with digital solutions offering the most promising avenue for companies to track, verify, and audit their supply chains. 5. The Future of Global Supply Chains Under EUDR - As the EUDR continues to reshape the regulatory landscape, the future of global supply chains will see a heavier emphasis on sustainability, traceability, and accountability.

Brazil on 9/11/24 asked the European Union not to implement regulations in its deforestation law at the end of the year as scheduled and asked for it to be revised to avoid hurting Brazilian exports. In a letter to the European Commission seen by Reuters, the Brazilian government said the law banning the import of products linked to the destruction of the world's forests could affect almost one third of Brazil's exports to the EU. The law passed in 2022 by the European Parliament was adopted in June last year, allowing 18 months for companies to adapt. The law applies to soy, beef, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, rubber, wood and derivatives, including leather and furniture.

Consumer behavior poses a significant challenge to the circular economy, despite growing interest in sustainability. While many consumers express a desire to support sustainable practices, they often default to convenience over effortful choices. At Sustana, our mission is to develop sustainable solutions with clean materials and a circular mindset. We address the need for convenience by producing and using recycled fiber as an ingredient in everyday products.

Soilfood, a Nordic circular economy company, studies the utilisation of fibrous side streams from Metsä Board's mills and has identified a new use as raw material in animal bedding. Increasing the added value of secondary products made from side streams is a circular economy where raw materials are kept in use as long as possible. Metsä Board’s mills manufacture high-quality fresh fibre paperboards focusing on lightweight and high-quality folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners. The mills' fibrous fractions from the production of these products, can now be used as raw materials for animal bedding.

FSC has updated its Chain of Custody (CoC) directives FSC-DIR-40-004 Directive on Chain of Custody Certification and FSC-DIR-20-011 Directive on Chain of Custody Evaluations. This update streamlines the directives by removing obsolete advice notes that referenced older versions of the CoC standards and those that have been incorporated in latest version of Chain of Custody standards, both FSC-STD-40-004 and FSC-STD-20-011. One notable change involves the removal of ADVICE 40-004-07, which made provisions for the sale of FSC-certified products through non-FSC-certified auction entities. This advice note has been partially covered by FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1 and has been further clarified through an interpretation (see FSC-INT-STD-40-004_73 here) for affected stakeholders.

Following the introduction of FSC Aligned for EUDR – a set of solutions offered by FSC to support certificate holders with meeting the requirements of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) – we have launched a comprehensive site to help with navigating these solutions. The FSC EUDR Journey site is now available to help certificate holders at every stage of their compliance journey. Since it came into force in 2023, the EUDR has posed a major challenge for those affected. FSC has made it our mission to support our certificate holders through the compliance process as much as possible. Being FSC-certified is already a very strong start – and our tailored EUDR solutions will help take certificate holders the rest of the way. It can seem like a lot: new requirements, new processes, new reporting systems, and more. But with FSC Aligned for EUDR and the accompanying FSC EUDR Journey site, much of this complexity and overwhelm can be resolved.

Forestry plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of North American ecosystems. Both the United States and Canada have implemented rigorous standards to ensure the sustainability of their forests, benefiting the environment and supporting the paper industry’s responsible practices. Sustainable forestry practices and certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) use third-party auditing to ensure compliance with standards. North American forests are vast and diverse, with the United States and Canada collectively managing hundreds of millions of acres of forestland. These forests are essential for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and providing raw materials for various industries, including paper and paper-based packaging production. Responsible management and sustainable practices are critical for ensuring these forests remain healthy and productive.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill released the following statement regarding today’s DC Circuit Court’s decision on Boiler MACT. “We are pleased the Court affirmed EPA’s (and our) position that the already stringent air pollution limits for industrial boilers satisfy the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The forest products industry has invested roughly a billion dollars to reduce boiler emissions and welcomes the regulatory certainty to make sustainable forest products in the U.S. while supporting high paying manufacturing jobs. In addition, we welcome the Court’s common sense decision instructing EPA to only apply recently tightened new source limits to boilers built after 2020. This will provide mills with the information needed to comply when installing new boilers.”  

Forestry practices have been intensified for centuries to meet the growing demand for forest products. Today, the challenge is to balance this increasing demand with the urgent need to protect our forests. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is exploring ways to ensure that intensified forestry not only boosts productivity but also delivers long-term environmental and social benefits. FSC is working to uncover the broader effect of plantation forestry. With support from an advisory group that includes members from FSC International, FSC South Africa, and FSC Australia & New Zealand, the project aims to understand how FSC-certified intensified plantations improve the lives of local communities and create lasting environmental and economic benefits that ripple across the entire landscape. Register for the webinar at: https://fsc-int.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudeyqrj0rEtC7F0vzrJWmX9Zk8aPWWxP7#/registration

An environmental violation was discovered at a Stora Enso harvesting site on Thursday 15 August, in Kainuu, Finland. The violation is being investigated as a serious nature conservation crime. Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso, says the Company took immediate action as soon as it became aware of the violation: "It is important that the negligence at Hukkajoki river in Kainuu came to light. Even the best rule and the most important principle is worthless if it is not applied in practice. We have already initiated a number of changes to ensure that nothing like this can happen again," says Hans Sohlström. Stora Enso has suspended harvesting in all areas throughout Finland where there are restrictions under the Water Act, the Forest Act or the Nature Conservation Act. Harvesting has been suspended until the operational guidelines, harvesting plans and risks related to these sites have been reassessed. Any non-compliance that may be detected will be assessed in cooperation with the authorities.

FSC celebrates the entry into force of the European Union's Nature Restoration Law, a major step forward in the effort to restore and protect Europe's forests and natural ecosystems. Effective from 18 August 2024, the Nature Restoration Law sets forth ambitious goals to restore degraded ecosystems throughout Europe. "The implementation of the Nature Restoration Law marks a significant development in Europe’s commitment to environmental stewardship. It represents a significant move towards addressing habitat loss, strengthening ecosystems, and fostering long-term environmental resilience," says Anand Punja, Chief Engagement and Partnerships Officer at FSC International. This landmark legislation is designed to enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and ensure the preservation of Europe’s natural landscapes for future generations.

On Thursday 15 August, an environmental incident was discovered at a Stora Enso harvesting site in Kainuu, Finland, and the incident is being investigated as an aggravated nature conservation offence. Forestry machinery has crossed a river where there is a population of the highly endangered freshwater pearl mussel. Stora Enso takes the matter extremely seriously. The authorities and the company have strict responsibility requirements and comprehensive guidelines for the consideration of freshwater pearl mussel in harvesting operations. Stora Enso is cooperating with the police and other authorities to find out what happened at Hukkajoki. As a result of this and our own investigation, our guidelines and procedures will be refined to ensure that everyone involved in harvesting in valuable natural areas is aware of them in the future. This applies both to Stora Enso employees and to our partners, such as contractors and forest owners.

The EUDR requires European companies to ensure that their supply chains are deforestation free. It applies to commodities such as cocoa, palm oil, soy, rubber, timber, coffee and cattle, as well as various derived products. The extensive requirements of the EUDR necessitate the collection, processing and preparation of significant amounts of data. osapiens, a leading ESG platform and provider of compliance and sustainability reporting solutions, has developed the osapiens HUB for EUDR, an end-to-end solution that enables organisations to achieve EUDR compliance with maximum automation. PEFC-certified organisations will benefit from the comprehensive features of the osapiens HUB at a special rate. This platform supports companies in maintaining transparent and sustainable supply chains, aligning with PEFC’s rigorous certification standards.

Illegal logging has devastating consequences for natural habitats and the climate. Research by the University of Leeds, in partnership with World Land Trust, highlights the significant environmental damage caused by illegal logging, including the release of vast amounts of stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In Vietnam specifically - but also in the other three Carbon Balanced-supported World Land Trust projects (Guatemala, Ecuador and Mexico) - illegal logging remains an ever-present threat to both biodiversity and local communities. In Vietnam, illegal logging releases up to 130,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, harming both local ecosystems and contributing to climate change. For example, the Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong forest in Vietnam is home to over 40 vulnerable animal species, including nine endangered and ten critically endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

FSC publishes two new Forest Stewardship Standards that will further promote sustainable forest management in Chile. The standards both become effective on 15 December 2024. The two published standards include FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Chile Plantations and FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Chile Native Forests. These versions of the FSC Forest Stewardship Standards each apply to all ownership types (public, private or other) and all categories of Management Units (including small or low intensity managed forests (SLIMF)). They also include some non-timber forest products.

“With this new standard, we are fostering the harmonisation of requirements for certification bodies, ensuring consistency in the implementation of PEFC sustainable forest management certification worldwide,” highlighted Marta Martinez Pardo, Certification Programme Senior Manager. As the first of its kind, ST 1004 combines benchmark and international requirements. It sets up international requirements that PEFC national members will adopt within their systems, to be implemented directly by certification bodies. This will bring consistency to PEFC forest management audits conducted around the world.

Amcor announced the publication of its Decarbonization Roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Amcor’s targets are aligned with the latest climate science aiming to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Amcor’s Decarbonization Roadmap features “4 + 1” focus areas: 1. Product redesign: Innovating Amcor's product designs to lower their carbon footprint. 2. Recycled content: Increasing the use of recycled materials in Amcor's packaging solutions. 3. Renewable electricity: Transitioning to renewable sources to power its operations. 4. Supply chain collaboration: Partnering closely with suppliers to ensure they meet high sustainability standards and align with Amcor's decarbonization targets. The "+1" area focuses on enhancing operational efficiency through actions such as improving water and waste management, boosting energy efficiency and upgrading equipment.

FSC is revising the Chain of Custody Standards and the corresponding accreditation standard. These standards ensure that products which are sold with an FSC claim originate from well-managed forests, controlled sources, reclaimed materials, or a mixture of these. For more information, please visit the process page and the revision page. The standards included in this consultation are the following: *FSC-STD-40-004 Chain of Custody Certification *FSC-STD-40-007 Sourcing Reclaimed Material for use in FSC Product Groups or FSC Certified Projects *FSC-STD-40-003 Chain of Custody Certification of Multiple Sites *FSC-PRO-40-003 Development of National Group Chain of Custody Eligibility Criteria. As part of the conceptual phase, FSC is conducting a public consultation and would like to invite interested stakeholders to participate. In this conceptual phase, key topics that are proposed to be addressed during the revision and questions for consideration will be included.

Recyclability is a crucial aspect of packaging design, referring to the ease with which a material or product can be recycled. This concept differs from recycling, which involves the act of converting waste into new materials. Factors that can impact recyclability include low fibre content, coatings and barriers, inks, varnishes, adhesives, and more. Designing for recyclability is essential in creating a circular economy and has gained significant importance in recent years as businesses and consumers alike strive for sustainable practices.