As part of the commitments laid out in its Twentyby30™ sustainability program to help advance responsible supply chains, Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) has expanded its Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifications into the Asia Pacific region. The Company's Nong Khae and Crown TCP beverage packaging plants in Thailand were recently awarded the ASI Performance Standard certification, bringing the total facilities in Crown's network with the designation to 12. Crown's operations in Brazil and Mexico have also achieved ASI Performance Standard certification. The ASI Performance Standard addresses environmental, social and governance principles for the aluminum value chain, confirming the recipient's production practices are responsible. Beyond meeting the required criteria as part of an independent, third-party audit, the recent certifications in Thailand can be linked to advancing employee training around biodiversity, safety and human rights.

PEFC invites stakeholders globally to give their feedback on the second draft of ST 1004, Requirements for Certification Bodies operating Certification against PEFC Endorsed Forest Management Standards. This is the second public consultation for this vital benchmark standard, with the first consultation concluding earlier this year in January. The working group developing the document discussed the feedback received during the first consultation and revised the draft standard accordingly. Thank you to everyone that gave their feedback during the first consultation, we have tried to address all the comments in this new draft. Now we need to hear from you again. Give your comments, feedback, and suggestions, to help us ensure this standard meets your needs and expectations.

NOVA Chemicals Corporation has made a significant expansion of its Circular Solutions business today by announcing an investment into developing its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Ind. The facility will process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO™ recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025, delivering over 100 million pounds of rPE to the market by 2026. NOVA Chemicals plans to expand its recycling footprint over the next several years to help it reach its industry-leading 2030 ambition of 30 per cent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales. The company recently announced its 2030 Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership aspirations, including its anticipated investment of between US$2-4 billion by 2030 to expand its sustainable product offerings, decarbonize its assets, and build a state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business while exploring new advanced recycling technologies.

The French Forest Certification 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 24 July to 21 September 2023. PEFC France revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The revised French Forest Certification System also includes new Trees Outside Forests (TOF) requirements. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, and Domtar, a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products; announce that the two companies have partnered to launch a special sustainability program for PRINTING United Expo 2023. In this partnership, Domtar has committed to working with local small forest landowners to dedicate land to plant two trees for every registration made for the 2023 Expo, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 18-20. Domtar will additionally highlight other sustainability initiatives, products, and services at its booth on the show floor where attendees can learn more. “Attending the latest Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO) meeting in Anaheim, CA, I was able to participate in a group discussion around sustainability and got to hear to what the other top Expos are doing in this space,” says Mark J. Subers, president, PRINTING United Expo. “As the printing and packaging industry, with great partners such as Domtar, we can take actionable steps to not only ensure we are following best practices, but to also be proactive. I’m thrilled that the team at Domtar is collaborating with the Alliance to drive this initiative forward.”

The FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Non- Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for Vietnam has been published. Organizations can now certify their NTFPs, supporting the promotion of responsible forestry around the world by ensuring social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. In Vietnam, NTFPs including bamboo, rattan, bamboo shoots, edible plant, fruit, and herbal plants carry good potential for organizations and communities to generate additional income from forest resources; especially for natural forests over which a logging ban has been put years ago. Thus, NTFP utilization can have many positive impacts on rural livelihood. The rubber sector in Vietnam includes both larger corporate forests and plantations managed by smallholders. This standard will help to remove bottlenecks and boost the supply of FSC certified NTFPs such as bamboo, rattan, oil from community/ natural forests, and latex from rubber plantations which are increasing in demand in Vietnam, thereby supporting sustainable forest management.

The new FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Slovenia has been published and becomes effective from 01 October 2023. Forest Stewardship Standards (FSS) are the key mechanism to transfer FSC’s Principles & Criteria into forest management on the ground. They are FSC‘s tool to promote responsible forestry around the world, by ensuring social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. The process for developing the IFSS for Slovenia included consultations with various stakeholders, reaching a consensus with social, environmental, and economic interests. An additional public consultation of the HCV Framework was conducted to raise awareness in interested parties on this process, and to organize open discussion on key changes. Relevant comments were incorporated into HCV Framework draft, and one representative of environmental interests said: "It is the first time that the protection of sacred natural sites in Slovenia is mentioned in this kind of document."

Today, too much plastic waste ends up in incineration or landfill in the EU instead of being recycled back into new products. According to the latest statistics, 35% of post-consumer plastic waste went to recycling, 42% to energy recovery and 23% to landfill in 2020*. High-quality recycling of plastics is an important contributor to our climate goals both at the EU level, within member states and for companies. Together with our customers, we at Trioworld can increase the amount of plastic waste going to recycling. The goal for the EU is to be climate neutral by 2050 to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The transition to a climate-neutral society, with net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, is both an urgent challenge and an opportunity to build a better future. The strategy to reach this objective is called the European Green Deal and one essential aspect is the new circular economy action plan. A new regulation is now being negotiated stating that all packaging on the EU market needs to be reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030. This regulation will also come with requirements for the amount of recycled plastic allowed within the packaging.

Present in Santa Catarina for over 50 years, Klabin remains committed to promoting environmentally responsible actions that contribute to the sustainable development of the region. The results of the Company's effort can be seen in the 2023 Public Summary of Klabin's Forest Management Plan in the state, now available to society at the link. The document brings important evolutionary data on the forestry management adopted by the company, as well as on the environmental education actions implemented by the company. According to the material, Klabin's forestry base reached 141 thousand hectares, distributed in 44 municipalities in Santa Catarina, in the West, Middle West, Serra Catarinense, North and Alto Vale regions, in addition to the Northeast, Center Northeast and East of Rio Great South. The Company also has forests in Paraná and São Paulo, with information available in separate documents.

We’re thrilled to share the success of our recent tree-planting initiatives in Australia. In May, our Southern Operations colleagues joined forces with various organizations, including the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, to plant over 1,000 native seedlings near our Wonnerup Mine. Together, we built protective fencing to ensure the saplings’ growth. Continuing our commitment to environmental stewardship, a dedicated crew of 70 employees and their families, including visitors from the U.S., gathered at our Northern Operations. Over the course of the day, we planted a remarkable 8,500 seedlings along the Yalyal Brook, significantly contributing to the restoration efforts. We partnered with the Chittering Landcare Center for the 22nd consecutive year, resulting in an incredible 170,000 trees planted thus far.

The landmark EU anti-deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enters into force. The EUDR provisions will become applicable as of 30 December 2024. FSC has supported the development of the EUDR since the beginning, and is now ready to work together with the EU Commission, EU Competent Authorities, NGOs, and businesses to make it a success. The EUDR prohibits placing or exporting products in/from the EU market that do not comply with its legality and sustainability requirements. Companies must conduct due diligence to ensure that the products they source are legal and are not linked to land that has been deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020. The EUDR's main goal is to reduce the EU's impact on global deforestation by promoting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces Truth in Advertising laws that require marketing claims be truthful and substantiated by appropriate evidence. These are designed to protect consumers, including when they look to buy products promoted as being environmentally responsible. The commission issues guidance specifically focused on sustainability, or “green,” marketing claims, commonly referred to as the FTC Green Guides to help marketers avoid making unfair or deceptive environmental promises. These laws apply whether the marketing claim appears on paper, online or on the side of a bus. Ensuring believable claims helps build trust between buyers and sellers, which in turn facilitates efficient markets. “Meeting customer needs without misrepresenting Domtar’s offerings is critical,” says Katie Zorn, Domtar’s vice president of marketing, product management & strategic planning. “The Green Guides are an essential resource that we reference before making any sustainability-related claims.”

Just as the world takes a major step in turning the tide on plastic pollution with a global treaty, the European Union is on the cusp of agreeing new regulations that could flood the market with millions of tonnes of new plastic. Well intended but misguided amendments have been put forward on the Commission’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which are now being debated in the European Parliament. These amendments undermine the spirit of the regulation by trying to introduce mandatory reuse targets for cardboard, a material that is often unsuitable for multiple reuses. If accepted, these amendments would push economies away from the most recycled packaging materials and towards plastic alternatives, embedding a plastic economy into the market.

The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 3 July to 31 August 2023. PEFC Czech Republic revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 3 July, at 10:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. Register for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqfuCuqzMtH9cvXBYvlPKQp0XKPk1lKRM2#/registration

What’s the main purpose of the Trend Tracker survey? The purpose of the survey is to understand changing consumer preferences, perceptions and attitudes towards print, paper, paper-based packaging and tissue products, revealing challenges and opportunities for the industry. What value does it have for the paper and packaging industry? We see the survey as great value for our industry as it directly reports on consumer opinions on a number of areas within our sector. Covering a wide range of topics from forest growth and recycling rates to reading habits, packaging preferences and thoughts on mail versus digital communication, the consumer data will help to inform the industry on what’s working and what needs improving.

Starbucks is significantly increasing its commitment to sustainability – in partnership with Arizona State University. The coffee giant plans to develop a new sustainability learning and innovation lab at Hacienda Alsacia, the company’s global agronomy headquarters for research and development located in Costa Rica. The lab will serve as a hub for hands-on and virtual learning opportunities for Starbucks employees, students, researchers and industry leaders to develop and scale sustainable solutions for issues including climate adaption and agricultural economics.

FSC has a global agreement in place with South Pole, a carbon project developer working to implement comprehensive emission reductions that create long-term business opportunities. As part of this agreement, the two organizations are looking to identify FSC Forest Management certificate holders to develop best-in-class projects that demonstrate robust practices with respect to both forest management and carbon sequestration. If you are an FSC-certified forest manager, you are eligible to opt-in to learn more about the opportunity.

In comments to the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Trucking Associations outlined three bedrock principles the industry is committed to pursuing to reduce emissions from heavy-duty trucks. “ATA starts with ‘Yes,’” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear, “and we want to achieve the same things that the EPA does when it comes to reducing emissions. In fact, our record over the past 30 years of collaborating with EPA in reducing both carbon and NOx pollution is strong. Together, the agency and industry have arrived at tough but achievable regulations that allow for technology to develop on timelines to minimize market disruptions and job losses. “However, EPA is moving at breakneck speed to force the industry towards electrification while failing to address the key enablers towards any new technology adoption. EPA’s proposed adoption rates assumes that product availability, vehicle costs, range, weight reduction, energy capacity and recharging and refueling infrastructure will all be available for fleets to utilize the technology,” he said. “Instead of the agency leap frogging existing low-carbon technologies towards electrification, allow today’s technologies to be fully adopted.”

Cost Cutting Cloaked in Greenwashing - - Even if it were true that the pharmaceutical industry could “save 11 million trees a year,” by switching from paper to electronic prescription information for doctors and pharmacists, such claims of environmental superiority are meaningless, if not deceptive, because they do not consider the vast and growing environmental footprint of digital communications. The environmental impact of digital communication is often underestimated because of the “invisible” nature of the infrastructure that supports it. Nowhere does your article mention the environmentally invasive mining and drilling required to extract finite raw materials (iron, copper, rare earths, petroleum for plastics, etc.) necessary to manufacture electronic devices and the massive server farms that support them, the predominance of greenhouse-gas emitting fossil fuel energy used to power them, the massive amounts of water consumed to cool data centers, and that only 15% of U.S. electronic waste gets recycled. Compare this to paper, which is in fact is one of the few products on earth that has a truly sustainable, circular life cycle. U.S. manufactured paper is made from an infinitely renewable resource - trees that are purpose-grown, harvested and regrown in sustainably managed forests – in a process that uses a lot of water but consumes very little of it, and is powered mostly (64% on average) by renewable bioenergy. And with a recovery rate of 68%, paper is recycled more than any other material in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. Using unsubstantiated and misleading environmental claims as a means to a digital-only end is greenwashing that completely ignores the documented environmental impacts of digital communication and threatens the livelihoods of millions of workers across the U.S. print, paper and forest products value chain.

Metsä Group has made the funding decisions for 2023 in its nature programme. Twenty-three projects were selected for funding to manage and restore Finland’s biodiversity. As a result of these selections, the projects are more diverse, and their geographical coverage is more extensive. Independent experts from the University of Eastern Finland, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Sitra and the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) participated in evaluating the project. The themes of the projects selected for funding include watercourse improvement, restoration of flowing waters, removal of invasive species and predators, management of traditional habitats, restoration of wetlands and management of sandbanks. The nature programme does not fund activities in commercial forests, as these are developed as part of Metsä Group’s strategy for regenerative forestry.

A new global study commissioned by FSC with Ipsos is one of the largest of its kind, surveying 26,800 consumers in 33 countries. It provides new insights into what consumers are concerned about, who they trust to address these concerns, and how they’re acting individually through their purchases to affect change. Ongoing global economic instability and conflict appear to have shifted consumer priorities. While climate change ranked second after health during the pandemic, top concerns for consumers are now economic hardships, and wars, conflicts and terrorism. Yet issues relating to the environment haven’t fallen off the radar. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation remain key forestry issues of concern around the world.

The Italian Forest Certification 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 26 June to 24 August 2023. PEFC Italy revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

The trucking industry has made massive strides in reducing tailpipe emissions over the past 35 years thanks to innovation and achievable regulatory targets and timelines: ✅We’ve cut harmful NOx and particulate matter emissions by 99%. ✅We’ve eliminated virtually all sulfur-dioxide emissions. ✅Between 2014 and 2027, we stand to cut 1.37 billion metric tons of CO2. The problem? Not nearly enough of these newer and cleaner trucks are on the road today because of a century-old federal excise tax (FET) on heavy-duty trucks that penalizes trucking companies for upgrading their equipment.

ABC News’ recent “Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling” investigation isn’t about plastic bags or even plastic packaging, it is about the current U.S. recycling system. Put trackers in any recyclable item today and chances are they may end up in an incinerator or landfill. This should be the intended result, given that these trackers are actually contaminants to the recycling stream and would be filtered out for disposal through most recycling processes. It is also because we have over 20,000 different municipal recycling programs across the country that are based on the value of the materials being collected and recycled. This value changes with market conditions and when it does, some products destined for recycling are diverted to disposal instead. Also, until recently, much of that value was in exporting our recyclables overseas. Because of these foreign markets, governments running the recycling programs here in the U.S. did not invest in the infrastructure needed to manage our own recyclables. When China, the biggest importer of U.S. recyclables, stopped accepting them, the markets collapsed.

As part of our commitment to continued sustainable leadership, environmental impact and accountability, we are proud to be the first company in our space, and among the first companies in the world, to receive approval from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets aligned to the Net Zero Standard. The Net Zero Standard is developed by SBTi and is the first global science-based standard for companies to set net-zero targets. Using our FY22 performance as our baseline, we received approval for three targets: *Overall Net-Zero Target: HH Global has committed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by Financial Year 2040 (FY40). *Near-Term Target: HH Global has committed to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 50% by FY30. *Long-Term Target: HH Global has committed to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 90% by FY40.

135 second-grade students from Trevor, Wisconsin, and Mishawaka, Indiana, celebrated Earth Week by learning about the cycle of life from trees to paper and back to trees. The educational outreach program was presented by corporate neighbor Colbert Packaging. The interactive session is dubbed TICCIT for, “Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees.” Created by the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), of which Colbert Packaging is a member, the program teaches young learners about the role trees play in the environment and our circular economy. The program teaches the importance of recognizing sustainable packaging and supporting the recyclability of paper-based packaging. The visual presentation was topped off with a hands-on session where students were invited to prepare and take home their very own tree sapling in a paperboard planter. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the importance of environmental stewardship with an enthusiastic audience of local students,” said Colbert Marketing Manager Wanda Speer.

“We are pleased to share the significant ESG progress made by our global team in 2022. We are actively working towards a more sustainable future through responsible operations, reducing our carbon footprint and developing even more sustainable solutions for customers, consumers and patients. We are also convinced that our leadership in Sustainability, in addition to helping safeguard the environment, creates a critical competitive advantage,” said Stephan B. Tanda, President and CEO. Aptar focuses on collaboration as one of the pillars of its sustainability strategy. The company works with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, among many others. Aptar is an active member of the CE100 Network and a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact. In partnership with these organizations, Aptar aims to include 10% recycled resin content and achieve 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable solutions in our personal care, beauty, home care and food and beverage solutions by the end of 2025. The 2022 Corporate Sustainability / ESG Report highlights these important partnerships and many others.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the Guyanese Forest Certification Scheme. Deadline for comments is 28 July. Give your feedback. This is the first time the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the PEFC national member for Guyana, has submitted its national system to PEFC for endorsement. See all system assessment details at: https://pefc.org/discover-pefc/our-pefc-members/national-members/guyana-forestry-commission-gfc

Trioworld, the leading producer of innovative and sustainable high-performance plastic packaging solutions in Europe and North America with its head office in Sweden, has published its seventh annual sustainability report. Highlights during the year are, among many, the EcoVadis Platinum rating, the commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and the significant investment in expanding the company’s recycling capabilities. "We want to be a sustainable supplier as well as the leader in circular solutions in our industry and we have taken major steps towards these goals during the last year. Our ESG work (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is on the right track, acknowledged, for the second consecutive year, by the EcoVadis Platinum rating. We have set an ambitious sustainability strategy and this rating is a recognition of the hard work and commitment of everyone at Trioworld contributing to deliver on our sustainability targets.” says Oskar Karlsson, CPO and VP Sustainability at Trioworld Group.

Canon Inc. announced today that the company, in order to provide its various stakeholders with an understanding of its sustainability-oriented initiatives, has published the Canon Sustainability Report 20231 via the company's official website. As standards for disclosing sustainability-related information continue to evolve, this year's Sustainability Report follows the International Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines revised in 2021, listing major challenges regarding environmental and social impact, organized by priority. In addition, through dialogue with entities based outside Japan, the company aims to provide a wealth of information in its Sustainability Report. Furthermore, Canon aims to expand the disclosed data regarding its human capital, as well as improve the reliability of its environmental data2, which has been verified by third-party auditors3.

Paper Excellence participated in the “Wood you find it?” event hosted by FSC International in Brussels to discuss the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), approved in April by the European Parliament. Representatives of the European Commission responsible for the approved text, public policy makers, companies, NGOs and FSC leaders discussed together what are the biggest challenges for the implementation of the EUDR. The main objective of the new regulation is to ensure that products produced or marketed in the European Union do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation. The new regulation is applied for any product related to six commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybeans and wood as well as a variety of their by-products. Wood products arriving in Europe from non-European producers represent considerable numbers. Brazil is among the top suppliers with 38 percent, behind China with 73 percent and ahead of Russia with 32 percent. Pulp and paper pipelines alone already account for more than EUR 15 billion in imports from Europe. Among the main European purchasing countries are: Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany and France.

Key enhancements outlined in the 2022 Impact Report included updating the Company's near-term targets for progressing toward net-zero carbon emissions, namely: *25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity (per square foot) by 2025 *25% reduction in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from employee business travel by 2025 *81% of our spend with suppliers who set their own science-based targets by 2025. The Company also announced the addition of nature-based environmental targets that complement its net-zero goal for carbon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two Sides North America today announced the launch of “3 Minutes with Two Sides,” a new podcast series created to bust the common environmental myths about print, paper and paper-based packaging. Hosted by Two Sides North America President Kathi Rowzie, the podcast follows Two Sides’ familiar approach to delivering facts about the inherent sustainability and circular life cycle of paper products, this time in a quick and easy-to-follow audio format. “Paper has a great environmental story to tell, and Two Sides is committed to telling that story in ways that are not only factual, but also highly relevant and easily accessible to our audience,” says Rowzie.“In part, this means fitting into people’s busy schedules – and we believe just about everyone can spare three minutes to learn about the sustainability of essential paper products they use every day.” The inaugural “3 Minutes with Two Sides” podcast focuses on sustainable forestry as part of paper’s circular lifecycle. To listen to the podcast go to: https://twosidesna.org/US/the-circularity-of-paper-sustainable-forestry/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TSNA%20Podcast%20Press%20Release&utm_content=TSNA%20Podcast%20Press%20Release+CID_3a65e20c6f83cab0803b42c567565d29&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=click%20here

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles rule: “The trucking industry starts at ‘yes.’ We share the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving fuel efficiency and believe any regulation must be practical, achievable, and based on sound science. Our members have a long history of adopting the cleanest emissions technology on the road today and are making the necessary investments to support a decarbonized future. “As we review the proposed rule, ATA will remain engaged in the regulatory process to ensure the agency arrives at a regulation that has realistic equipment adoption timelines, is technologically feasible, and will not cause additional inflationary pressures if finalized.”

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 will be 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. This revision is now in the conceptual phase, and as part of this phase we will be conducting a focused consultation in May 2023 on the key proposals of this joint revision. Interested stakeholders will be asked to provide inputs and feedback on the FSC proposals. Further focused consultations may be happening at later stages of the revision process. We are now opening registration for interested stakeholders to participate in a focused consultation and stay engaged with the process through informational updates.

The launch of a new Green Star System and Green Card in March this year, from Antalis Packaging, will support customers to transition to a more sustainable future. The launch of the Green Star System and Green Card follows a survey Antalis recently conducted in partnership with IFOP among its customers in six countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and UK). The study revealed customers’ CSR commitment, particularly in the areas of packaging, where the impact on the environment makes it a major issue for companies. According to the survey, environmental friendliness is the third most important consideration when buying packaging. Circular economy, carbon footprint and product origin are also factors. Antalis’ Green Star System and Green Card makes it easier for companies to access environmental information about products as well as compare their performance against a set of criteria.

Recycling your old electronics is about to become easier than ever. Best Buy is introducing a new nationwide, easy-to-use program that allows you to recycle all your old tech – by mail! Starting this month, you can order a prepaid Best Buy Technology Recycling Box and ship off your old electronics for recycling. Through the service, we will give your tech a second life or recycle it responsibly to protect the environment. “We continue to build on our commitment to be there for our customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their products by making recycling simple and convenient,” said Tim Dunn, Best Buy’s head of environmental sustainability. “Sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do and this new service is another step we are taking to protect the planet today and for future generations.”

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification has been a vital component of sustainable forest management in Poland for over 25 years. Until recently, approximately two-thirds of the total forest area of 9.2 million hectares in the country were FSC-certified. The certified forests are managed by the Regional Directorates of State Forests (RDSF) and two Forest Experimental Stations under the University of Poznań. Despite initiating dialogue in November 2022 between FSC International and Polish State Forests, six Regional Directorates of State Forests (RDSFs), representing an area of roughly 2 million hectares, have opted to discontinue FSC certification in their respective regions. The affected regions include: *Gdansk (FSC-certified area: 303,938 ha) - expired *Torun (FSC-certified area: 456,447 ha) - expired *Poznan (FSC-certified area: 419,535 ha) - certificate expired on 4 April, 2023 *Warsaw (FSC-certified area: 194,960 ha) - certificate expiring on 9 April, 2023 *Radom (FSC-certified area: 325,074 ha) - certificate expiring on 1 May, 2023 *Pila (FSC-certified area: 362,770 ha) - recertification granted on 10 March, 2023; license agreement terminated by RDSF Pila, effective until May 31, 2023. There are currently 2,500 FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificates in Poland, making it one of the top countries for FSC CoC globally.

Three green hydrogen projects that Kimberly-Clark is developing with energy industry partners have won places on the UK Government’s Hydrogen Business Model Strategy (HBMS) shortlist. The scheme will kickstart the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy by funding a first-round allocation of 250MW of electrolytic hydrogen projects across England, Scotland and Wales. Kimberly-Clark, the parent company of leading household brands including Andrex®, Kleenex®, Huggies®, WypAll® and Scott®, expects to reduce its natural gas consumption in the UK by 61% when these three projects are operational at the end of 2025, subject to final government contract. The three hydrogen projects selected by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) include a green hydrogen hub in Barrow-in-Furness. Being developed in partnership with Carlton Power, the Barrow Green Hydrogen hub will power Kimberly-Clark’s Cumbria manufacturing facility.

In the run up to the Earth Day (22nd April), Tetra Pak is highlighting some of its recent recycling initiatives that are helping to keep valuable materials in use and out of landfills. These initiatives are part of the investments that the company has been making for decades, to support collection and recycling infrastructure across the world, growing the number of recycling operations handling cartons worldwide from 40 in 2010 to more than 200 today. According to the World Bank, global waste is predicted to increase 70% by 20501, unless immediate and significant action is taken. Despite its essential role in feeding a growing global population, food packaging can add to the issue if not properly collected and recycled. Tetra Pak’s recent collaborations are focused on creating additional recycling capacity, increasing collection rates and ensuring that materials from post-consumer beverage cartons can re-enter the economy.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) announces the withdrawal of the remaining forest management certificates in Russia by the respective certification bodies. This is due to the decision by Assurance Services International (ASI) to terminate its FSC assurance activities in Russia. ASI’s decision will enter into force on 1 May 2023 and will be re-evaluated once the conditions allow for assurance again. Based on the risk assessment conducted by ASI, the main reason is the increasing integrity risk in the country as the security for the people involved in oversight activities in Russia can no longer be guaranteed. In addition, there are limitations to operating in the country as a result of the restricted access and sanctions. With the termination of ASI's oversight activities in Russia, certification bodies will no longer be accredited for auditing against the FSC standards in the country.

You’ve no doubt seen the impassioned ENGO fundraising claims warning that “billions of trees are cut down each year to make paper products,” and as a result, “deforestation is accelerating at a rapid pace.” Their suggested solution to this “deforestation crisis and its climate impacts” is to eliminate the use of wood fiber to manufacture paper products – 50% by 2030 – and replace it with recycled content or so called “next generation” alternative fibers. But as President John Adams once said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” And the fact is that sustainably produced North American paper products are not a cause of deforestation, no matter what some ENGOs say or how many times they say it.

Sonoco has upgraded its Hartsville wastewater treatment site to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The company began treating wastewater from its paper operations in the 1950’s and in 1987, an anaerobic lagoon was added to improve the system’s efficiency. Anaerobic wastewater treatment is a highly efficient treatment process that uses less energy and produces less sludge than conventional aerobic treatment. The organic matter in the wastewater is converted to carbon dioxide and methane. In addition to the anaerobic treatment, a cover on the lagoon had been capturing the gases and routing them to a flare for destruction. In partnership with renewable natural gas developer GreenGasUSA, new biogas equipment now converts any gaseous methane to pipeline quality renewable natural gas for use in homes and businesses using the existing interstate pipeline system. It’s expected to reduce Sonoco’s greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000 metric tons per year and provide renewable energy to South Carolina.

The comprehensive report, which covers January to December 2022, highlights the company’s progress through continued capital investment, ongoing operational improvement and collaboration with customers and other key stakeholders. Last year, Smurfit Kappa delivered several landmark achievements highlighting its continued leadership in sustainability including: *A world first in successfully trialling hydrogen in its Saillat paper mill in France *Completion of a multi-fuel boiler in the Zülpich paper mill in Germany which reduced emissions at the mill by 25% *The announcement of the Group’s largest decarbonisation project in Cali, Colombia involving an investment of almost €100 million *Commencement of a district heating project in Austria to benefit 20,000 homes across 3 communities.

The beverage carton industry is one of the most sustainable packaging sectors in Europe. Discover how environmental organisations and manufacturers are pushing to make it even more circular. As one of the largest and most widely used sectors of the paper and board industry, packaging comes under a lot of scrutiny from governments, panels, organisations and the media for its environmental impact. Fortunately, through a lot of investment, hard work and dedication, it’s also one of the most sustainable industries in the world, with 83% of paper and cardboard packaging in Europe being recycled – the highest of any packaging material. One area of packaging that’s currently getting a lot of attention is the beverage carton industry. Made from an average of 75% renewable material, beverage cartons are a highly sustainable alternative to plastic and glass bottles, with most European recycling networks able to recycle the cartons easily.

Sustainable forestry is about caring for the long-term resilience of forests and is often wrongly associated with the environmentally and socially destructive practice of deforestation. Deforestation is one of the largest contributors to climate change because when trees are lost to forest fires or die and decay due to insects or disease without proper regeneration, the stored carbon is permanently released into the atmosphere. Forests are considered carbon sinks, because as trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air, converting it into plant matter by way of photosynthesis. It’s well-documented that the destruction of these naturally occurring carbon sinks is detrimental to our environment and the balance of global temperatures. The commitment made in November 2022 at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) is evidence of this significance, with leaders representing over 85% of the world’s forests pledging to halve and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030.

A new survey conducted by Smurfit Kappa, in partnership with the Financial Times, has revealed that sustainability continues to play a pivotal role in the strategy and planning of senior business leaders across Europe and the Americas. The Transparency Edge, which was conducted among 440 senior and executive business leaders across 11 major economies, showed that despite half of businesses having set ambitious plans to achieve net zero, only 11% of respondents believe they have a robust and actionable sustainability strategy. More than half (61%) that responded state that sustainability is changing the way they measure financial performance. Many of them have started to build sustainability into their leaders’ performance assessments and incentives. This underscores the impact that sustainability is already having across businesses. Almost half of businesses (47%) have prioritised packaging innovation as a way to meet their own net zero targets.

WestRock, a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, has been included in Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies list, recognizing the company’s continued commitment to sustainability and driving a more circular economy. To build its sixth annual rankings, Barron’s partnered with Calvert Research and Management, a leader in ESG investing, to develop the list by ranking the 1,000 largest publicly traded U.S. companies by market value across 230 ESG performance indicators from seven ratings companies including ISS, MSCI and Sustainalytics. Company performance was also measured across five key constituencies: shareholders, employees, customers, community and the planet. WestRock jumped into the top 50 ranked companies this year, coming in at #43.

Leading global print consumables manufacturer, Flint Group, is celebrating continual improvement after its updated EcoVadis rating, which saw a seven-point increase over 2022. EcoVadis’ scoring takes an evidence-based approach to measuring the supply chain sustainability efforts of a given business. Flint Group has improved its Silver Level rating overall to 65 – raising up from 58, marking it as a business making significant sustainability advances. A key driver for the improved score is the considerable rise in the company’s Environmental category score from 50 to 70 points. Steve Dryden, CEO of Flint Group, comments: “We are delighted to announce a seven-point increase to our EcoVadis score. The new score shows that our efforts are making an important difference and provides groundwork and direction for further improvement. As a business that leads the way in high-performance inks and coatings designed for circular economies, our actions must match our intentions for a more sustainable supply chain.”

Companies in the European Union will find it tougher to greenwash under new rules aimed at improving the quality and consistency of environmental reporting. From 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will require all market-listed EU-based companies to publish detailed information about how sustainability issues such as climate change impact their business and how their operations affect people and the planet. In total, almost 50,000 companies are expected to be impacted by the CSRD, which accounts for three-quarters of business in the European Economic Area. As well as companies listed on regulated markets, companies with more than 250 employees, a turnover of over €40 million, and over €20m of total assets will also need to comply with the new rules. This means that European companies will need to be much more detailed in their sustainability reporting, with science-based environmental targets and climate risk included in their annual reports. That information will need to be qualitative and quantitative, forward-looking and retrospective, and based in the short, medium and long term.

Since its inception, the Two Sides North America Anti-greenwashing Campaign has eliminated literally billions of instances of paper-related greenwashing in the United States and Canada – and engagement with large utilities, banks and insurers in January and February has set the pace for millions more in 2023. So far this year, seven additional companies representing 40 million customers have removed “go green, go paperless,” “go paperless, protect the environment” and similar claims from their marketing communications.

Global home furnishings retailer Ikea is working to ensure the sustainability of the wood used in textile products it sells. Sweden-based Ikea is joining the CanopyStyle initiative from Canopy, a global non-profit environmental organization working to protecting forests, species, and climate. CanopyStyle is dedicated to keeping wood harvested from ancient and endangered forests out of the supply chain for fabrics like viscose (a cotton/polyester alternative) and rayon for fashion and home fabrics. As part of the initiative, Ikea will only purchase fabrics sourced only from wood producers that have achieved the highest ranking in forest sustainability from Canopy. The company will also work to shift to fabric sourcing from lower-impact alternatives to wood.

Two Sides is excited to announce its newest member, Rapidity, the eco-friendly printer service in London. “Rapidity are delighted to become a member of Two Sides. We work hard to be a sustainable business. We only use paper and card materials from FSC certified managed sources. All of our waste, of which there is very little due to our printing techniques, is recycled. Our factory is powered by 100% renewable sources. We always recommend to our customers more eco sustainable materials and are always introducing new products and materials that are better for our environment. By joining Two Sides, we will have an array of facts and research we can use to tell our customers just how sustainable print really is.” says Paul Manning, Managing Director for Rapidity.

In a recent Q&A for Sanitary Maintenance magazine, Laura Ashley, Marketing Manager for Resolute Tissue, along with other manufacturers, discusses sustainable tissue and towel options, and what can be done to assist end users with their own green initiatives. What sustainable attributes are most important when differentiating between green towel and tissue options? Ashley: Three key attributes come to mind: fiber source, carbon footprint, and waste stream management. When it comes to fiber source, distributors should recommend options with certified fiber sourcing, recycled fiber (both pre- and post-consumer), certified sources (which can be a combination of certified forest and recycled fiber), and recycled sources both for the product and product packaging (these factors include recyclability, being compostable, and being biodegradable). Regarding waste stream management, this includes all phases of the product life, from production through end use. What selling points should distributors highlight when promoting sustainable towel/tissue options?  Ashley: Distributors, end users and consumers want assurances that their buying decisions represent a sound environmental choice. They are asking for proof that tissue products are made with raw material originating from sustainably managed forests, recycled material, and/or controlled sources. In the North American market, fiber certification gives that proof point.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Swedish National Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 27 April. Give your feedback. PEFC Sweden revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The Swedish system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

Smurfit Kappa is investing €27 million in a state-of-the-art new waste management and recovery facility at its Nervión paper mill in Iurreta, Spain. The investment will see the mill adopt a fully circular production process involving the biggest landfill reduction project Smurfit Kappa has undertaken to date to support the delivery of its 2025 sustainability commitments. The lime kiln and gas treatment system will have a production capacity of 120 tonnes of lime per day and will provide significant environmental benefits. The new circular system will allow the calcium carbonate waste that is currently generated in the mill’s manufacturing process to be transformed into lime and subsequently reintroduced into the production process as a raw material. This will have a positive impact on the mill’s carbon footprint by diverting 75,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and eliminating approximately 450,000 km per year in road transport.

This March, world leaders will gather in Gabon for the One Forest Summit to advance our collective ambition regarding the preservation and sustainable management of rainforests. And PEFC will be there. The forests of the Congo Basin are one of the last truly untouched forest areas in the world. But there is increasing pressure on these forests as the region’s population grows and looks to the forests as an important driver for economic development. PEFC is present in the Congo Basin through our three PAFC national members: PAFC Cameroon, PAFC Congo, and PAFC Gabon. Together, under the name of PAFC Congo Basin, these members have jointly developed a regional forest certification system. “The One Forest Summit was launched at COP 27 by Gabonese President Ali Bongo and French President Emmanuel Macron. They both recognised the environmental and economic value of the Congo Basin Forest and the urgency to act to preserve it,” said Thomas Seyvet, Development Officer, part of the PEFC international team travelling to Gabon for the Summit.

Metsä Group has revised its 2030 sustainability targets as part of the Group’s strategy work. The revision of the targets is a step towards a fossil free and waste-free future that bolsters nature. The company’s climate actions are based on both global climate change mitigation and adapting to it in Finland’s changing climate. Focusing on the most essential sustainability issues, the targets cover all of Metsä Group’s operations and will also affect supply chains. In particular, Metsä Group is working to increase measures improving forests’ natural biodiversity and health as well as measures promoting fossil free production. The 2030 targets are monitored with a comprehensive, more than doubled set of indicators. “Metsä Group is committed to safeguarding natural biodiversity, mitigating climate change and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, healthy workplace communities and ethical operations. We must be able to take even more action to secure a sustainable future,” says Ilkka Hämälä, Metsä Group’s President and CEO.

This framework applies to: *Organizations who have violated the Policy for Association, version 2 and wish to become associated with FSC. *Organizations who have been disassociated from FSC and wish to become eligible for re-association. *Organizations who wish to gain forest management certification for land that was converted between 1 December 1994 and 31 December 2020. Some of the key features of the Remedy Framework are: *Two types of requirements to ensure that site level harms are addressed, as well as system level transformations are made (by corporate groups who wish to associate with FSC) to prevent recurrence. *Identification of stakeholders and rightsholders. *Inclusive and participatory dialogue processes leading to agreements on remedy actions. *Best practice justifications of selected remedy actions. *Key roles in the remedy process for independent, third-party, and/or expert involvement. *The proper application of Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). *Development of grievance mechanisms compliant with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Latvian PEFC Certification System. Deadline for comments is 20 April. Give your feedback. PEFC Latvia revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. See all system assessment details at https://pefc.org/discover-pefc/our-pefc-members/national-members/pefc-latvia . The Latvian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

The Swedish National Forest Certification 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 27 February to 27 April 2023. PEFC Sweden revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 27 February at 10:00 CET. Register for the webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApce-rrzouGtHPI9x05DXb_Gzr0xDxCqdm

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear told Congress that the industry needed realistic national timelines and targets to reduce emissions, rather than allowing California and other states to drive standards. “The trucking industry starts with ‘yes,’" Spear testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today. “ATA worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, producing Phases I and II emission reduction rules, as well as the SmartWay Transport Partnership – which has been a model of public-private cooperation. To date, 98.5% of all emissions have been removed from our tailpipes. In fact, 60 trucks today emit what one truck emitted in 1988.” Spear emphasized that those gains, which include reductions of millions of tons of carbon, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, were the result of collaborative regulatory processes and realistic goals.

With increasing awareness of companies making misleading environmental claims, there are more and more instances of the media calling out greenwashing. The latest example of this positive trend is the BBC’s More Or Less programme on Radio 4, which investigated a recent marketing claim by Serious Tissues. The company, which produces a range of tissue products, ran a radio ad that stated: “15% of global deforestation is from toilet rolls alone. But switch to Serious Tissues and they don’t cut down trees. In fact, Serious Tissues plant a tree for every roll sold.” Following the ad campaign, a number of Radio 4 listeners wrote to More or Less, taking issue with the 15% figure and asking the team to investigate and find out whether that figure was true. On January 29, journalist Charlotte McDonald presented the results of their findings.

The Latvian PEFC Certification 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 20 February to 20 April 2023. PEFC Latvia revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 20 February at 10:00 CET.

For a few weeks, SCA has been test-driving the Centipede concept machine, which Komatsu and eight Swedish forestry companies are jointly developing. The machine is seen as the sustainable forest machine of the future and combines lower soil compaction, increased productivity and better work environment. “There are many possibilities with the machine”, says Thomas Persson, business developer at SCA Skog and one of two test drivers. The work to develop the Centipede machine is one of forestry's most important development projects where the issue of sustainability is central. The machine is intended to be able to meet the climate of the future and the challenges arising from increasingly shorter periods of frozen grounds.

For the second consecutive year, Solenis has earned the Platinum Recognition Level for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance from EcoVadis, a collaborative platform providing sustainability ratings and performance improvement tools for global supply chains. “We are quite proud that our global commitment to sustainability has resulted in the prestigious Platinum status once again,” said Dr. Daniel Grell, Chief Safety, Regulatory and Quality Officer at Solenis. “Once you have achieved this level, it becomes more difficult to maintain, with additional questions to answer and criteria to meet. All companies are striving to improve year after year, so it gets increasingly harder to be part of the one percent.

Paper Excellence Canada announced a $100,000 gift to the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) to boost efforts to conserve and restore Pacific salmon populations across B.C. The gift will be distributed through grants in communities where Paper Excellence operates to help advance community-driven stewardship initiatives at a local level. Approximately half of Pacific salmon populations are in some state of decline. Salmon encounter various challenges during their complex life cycle, including the effects of climate change, habitat loss, development, and more. Paper Excellence’s donation will support PSF’s Community Salmon Program, which awards hundreds of grants to grassroots salmon conservation projects across B.C. and the Yukon each year. Since PSF launched the Community Salmon Program in 1989, the program has engaged more than 300,000 volunteers to pursue local projects to restore salmon and rehabilitate their habitats.

FSC is pleased to introduce the revised FSC-STD-20-007 Forest Management Evaluations Standard, version 4-0, and the revised Procedure FSC-PRO-60-010, Development of a National Forest Stewardship Standard Risk Assessment, version 2-1. FSC-STD-20-007 Forest Management Evaluations Standard brings increased transparency and consistency in evaluations by different certification bodies. The revised standard also includes efficiency through outcome-oriented and risk-based forest management evaluations. It provides a framework for certification bodies to determine an appropriate audit method for each type of evaluation and organization. This revised version is structured to align the content of the forest management evaluations reports with new tools being incorporated for digitization by FSC. This ensures standardization and relevance of data gathered during evaluation processes. FSC’s Digital Audit Reporting Template (DAR) will be updated to reflect changes in the revised standard.

Amazon announced that in 2022 it grew its renewable energy capacity by 8.3 gigawatts (GW) through 133 new projects in 11 countries. This brings Amazon’s total portfolio to more than 20 GW—that could generate the amount of energy to power 5.3 million U.S. homes—across 401 renewable energy projects in 22 countries. The company’s renewable energy purchases continue to add new wind and solar projects on the grids that power Amazon’s operations, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers, Amazon fulfillment centers, and physical stores around the world. With these continued investments, Amazon set a new corporate record for the most renewable energy announced by a single company in one year. The company remains the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy—a position it’s held since 2020, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Amazon’s continued investment in renewable energy helps to accelerate growth in new regions through innovative deal structures, technologies, and cloud solutions.

Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind has submitted a proposal to the province to construct a 29-turbine wind farm. The proposed location for the Goose Harbour Lake Wind Farm covers an area of Guysborough County between Lincolnville, N.S., and Mulgrave. The company, a sister firm of Port Hawkesbury Paper, wants clearing work to begin this summer or fall, construction to start next year and for the turbines to be up and running in the summer of 2025. The 130.5 megawatts produced at the site would feed into the Nova Scotia Power transmission system and supply up to 40 per cent of the mill's electricity needs.

The latest and exciting NEW issue of The Page, the magazine produced by Two Sides to promote the sustainability and value of print, is now available! In the latest edition of The Page, we gather a number of experts to make their predictions for 2023. We expect the next 12 months will see plenty of opportunities for the print, paper and packaging industries, as well as an increased focus on sustainability. You can also read up on the success of the Love Paper and National Book Tokens competition and the new rules introduced in Europe focussing on Greenwash.

Smurfit Kappa has announced a €6 million investment at its Sanguesa paper mill in Spain, which will see the construction and installation of up to 12,000 solar panels on land adjacent to the mill. The solar panels will reduce CO2 emissions by over 3200 tonnes annually and provide significant cost savings. Once operational, it is estimated that the panels will generate more than 10 GWh of power annually which will reduce the current external electricity consumption and dependency by 7%. The Spanish solar energy project is the latest for Smurfit Kappa which has launched similar initiatives in other plants in Spain, Colombia and Mexico to generate sustainable energy. The mill at Sanguesa is one of Smurfit Kappa’s key facilities that produces light MG kraft paper, a packaging solution widely used across industrial and consumer markets in products such as grocery bags and wrapping paper. Its customer base includes some of Europe’s largest brands.

The Forest Stewardship Council is bringing together some of the most innovative technology companies in the world to help bring cutting-edge solutions to familiar problems. You would be forgiven for not thinking of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) when you think of groundbreaking technology. Our concerns tend toward the analog: trees, soil, wildlife, human beings. However, since March of 2022, FSC has convened a group of the world’s most advanced technology companies to find cutting-edge solutions to the challenges FSC faces – problems like how to root out fraud in supply chains, or help smallholders compete in global markets, to name a few. The group, called the FSC Technology Consortium, meets monthly. Convening virtually to include leaders from around the world, each meeting has an FSC topic expert share an industry problem. The group then considers possible solutions and the role information technology might play in achieving them.

At the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, nations from around the world finalized a new set of goals and targets to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The goals include protecting 30 per cent of the world's land, water, and marine areas by 2030, as well as mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year in domestic and international biodiversity-related funding from both public and private sources. FSC solutions directly contribute to the delivery of the Framework through the following indicators in the monitoring framework: *Target 10: Progress toward sustainable forest management and forest area under forest certification scheme like the Forest Stewardship Council. *Goal B: Certified forests with verified impacts on biodiversity conservation.

Both Metsä Group and VR are companies with major role in the society and they therefore play an important part in improving environmental performance and responsibility. The companies are intensifying their cooperation on sustainability in logistics and have agreed a new joint target to halve emissions from transport covered by their cooperation by 2030. In addition, Metsä Group aims to transfer some of its current road transports to railways. For Metsä Group, the measures would represent a total emission reduction of around 14,000 tCO2e per year, which is equivalent to more than 25,000 average lorry journeys. Metsä Group and VR have set up a joint working group to define concrete ways to achieve the emissions reduction target. The measures include the electrification of the rail network, more efficient train concepts and the use of diesel made from renewable raw materials.

The print and paper advocacy group, Two Sides, is excited to announce its newest member, PDS (Print Data Solutions), the Northamptonshire-based print management company. With over 20 years’ experience in print management, Print Data Solutions has a long pedigree of service that has enabled the business to grow year on year. PDS continues to evolve, providing innovative and bespoke design and print management solutions to a wide variety of clients working in many different industries.

As the pioneer of the notion of High Conservation Values, FSC certification benefits biodiversity by protecting rare and threatened species and their habitats as required by FSC standards. However, data about this impact is not systematically available. In fact, global biodiversity data is insufficient, not comparable, and most importantly, does not aim to capture the true value of nature in society. For this reason, FSC will work with partners including IKEA, Tetra Pak, Procter & Gamble, Kingfisher, SCA, Essity, and WWF International, as well as knowledge and technology partners, to understand how it can provide better biodiversity data about FSC certified forests and create a framework for companies to make claims on biodiversity related to their FSC-certified products.

The print and paper advocacy group, Two Sides, is excited to announce its newest member, KPM Group, a print production, mail and media company based in Sevenoaks, Kent. “KPM Group are delighted to become a member of Two Sides. We work hard to understand our customer’s business challenges, to pinpoint where we can add value. As sustainability is an increasing factor on many of our customers minds, the facts that Two Sides have collected will help us to tell a positive environmental story around direct mail and in turn, help provide value to our customer’s DM campaigns.” says Marian Lively, Managing Director for KPM Group.

In response to the global climate and energy crisis, Hachette Livre—the parent company of Hachette Book Group—has announced an ambitious carbon reduction strategy that aims to cut 30% of the company’s carbon emissions by 2030. Dubbed its “30/30 Strategy,” Hachette aims to reduce emissions annually by 2.5% by reconfiguring its operations to be greener and more energy efficient. According to a December 21 press release, the company is targeting Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, including a “30% reduction in the proportion of books that are shredded, a 26% reduction in carbon intensity of paper manufacturing, an 18% reduction in carbon intensity of book printing and binding, and 1% and 1.5% annual reductions in upstream and downstream freight respectively.”

The revised advice note becomes effective on 1 January 2023 and reflects the interim measure for Intact Forest Landscapes requested by Motion 23 at the FSC General Assembly. At the 9th FSC General Assembly in Bali in 2022, the FSC membership passed Motion 23:2020 and associated Implementation Note which requires the use of landscape-wide approaches adapted to local conditions and strengthened Standard Development Groups (SDGs) to improve protection of Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs). The Secretariat took immediate action and announces the publication of a revised Advice Note for IFLs to implement the interim measures required by the passed Motion 23 (including the interpretation note). Motion 65:2014, approved by the FSC membership at the 7th General Assembly in Seville in 2014, called for the protection of the vast majorities of Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) within the FSC certified Management Units. This has been implemented through IFL-specific International Generic Indicators (IGI) in FSC-STD-60-004 V2-0, and through the Advice Note ADV-20-007-018 for areas where there are no approved Forest Stewardship Standards based on V2-0 of the IGI.

Proving the success of working together to advance sustainability, the Legal Forests program has been contributing to the restoration of the Villadagio property, owned by rural producers Lucas Caliari and Laís Ferrari, located in Serra Catarinense, in the city ​​of São Joaquim (SC). The area, initially used for grazing cattle, is being transformed into an example of agroforestry - a production system that conserves permanent forest species, planted along with agricultural crops. Held by Klabin, the largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, in partnership with the Association for the Preservation of the Environment and Life (Apremavi), Matas Legal arrived in Santa Catarina in 2005, with the objective of developing conservation actions, environmental education and forest promotion, which help to protect and recover native forests, improving the quality of life of the population and enhancing local forestry development, based on the planning of properties and landscapes.

The 400,000 acres of forestland surrounding Domtar’s Windsor Mill in Quebec are a hot spot for forestry and climate research, with several projects currently taking place in partnership with organizations and universities across Canada. The company reaps benefits from these projects, including data that supports the continued Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of fiber harvested from the Domtar forest. Additionally, engaging with student-led research projects helps Domtar build relationships with young people who may consider joining Domtar in the future. “Several of the projects and collaborations — and those that will follow — contribute to strengthening and developing the reputation and performance of the Windsor Mill and our forestry practices,” he says.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) conducts the Global Client Survey every two years to assess how our certificate holders and promotional licence holders perceive FSC. The learnings are vital to our continual improvement of the FSC certification system. This year 8,975 Chain of Custody and Forest Management Certificate Holders and 323 Promotional Licence Holders participated in the survey – the highest participation rate in recent years. Our sincere gratitude goes out to all respondents who filled out the survey and contributed to this outcome. The results of the 2022 FSC Global Client Survey show that about half of FM and CoC Certificate Holders surveyed perceive FSC certification as valuable for its role in protecting forest ecosystems and preventing deforestation and forest degradation, while others value improved market access and brand image, among other factors. Nearly 90 per cent of Promotional Licence Holders believe the FSC licence will help build their brand image and sustainability credentials. Most surveyed certificate and licence holders believe the importance of FSC certification will increase in the next two years.

Nearly 10,000 hectares of privately held Acadian forest, coastline and dunes in New Brunswick will be recognized as another effective area-based conservation measure (OECM), thanks to the visionary leadership of J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI). The initiative was shared during an event hosted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) where global experts profiled emerging conservation solutions, presenting leadership and investment opportunities to accelerate the nature agenda. This announcement by JDI is a concrete example of a whole-of-society approach to accelerating conservation. The lands held by Saint John-based JDI boast a variety of ecosystems, which provide habitat for animals like pine marten and endangered piping plover.

The PEFC International Board has extended the suspension of the Russian National Voluntary Forest Certification System (FCR), with the national system now suspended indefinitely. The suspension was intended to preserve the conditions for a successful long-term cooperation with PEFC Russia to support sustainable forest management in the Russian Federation in light of the current political situation. The suspension took effect as of 11 August 2022 and was initially valid until 31 December 2022.

The MM Group has been recognized by the global, non-profit environmental organization CDP for its leadership in transparency and performance in relation to climate change and received a place on the annual "A List". Based on data from the CDP 2022 Climate Change Questionnaire (“Climate”), MM is one of the few companies 1) to have achieved an “A” rating. In total, more than 15,000 companies were evaluated. In addition to the climate rating, MM has also disclosed data on forest management (“Forests”) at CDP and, for the first time in 2022, on water management (“Water Security”). In both categories, the MM Group also achieved an excellent rating with a "B" rating. This shows that ecological sustainability is implemented holistically at MM, taking into account goals and measures to protect the climate, forests and water bodies.

For 2022, Billerud received even more points than last year and thus retains its position as one of the world’s most sustainable companies in its industry sector. This year’s results from the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indices show that Billerud continues to be one of the leading companies in the Containers & Packaging category. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices is based on the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), which is a comprehensive annual evaluation of corporate sustainability efforts and performance. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index includes the top ten percent of more than 2500 publicly listed companies.

The Chilean System for Sustainable Forest Management Certification 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 12 December 2022 to 9 February 2023. tPEFC Chile revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

The Irish Forest Certification 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 12 December 2022 to 9 February 2023. PEFC Ireland revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 12 December at 10:00 CET. Register for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqdO6uqz4jE9xv-OtPmwwbPuGtmgMmLzzG

The Regional FSC Forest Stewardship Standard (RFSS) for Smallholders in Vietnam has now been approved by FSC. This standard is for use by smallholders who own or manage individual units of plantations that are smaller than 20 hectares in size in Vietnam. The standard applies to rough wood and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The RFSS for Vietnam is an adaptation of the approved RFSS for Asia Pacific for Smallholders in India, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The national adaptation for Vietnam has been developed and it is now published to pilot test the indicators developed for specific local circumstances. For more details on the scope, please refer to sections C and E of the standard.

Clearwater Paper Corporation released its 2022 environmental, social and governance (ESG) report. Along with a continued commitment to create sustainable paper products, the report also highlights a significant increase in company-wide priorities to meet several key sustainability benchmarks. These include emissions reductions, resource conservation and company representation, among others as part of revised, multi-year goals. In this year’s report, Clearwater Paper states their plans to achieve a 30% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; achieve female representation of 30% or greater of their salaried workforce through 2030; and include ESG targets, goals, and outcomes in executive compensation.

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

We pick out the positive moments of the recent COP27 climate conference in Egypt and look forward to the COP15 Biodiversity Summit. For many of the world’s environmental campaigners, global organisations, conservationists, NGOs, charities, academics, and press, this year’s COP27 climate conference offered a chance for action, an opportunity for world leaders to gather and agree on firm resolutions to reverse the increase in carbon emissions and global temperature rise. However, two weeks after the conference opened on November 6, there was a general feeling of disappointment and frustration as delegates packed their bags and left the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Many felt that the event was a failure in terms of reducing carbon dioxide, with many countries trying to pull out of the decision taken at COP26 in Glasgow to keep temperature increases to 1.5ºC, and the final text regarded as weak, without any significant progress made.

Sustana, the sustainable fiber and paper industry leader, has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative. Sustana’s engagement in the UN Global Compact — a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices – reflects its longstanding and continued adherence to sustainable practices and its ongoing support for the Ten Principles focused on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. “With this announcement, Sustana is proud to continue its commitment to developing solutions to move society toward a greener, more circular future,” said Fabian de Armas, Chief Executive Officer for Sustana.

America Recycles Day®, which is celebrated on Nov. 15, is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Keep America Beautiful. The EPA has developed a National Recycling Strategy that is a first step toward a circular economy for all. This strategy is aligned with and supports implementation of the national goal to increase the recycling rate to 50 percent by 2030. The strategy has five objectives to create a more resilient and cost-effective national recycling system: *Improve markets for recycling commodities. *Increase collection and improving materials management infrastructure. *Reduce contamination in the recycled materials stream. *Enhance policies to support recycling. *Standardize measurement and increasing data collection.

As more and more companies begin their transition from plastic packaging to fiber-based or paper packaging, we recognize the importance of sourcing these fibers as responsibly as possible to protect and conserve Ancient and Endangered Forests. At Seaman Paper, we believe that sustainable business leadership is a fundamental component of long-term transformation, which is why we are excited to officially be a Canopy Pack4Good partner. Canopy is an environmental non-profit organization working with hundreds of companies through robust sourcing policies to reduce the impact on the world’s Ancient and Endangered Forests – which are critical to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, clean drinking water, wildfire risk reduction, and the well-being of indigenous communities.

At the FSC General Assembly recently, members voted on a range of important issues. Organized into Social, Economic and Environmental Chambers, the diverse perspectives brought by FSC’s members is key to the system’s integrity and credibility. In particular, the membership voted to approve changes to the FSC Principles & Criteria that will support implementation of a new Policy to Address Conversion. This was the result of years of debate and stakeholder engagement, impacting millions of acres of forests, particularly in tropical countries. This change will bring FSC into forest restoration, to create market incentives to restore degraded and deforested lands.

RWE Supply & Trading and Koehler Paper have agreed on a long-term green power supply of up to 175,000 megawatt hours per year. The green power certificates come from the Dutch 54-megawatt Waddenwind wind farm in the Groningen region, which has been connected to the grid since the beginning of the year. RWE Supply & Trading combines the certificates of origin into a green power supply and integrates them into Koehler Paper's procurement portfolio. Thanks to this contract, production at Koehler Paper’s Kehl site is largely climate-neutral. “By taking this step, we are saving around 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. We are thus underlining our claim to carry the concept of sustainability through the entire value chain of our paper production,” says Dr. Stefan Karrer, Chief Operating Officer of the Koehler Group. The family-owned company has set itself the goal of producing in a climate-friendly manner and thus making a contribution to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. Koehler is sticking to these goals, despite the enormous unexpected challenges resulting from the current energy crisis. “We are pleased to support Koehler Paper in the realisation of its sustainability strategy,” says Dr Hendrik Niebaum, Head of Commodity Solutions at RWE Supply & Trading. “The demand for CO₂-free electricity supplies from renewable sources is growing strongly. The cooperation with Koehler Paper and Waddenwind shows the potential in the European market.” The contract has a term of ten years and is valid from 2023.

Georgia-Pacific is honored to be recognized with an Innovation in Sustainability award for Juno® Technology. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Award winners, recognizing exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry. “This is the first year we are presenting awards in alignment with our new Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 sustainability goals and statement of principles on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “It is exciting to see examples of these goals in action.” Juno Technology is Georgia-Pacific’s breakthrough solution to waste diversion and resource recovery. It is a proven economical and socially responsible solution that can increase recycling and recovery across the U.S. and around the globe. “At Georgia-Pacific, we prioritize the development of new technologies that help us use fewer resources, minimize waste, and improve the environmental performance of our products and processes,” said Christer Henriksson, President of Juno, at Georgia-Pacific.

Under the theme ”Das g’fallt dem Wald” (“The forest likes that“), PEFC Austria concluded their successful multimedia campaign, raising awareness for the role of sustainable forestry in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the contribution that each of us can make. The message was clear: the PEFC label assures consumers that wood-based products come from sustainably managed forests. Choosing products carrying the label means contributing to healthy forests and active climate protection. One of the highlights of the campaign was PEFC Austria’s participation in the "INITIATIVE2030 - live the goals" project. The voluntary, non-profit information initiative publicises and disseminates the core contents of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

All COVID-19 derogations and interpretations are now valid through 30 April 2023. In response to the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, FSC has extended the validity of all COVID-19 related derogations and interpretations. These derogations and interpretations have been published in a single volume, together with related frequently asked questions. FSC will continue to monitor the situation and may either invalidate the derogations and interpretations prior to that date or may further extend the validity date before expiry of the COVID-19 derogations and interpretations.

Sylvamo is announcing a $3 million expanded partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to further its commitment to forest conservation and restoration. The initiative is part of Sylvamo’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and 2030 goals. The enhanced collaboration through WWF’s Forests Forward program will enable Sylvamo to make progress on its goal to ensure healthy and productive forest ecosystems by focusing on sustainable sourcing, conservation and restoration projects. Through the program, Sylvamo is collaborating with WWF to: *Grow the availability of fiber from responsibly managed forests in Europe and North America *Advance understanding of the role paper manufacturing plays in a circular, low-carbon economy in Europe *Expand restoration in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, focusing on the Mogi Guaçu River basin, where Sylvamo has important manufacturing operations

Recognized in the Food/Beverage category, Berry Global Group, Inc. received a Technology Excellence Award from The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) for its Proxima tethered closure with tamper-evident band. This innovative packaging solution cuts down on waste by securing the closure to the bottle and improving recyclability. “To help our customers meet the growing sustainability demands of today and tomorrow, we develop new products and materials that are designed to advance a pathway to circularity,” said Jean-Marc Galvez, President of the Consumer Packaging International Division at Berry Global. “As we push the limits of innovation with creative, sustainable packaging solutions, it is an honor to be recognized by our peers and other packaging experts.”

After its invention in the 20th century, plastic was seen as a miracle material. Today, we know about the various health and environmental risks it brings. Korean company Dongnam Realize found a sustainable alternative in CXP, a new kind of thermosoftening wood made from PEFC-certified wood. Thanks to its plastic-like properties, CXP can replace the plastic products we use in our daily lives. We spoke to Seunghoon Lim, Chief Technology Officer at Dongnam Realize, who told us more about the material and its potential to make the future more sustainable.

Duro®, a Novolex® brand, has earned the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification for numerous products in its Dubl Life® line of paper bags and sacks. The products are among the first on the market to receive this leading certification, further expanding the portfolio of certified compostable products offered by Novolex. In another first, the bags will also feature the How2Compost® and How2Recycle® labels, which inform consumers of how to dispose of the packaging after use. The How2Compost and How2Recycle labeling systems are managed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition® (SPC), whose members include forward-thinking brands that want their packaging to be recycled and composted, and are empowering consumers to do so through informative labels. The goal of these labels is to clearly communicate the composting and recycling instructions for these products to the public.

The Navigator Company received approval for its targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), an internationally recognised global organisation that assesses corporate initiatives working towards a low carbon economy. SBTi praised the "ambitious targets" proposed by the company earlier this year shortly after it joined, and underlined Navigator's contribution to achieving the goals set out in the Paris Agreement not to exceed a 1.5°C temperature increase, currently the most ambitious designation as part of the approval process of this organisation.

Earlier this year, BillerudKorsnäs combined with Verso Corporation to create Billerud, a world leading paper and packaging materials company based in Sweden with roots in the forest and paper industry that go beyond 150 years. “One year ago, we developed a strategic plan with a clear goal of achieving profitable and sustainable growth long term by expanding our cartonboard business in North America,” says Billerud President and CEO Christoph Michalski. “We were pleased to find Verso, a leading paper manufacturer in the US, with assets that can be turned into paperboard”. “By converting some of legacy Verso’s assets into premium cartonboard machines, Billerud will increase its supply of high-quality and low carbon-footprint cartonboard for end uses such as cosmetics, pharma and healthcare, luxury drinks and confectionary products, among others, to meet the increasing need for more sustainable packaging materials in North America and beyond,” says President of Billerud North America Rob Kreizenbeck. Sustainable packaging is no longer optional. It’s a must for any brand that wants to future-proof its business.

WRAP, a climate action NGO based in the U.K., is organizing Recycle Week from October 17-23 to celebrate consumer recycling of everyday goods across the U.K. The annual event encourages retailers, brand owners, waste management companies, trade associations, governments and the media to come together to achieve a common goal: “to galvanize the public into recycling more of the right things, more often.” In 2021, the campaign achieved over 29 million digital impressions, with 82% of people commenting that they changed their behavior after seeing Recycle Week 2021 content. For 2022, the campaign’s theme is called ‘Let’s Get Real,’ and its objective is to debunk myths surrounding recycling, challenge perceptions and improve behavior.

As FSC revises its Ecosystem Services Procedure, the World Wildlife Fund issued a new report called, “Paying Foresters to Provide Ecosystem Services.” Designed to support the FSC revision process, the report highlights opportunities to improve the procedure, such as: *Improving communications about ecosystem services to make the opportunities more understandable to sponsors. *Adapting audits to small-scale projects to make them more affordable. *Providing additional guidance about methodology. Driving value to forest managers through climate and ecosystem services is a priority for FSC in the United States and globally.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Belgian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 1 December. Give your feedback. PEFC Belgium revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. Please note that the system revision and standard only apply to the Walloon region of Belgium. The Belgian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Belgian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 1 December. Give your feedback. PEFC Belgium revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. Please note that the system revision and standard only apply to the Walloon region of Belgium. The Belgian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

UPM's commitment to wind power in Finland will significantly decrease emissions resulting from UPM’s paper production. The new wind park in Pyhäjoki is expected to reach full capacity in generating climate-friendly power in early 2023, providing a long-term renewable energy solution for UPM’s Finnish paper mills. In 2019, UPM signed a Wind Power Purchase agreement (PPA) with German renewable energy development company wpd. This contract enabled the construction of a new onshore wind park in Pyhäjoki, Finland, which is now in its final stages of development; the park is starting operations in the autumn 2022. It will reach full capacity in generating sustainable power in January 2023 and will continue to do so for 25-30 years.

UPM has set a target to increase the amount of deadwood in its commercial forests from the current level of about five cubic metres per hectare to ten cubic metres per hectare. In UPM's protected areas and commercial forests where a specific nature management target has been set, the deadwood target is 20 cubic metres per hectare. The new targets are part of UPM Forest Action, the UPM Forest Responsibility programme. In 2018, UPM set itself the target of increasing biodiversity in its forests in Finland while efficiently producing high-quality wood raw material. Biodiversity is measured by comparing natural forests with commercial forests. Studies have shown that one clear difference between these two types of forests is the amount of deadwood. UPM's success in increasing biodiversity is measured not only by the amount of deadwood, but also by other indicators such as the amount of broadleaved trees and the number of protected areas.

The Norwegian Forest Certification 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 26 September to 24 November 2022. PEFC Norway revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

The Belgian Forest Certification 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 3 October to 1 December 2022. PEFC Belgium revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. Please note that the system revision and standard only apply to the Walloon region of Belgium.

Forest certification is a powerful tool to combat illegal logging and to promote sustainable forest management and responsible timber trade. PEFC is calling for collaborators and donors to further develop the PEFC FOR-TRADE programme to drive ASEAN integration and development of regional value chains in forest related industries. The PEFC FOR-TRADE programme supports sustainable forest trade in the Lower Mekong and ASEAN region through certification programmes aimed at advancing nationally owned standards in sustainable forest management and chain of custody. PEFC Southeast Asia has collaborated with a range of partners in the region. More recently for example, we have been a key partner in a UN-REDD Initiative funded by NORAD, implementing a series of interventions to support Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong Region.

Huhtamaki and Stora Enso have joined forces to launch a new paper cup recycling initiative, The Cup Collective. The programme, which is the first of its kind in Europe, aims to recycle and capture the value of used paper cups on an industrial scale. Initially the programme will be implemented across the Benelux. With the aim of setting new standards for paper cup collection and recycling in Europe, The Cup Collective has issued an open invitation for partners from across the supply chain to get involved in working towards a systemic European solution. The EU has set recycling target for paper and board packaging of 85% by 2030. Paper cups are recyclable but need to be collected before they can be turned into new paper products. The Cup Collective initiative will create the necessary collection infrastructure to significantly increase the recycling rate of wood-fiber in paper cups. Above all, the programme will make it as easier for consumers and businesses to collect used paper cups to be regenerated into valuable recycled raw material.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Metsä Fibre and 3M, with the help of Earthworm Foundation, continue their close collaboration in responsible wood sourcing. This year the partnership concentrates on the Kainuu region, Finland, where the different parties will conduct research on current forestry practices and future practices linked to Kemi Mill expansion in the area. Based on the results, the three companies will develop their operations and continue collaboration among each other and other stakeholders to pursue sustainability in wood sourcing. Metsä Fibre, the world’s largest producer of bleached softwood pulp and a globally significant manufacturer of sawn timber; Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a significant wood pulp consumer; and 3M, a global producer of paper-based products, seek to advance environmental performance and sustainability throughout their operations and supply chains. Bringing all supply chain actors together promotes responsible practices from forests to customers.

Sustainability has gone mainstream, with more people than ever before concerned about the environmental impacts of the products and services they buy and use. They understandably want to do the right things for the planet, but the explosion of greenwashing is causing consumers and businesses to use – or in the case of paper, not use – products without any basis in fact. The Oxford Dictionary defines greenwashing as “Disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.” And you don’t have to look far to understand the scope of the problem. In a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll for Google Cloud, 72% of CEOs and C-suite leaders in North America admitted that their companies are guilty of greenwashing, even as most gave their companies an “above-average” rating for environmental sustainability. Greenwashing investigations of ESG (environmental, social, governance) investment funds are becoming commonplace. And, as reported in the Harvard Business Review, studies show that companies that tout their environmental credentials often have poor environmental compliance.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a global leader in fiber-based materials, has been awarded EcoVadis’ highest recognition level, Platinum, for the company’s sustainability performance. The company’s continuous efforts have now been rewarded, placing our Group among the top 1 percent of companies assessed by Eco Vadis. The rating is an improvement from Gold level rating, which we were previously rated since 2019. Our score increased especially in Environmental performance and Labour & Human rights. “During the past year we have made a significant step change in sustainability and put it as a key value driver for our growing business. We have a sharper sustainability strategy, an integrated operative model and a solid and holistic set of key performance indicators to help us monitor and evaluate our performance. We are thrilled and proud to move from the gold rating to platinum, as this gives us external validation that our ambition has been recognized and the concrete actions are already bearing fruit,” says Johan Lunabba, Vice President, Sustainability and Public Affairs.

At HH Global we understand the value a strong ESG strategy can unlock for our client’s brands. Proving that HH Global is the true market leader in sustainable marketing practices, we are thrilled to bring you the most recent enhancement to our sustainability program and proprietary technology platform, Hub. Hub can now provide our clients with automated carbon emissions estimates at quotation stage. This industry-first solution works by leveraging our CO2 calculator in conjunction with our CO2 dataset developed from the largest industry spend profile of +$2.3 billion. This technology will give marketeers a holistic view of the environmental impact of their procurement spend at the pre campaign planning stage, enabling deeper insights and smarter decision making. All client quotations generated through the platform will now carry a carbon emission estimate, allowing comparisons to be made between different materials, channels and price points. The first release supports common sustainable marketing procurement, with additional categories such as branded merchandise and premiums to follow. Digital channels are already at concept stage.

Mondi opened the Group’s first recycling laboratory at its Frantschach mill in Austria to test the recyclability of paper and paper-based packaging using non-paper components such as coatings. Conducting recycling tests in-house speeds up the process for developing sustainable packaging. While paper packaging offers many sustainability benefits, it also has certain barrier functionality limitations for products like perishable food. To enhance its functionality, non-paper components such as barrier coatings may need to be added, which in turn can impact recyclability. The data collected at the laboratory can be used to improve existing products and provide reliable information about their environmental impact. Mondi will also use the results to determine how the design of new packaging can be improved as well as how best to improve the circularity of [our] material flows. The tests are carried out on various paper and paper-based packaging products developed by Mondi and can determine whether the packaging can be efficiently recycled. The laboratory works in a similar way to industrial recycling facilities, but on a smaller scale. Results generated provide concrete evidence that the material can be recycled.

The Regional FSC Forest Stewardship Standard (RFSS) for Smallholders in India has now been approved by FSC. This standard is for the use in plantations by smallholders in India (Management Units smaller than 20 ha) and applies to rough wood and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). For more details on the scope, please refer to sections C and E of the standard. The standard has been written in a simple language and provides realistic and achievable indicators relevant to the circumstances of smallholders in India. Another key feature of the RFSS is that in many cases, a group manager or an external organization (a purchaser or an NGO) can assist the smallholder to achieve conformity with the standard.

HH Global is committed to being the first-choice, global, tech-enabled creative production and procurement partner to brands seeking stronger, more sustainable growth. Therefore, it is important that we are continually assessing and improving our ESG targets and framework, aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are updating our current carbon reduction targets to harmonize with the new science-based net-zero standard set out at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). The new standard is aligned with the science of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5C. During COP26 in Glasgow last year, a new standard for net-zero was introduced – prior to this there was no agreed standard. Many companies planned to achieve net-zero through ‘carbon offsets’, which are credits generated by projects reducing carbon emissions elsewhere. However, many existing carbon offsets are of inadequate quality and hard to verify, with some even increasing global emissions. The new net-zero standard allows less room for companies to cut corners – HH Global plans to lead by example.

Crown Holdings, Inc. has published its 2021 Sustainability Report to share progress against its dedicated Twentyby30 sustainability strategy and other key environmental, social and governance (ESG) achievements during fiscal years 2019 through 2021. The program includes five distinct pillars of action – Climate Action, Resource Efficiency, Optimum Circularity, Working Together and Never Compromise – which are supported by the Company's robust governance and ethics principles and practices. "We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made one year into the implementation of our Twentyby30 program," said John Rost, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at Crown. "Our strategy focuses on several key issues including emissions reduction, product lifecycle and recyclability to slow the pace of climate change, transitioning to renewable electricity, prioritizing water preservation, enhancing employee and product safety, and increasing workforce diversity. We are mindful that sustainability is not a linear journey and remain committed to continuous process and product innovation and exploring how we can accelerate progress by collaborating with our customers, suppliers and the industry at large."

Sealed Air has invested $9 million in a solar farm that is now powering its Madera, California manufacturing facility. The solar panels, which sit on 11 acres of company-owned land adjacent to the facility, are expected to help reduce energy spend at this site by $1 million annually. The 265,000 square foot plant, which manufactures BUBBLE WRAP® brand original cushioning, SEALED AIR® brand Korrvu® retention and suspension packaging, mailers, and other solutions, will have 98% of its electricity powered by the solar field. Over the course of the first year, the solar project will help avoid 4,982 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 72,172 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 15 years, which is equivalent to: *Greenhouse gas emissions from more than 15,000 passenger vehicles driven for one year *The carbon dioxide emission from annual electricity use for more than 14,000 homes *Carbon sequestered by nearly 1,200,000 tree seedlings grown over the course of a decade

Tetra Pak published its annual Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s achievements and progress in the last year and detailing the actions to help realise resilient and sustainable food systems. The sustainability challenges underscore the need for a radical new approach to the way we feed the world while minimising the impact on the planet. From how we source, produce and process our food, to its transportation, the materials we use to package it, and the critical role of collaborations in making it happen. Adolfo Orive, President & CEO at Tetra Pak, said: “Sustainability is not just in the agenda. It is THE agenda. We must ‘walk the talk’ by maximising our positive impact on nature and society, by continuing to embed sustainability as a key business driver and decision-making criteria. “Our ambition is to lead sustainability transformation within our industry and our initiatives in this regard have continued over the last 12 months, working together with our customers and partners to support their own efforts as well. The cost of inaction on sustainability today is a world we won’t recognise tomorrow. Our progress depends on being able to embrace a mindset which drives both growth and sustainability for a better future.”

About 146 million tons of municipal solid waste in the U.S. went to landfills in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). New technology is helping to turn some of that trash into treasure by recovering valuable materials for reuse. That’s where Juno comes in. Georgia-Pacific's first commercial facility with its Juno technology is up and running in Toledo, Oregon. “Juno is a new innovative waste diversion and recycling process that captures recyclable material previously destined for landfill or incineration because of coatings or food contamination,” said John Mulcahy, Vice President – Stewardship for Georgia-Pacific.

ProAmpac, a leader in flexible packaging and material science, announced their Rocky Mount, VA facility received the International Sustainability Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC Plus). This is a global sustainability certification system which supports the tracking of chemically recycled and bio-based polymers through the supply chain. “The ISCC Plus certification, coupled with our ProActive Sustainability product offering, underscores ProAmpac’s commitment to helping brand owners and retailers meet their sustainability goals,” states Chad Murdock, president of ProAmpac’s Film and Fiber Division.

EcoVadis has recognised UPM on a Platinum level based on the company’s sustainability performance in the following four categories: Environment, Labour and human rights, Ethics and Sustainable procurement. Only one per cent of the 90,000 global companies assessed received the Platinum score. Compared to previous years’ assessments, UPM received its all-time high score of 87/100. “The main improvement steps were taken in the Labour and human rights category. We have introduced several new social responsibility targets for 2030, focusing strongly on diversity and inclusion and fair rewarding. We have also developed our human rights due diligence processes and reporting,” says Sami Lundgren, VP, Responsibility at UPM. “The EcoVadis sustainability rating helps our customers assess the responsibility of their suppliers. UPM’s renewed Platinum rating recognises the work we have done to promote sustainability in the whole value chain.”

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Estonian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 13 October. Give your feedback. The Estonian Forest Certification Council revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The Estonian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management and Trees Outside Forests. Deadline for comments is 6 October. Give your feedback. PEFC UK revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The revised system is among the first submitted to PEFC for endorsement to include a Trees Outside Forests (TOF) standard. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

Two Sides, the print and paper advocacy group, is excited to announce its newest member, ELMA, the European Letterbox Marketing Association. ELMA is the leading European organisation for doordrop solutions which include the distribution of any print media, such as; leaflets, flyers, catalogues, brochures, free newspapers and product samples. ELMA selects its members carefully to represent the best in class in each market ensuring quality and professionalism for clients looking to use this channel. “Doordrop, or unaddressed mail, is a highly effective and popular media to promote products and services as it directly engages the consumer in the relaxed environment of their homes. They are accountable and integrate wonderfully with other in-home media, such as television and the internet.” says Mark Davies, Chairman for ELMA.

The Estonian Forest Certification 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 15 August to 13 October 2022. The Estonian Forest Certification Council revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 15 August at 10:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome.

Sonoco released its 2021-22 Corporate Responsibility Report, renewing ambitious 2030 commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage. The Science Based Targets align with the Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming temperatures well below -2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Beyond performance metrics, Sonoco further increased packaging sustainability and recycling with the $1.35 million acquisition of Ball Metalpack in January 2022. This expanded Sonoco’s can-making franchise and sustainable product portfolio with the addition of tinplate steel packaging – the world’s most recycled substrate. Funds for the acquisition came from $1.2 billion in certified Green Bonds, one of the largest sustainable offerings to date in the U.S. packaging sector.

The study is conducted by FSC International to identify existing problems associated with development and implementation of indicators under Criterion 6.5. This criterion establishes conservation requirements of The Organization demonstrating conformity with FSC’s Principles and Criteria. Criterion 6.5 of FSC Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship states that: “The Organization shall identify and protect representative sample areas of native ecosystems and/or restore them to more natural conditions. Where representative sample areas do not exist or are insufficient, The Organization shall restore a proportion of the Management Unit to more natural conditions. The size of the areas and the measures taken for their protection or restoration, including within plantations, shall be proportionate to the conservation status and value of the ecosystems at the landscape level, and the scale, intensity and risk of management activities.”

The PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management and Trees Outside Forests 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 8 August to 6 October 2022. PEFC UK revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The revised system is among the first submitted to PEFC for endorsement to include a Trees Outside Forests (TOF) standard. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

Assurance Services International (ASI) has accredited BMC Assurance S.L. to audit and issue FSC certificates. To receive the accreditation, BMC was evaluated by ASI and had demonstrated its ability to conduct impartial assessments to issue FSC certificates according to the established criteria. BMC will be able to audit and issue certificates for FSC chain of custody worldwide, excluding Belarus, China, and Russia.

The Russian National Voluntary Forest Certification System (FCR) has been suspended by the PEFC International Board, in mutual agreement with PEFC Russia. The suspension is intended to preserve the conditions for a successful long-term cooperation with PEFC Russia in order to support sustainable forest management in the Russian Federation in light of the current political situation. The suspension is effective as of 11 August 2022 and suspension is initially valid until 31 December 2022. Certificates issued against the Russian National Voluntary Forest Certification System (FCR) are no longer PEFC recognised as of 11 August 2022. This applies to both forest management and chain of custody certificates. Certified organisations are therefore prohibited from using PEFC claims and the PEFC label and cannot sell material as PEFC certified.

Irving Pulp & Paper (IPP) has been given permission to begin construction immediately of an Environmental Treatment Facility and Water Use Reduction Project at Saint John’s mill following a successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). After receiving the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s Certificate of Determination in accordance with the EIA, IPP will break ground on the project which is estimated to cut the mill's water consumption by up to 50 percent and result in cleaner water leaving the mill. Construction will require 60 contractor jobs averaged over the 2-2.5-year period with peaks of 120 local contractors. Construction and installation of the new equipment is expected to generate 609,000 person-hours of work over an estimated 22 months in New Brunswick. Construction will begin immediately and run until late 2024.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. published its annual sustainability report, which catalogs the Company’s 2021 sustainability impacts and furthers its commitments for the future. The report, titled “Safe, Circular & Responsible,” discloses IPG’s annual sustainability performance and actions over the course of 2021, and identifies areas of further improvement as it continues to advance responsible manufacturing, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of its workforce. “Safety and well-being extend beyond the four walls of our organization into the community and around the world, which is why our product innovations, efficiencies in the use of raw materials, water and energy, and elimination of waste are inherent to our values,” said Greg Yull, President and Chief Executive Officer of IPG. “We continue to believe sustainability is one of the core growth drivers of our business, which is why we have taken ambitious actions to lead the industry in making products that are better for the planet, our people, our customers and the global community.” The Company’s customer-centric and sustainability-oriented commitment to “do the right thing” was elevated in 2021, despite the global economic challenges faced during the reporting period. With a priority on taking actionable measures rather than lofty pledges, IPG furthered its industry lead in securing Cradle to Cradle Certified® product certifications and became a signatory to multiple agreements that placed accountability on ambitious near-term goals such as achieving zero waste manufacturing and a net zero carbon footprint.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation published its annual report on sustainability, including an update on the company's progress toward its 2030 sustainability strategy and goals, aimed at addressing the social and environmental challenges of the next decade with goals to improve the lives and well-being of 1 billion people in underserved communities around the world and reducing its environmental footprint. "As Kimberly-Clark continues to grow our business, caring for our people, consumers, customers, partners and communities remains front and center," said Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark. "From our commitment to climate stewardship and our efforts to develop more sustainable solutions for our product portfolio to our focus on inclusion and diversity and our ambition to advance the well-being of 1 billion people around the world, we'll continue to drive positive impact as we create long-term value for our shareholders. That's how we deliver Better Care for a Better World."

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Brazilian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 15 September. Give your feedback. PEFC Brazil revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The Brazilian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement. An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

CANPACK Group is delighted to announce that its ambitious new emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the independent science-based body, which promotes best practice in the scientific sphere. As part of its emissions targets, CANPACK has committed to three core mission statements: *Reduced absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% by 2030, from the base year of 2020. *Increasing annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 62% in 2020 to 100% from 2022. *Reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services by 12.3% by 2030, from a base year of 2020. As a result of the company’s pledges, SBTi’s Validation Team has been able to classify CANPACK’s scope 1 and 2 target ambitions as in-line with keeping greenhouse emissions well-below the 2°C trajectory.

Smallholders, local communities, and indigenous peoples own or manage nearly half of the world’s forests and the way those forests are managed can have an influence on the climate, biodiversity, and health of our planet. It is therefore vital that smallholders can gain certification, not only to benefit from the advantages it brings to their livelihoods, but to ensure that these forests are responsibly managed so they are around for generations to come. To achieve this, we must make sustainable forest management certification accessible to these smallholders. This is where PEFC group certification comes in, enabling smallholders to group together and organize themselves, pool their resources and work as a team to achieve certification. Since 2010, our Smallholder Group Certification programme has enabled the sharing of experiences and facilitated cooperation amongst family forest owners, community forest groups, and indigenous peoples in implementing sustainable forest management and pursuing forest certification.

In today’s industrial marketplace, the concept of a circular economy is finally inching beyond theoretical ideals to real-world applications that will make our planet healthier and more sustainable. But becoming truly circular doesn’t come easy or cheap. It’s a challenge that requires intent, investment and innovation. The paper industry figured this out decades ago, and it has been at the leading edge of circularity ever since. In fact, paper manufacturing exemplifies the very definition of circularity – industrial processes and economic activities that are 1) restorative or regenerative by design, 2) enable resources used to maintain their highest value for as long as possible, and 3) aim to eliminate waste through the superior design of materials, products and systems. Most alternatives don’t even come close. Take plastics, for example.

Stora Enso and Tetra Pak are jointly examining a shared beverage carton recycling solution to meet the growing recycling need in Benelux, responding to the demand for circular paper-based packaging solutions. The joint feasibility study includes a plan for a comprehensive beverage carton recycling facility at Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site in Belgium. Processing of the fibers would take place at the Langerbrugge site, while the polymer and aluminum barrier materials would be recycled by a dedicated partner. Approximately 75,000 tonnes of beverage cartons are put on the Benelux market annually, a growing volume of which more than 70% is already collected for recycling. Currently, there is no existing beverage carton recycling infrastructure in Benelux. This collaboration between Stora Enso and Tetra Pak would create a complete recycling system for beverage cartons in Benelux and surrounding regions. Within the solution, Stora Enso would process collected beverage cartons and recover the fibers. The recycled fibers would serve as source material for producing recycled containerboard within the Langerbrugge site, delivering a fully circular solution. Tetra Pak would secure a recycling solution for polymer and aluminum materials to be processed by a dedicated partner.

The final public consultation for the Version 2 standard revision process closed on May 31, 2022. During the consultation 43 responses were received, representing 75 respondents. By chamber, 28 Economic Chamber responses were received (representing 31 respondents), 10 Environmental Chamber responses were received (representing 39 respondents), 3 Social Chamber responses were received (representing 3 respondents) and 2 responses were received where chamber alignment could not be determined. The greatest number of comments were received about Principle 2 (Forest Workers’ Rights & Wellbeing) and Principle 6 (Impacts on Environmental Values). For Principle 2, topics with the most comments focused on worker wages and addressing expectations regarding fair compensation for injury or property damage. For Principle 6, topics with the most comments were Representative Sample Areas, Conservation Area Networks and expectations regarding justifying deviations from regional requirements for opening sizes.

The public consultation is open between 11 July and 14 August 2022 and will be used to collect stakeholder feedback on the joint review report of FSC-STD-20-001 V4-0 General requirements for FSC accredited certification bodies and two related procedures, FSC-PRO-20-003 V1-0 FSC Certificates and License Agreements and FSC-PRO-20-004 V1-2 General Requirements for an FSC Training Programme.

Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) published a detailed aluminum beverage can recycling primer and roadmap that explains how the ambitious U.S. aluminum beverage can recycling rate targets that CMI members announced in November 2021 will be achieved. Those targets are reaching a 70 percent recycling rate by 2030, 80 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050. The aluminum beverage can is the most recycled beverage container in the United States with a 45 percent recycling rate in 2020. Consider that in 2020, for the aluminum beverage can recycling rate to have reached 70 percent, 25.6 billion more cans needed to be recycled. If the target had been met and those additional cans recycled, it would have generated more than $400 million in revenue for the U.S. recycling system and resulted in energy savings that could power more than 1 million U.S. homes for an entire year. The report explains in detail how CMI will achieve its targets via four pillars of action, which are: 1. Catalyze the passage and implementation of well-designed deposit systems at the state and federal levels. 2. Increase and improve household and away-from-home recycling. 3. Ensure that more cans are properly sorted at recycling centers. 4. Increase consumer understanding on the importance of aluminum can recycling and the ability to collect and sell used beverage cans for cash.

The Brazilian Forest Certification 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 18 July to 15 September 2022. PEFC Brazil revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information, we are holding a webinar on 18 July, 14:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend and open to everyone. more at: https://pefc.org/news/brazilian-forest-certification-system-submitted-for-assessment

FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers), together with CCB (Cepi Container Board), has released the new “European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies 2021”. FEFCO and CCB have been collecting and publishing life cycle data for more than 25 years. The life cycle analysis follows a robust process of data collection, evaluation and validation by LCA experts. The process and data are subject to independent peer review by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH, Germany. The 2021 report and data collection cover a significant proportion of the sector representing: *84% of the total annual production for kraftliner and semi-chemical fluting and 74% of the production of testliner and recycled fluting. *73% of the total annual corrugated board production in average.

Sonoco announced it is expanding post-consumer recovery and recycling opportunities for paper cups in bales of mixed paper to be used as raw material at its Hartsville, S.C., paperboard mill to produce new paperboard. All of Sonoco’s United States paper mills have previously validated that they can accept rigid paper cans in bales of mixed paper coming from residential Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). This new announcement extends acceptance to paper cups at the Hartsville mill. Additional testing is underway with the aim of expanding cup recycling to all Sonoco mills that utilize residential mixed paper.

Mail center professionals, who already operate in a challenging business environment, are increasingly faced with the task of responding to the popular, but scientifically flawed narrative that the paper critical to their operations is somehow environmentally unsustainable. If this describes you, then Ben Franklin, father of the Postal Service and first U.S. postmaster general, offers some sage advice: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” In our increasingly digital world, knowledge – knowing the facts about the unique sustainability of paper – is a potent antidote to the common environmental myths used to justify replacing paper mail with electronic communications: that paper production and use destroys forests, is a major contributor to climate change, consumes enormous amounts of water and generates excessive amounts of waste.

“Our vision is to create a future as sustainable as the forests, for people, our products and the planet we all share. Making sustainability a core value in our business is not only the right thing to do for the planet, our people, stakeholders, partners and customers, but it makes us a better company,” said Don Kayne, President & CEO of Canfor Corporation. “Our employees want to feel proud of the organization where they work and feel an alignment with their values. Our customers want to know that the products they purchase from us are sustainably sourced and responsibly produced. Our strong sustainability practices make us a better partner, a better supplier and a better employer,” added Kayne. 2021 Highlights: • We will reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030, and set a science-based reduction target for scope 3 GHG emissions by 2024 • Canfor has committed to set near- and long-term company-wide emission reductions in line with science-based net-zero with the SBTi • 54 million seedlings planted in 2021, with more than one billion planted over the last 20 years • 100% of Canfor-managed forests are certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Forest Steward Council (FSC) Forest Management Standards • 100% of U.S. sourced wood is certified to the SFI Fibre Sourcing Standard

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Polish Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 25 August 2022. Give your feedback. PEFC Poland revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. See all system assessment details at: https://pefc.org/discover-pefc/our-pefc-members/national-members/pefc-poland . The Polish system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

The Portuguese Forest Certification 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 5 July to 3 September 2022. PEFC Portugal revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information, we are holding a webinar on 5 July, 11:00 CEST. The webinar is open to everyone and is free to join. Register now at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvde2sqDktHNXNvPs-m1MAAOHjHuI7tqqz

Pactiv Evergreen announced the launch of its new “Zero Waste Implementation Guide” at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Minneapolis. The Guide is a resource to help foodservice establishments improve their waste diversion rates. Recreation venues, stadiums, arenas, colleges and university foodservice programs, in particular, will benefit from this valuable resource. Achieving zero waste is a circular solution that helps ensure a sustainable future economically, environmentally and socially. By closing the loop, operators can cut greenhouse gases, manage risk, reduce litter and pollution, reinvest resources, and create value for their operation. Pactiv Evergreen’s “Zero Waste Implementation Guide” was created to provide everything a foodservice operator needs to begin their journey to zero waste. The interactive Guide can be downloaded for free from PactivEvergreen.com, enabling a foodservice establishment to customize the tool and document their data and progress.

Through the combined efforts of Idesam and the Uatumã Reserve, the 44,000-hectare area has obtained FSC certification. It is currently the only certificate in the state of Amazonas to include both the timber and non-timber categories for forest products. February became an important milestone for the work of Idesam in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve. After a long process that involved capacity-building activities, technical assistance and institutional support, the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve's main association, the AACRDSU (Association of Agroextractivist Communities of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve) received FSC’s Forest Management and Chain of Custody certifications from the Institute for Forest and Agriculture Management and Certification (Imaflora).

Which Austrian companies and personalities are particularly good for the forest? PEFC Austria gave the answer on the country's highest mountain, the Großglockner, where it presented the PEFC Award for Sustainability 2021 in five categories. "It was a real pleasure to join our Austrian colleagues at this very special location at the foot of the Großglockner, and meet the personalities that through a variety of actions make a real difference for forests and people in Austria and beyond,” said Eduardo Rojas Briales. "We can celebrate sustainability at the Großglockner mountain at 2,369 metres thanks to one of the award winners," explained PEFC Austria Chair Dr Kurt Ramskogler, as he announced Großglockner-Hochalpenstraßen-AG (GROHAG) as the winner in the category "Promotion".

Forests sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide as they grow. However, they also have considerable climate impact when they are felled because products produced using wood form forests replace fossil-based products so that oil and coal can be left in the ground.  “We must consider both these parameters to be able to make political decisions that have the greatest positive impacts on the climate. There is a holistic calculation model that helps do just that,” says Peter Holmgren, an expert on forestry and climate. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change states that saving the climate rests on a two-pronged approach of reducing fossil emissions and increasing carbon storage. 

The Polish Forest Certification 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 27 June to 25 August 2022. PEFC Poland revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information, we are holding a webinar on 27 June, at 14:00 CEST. The webinar is open to everyone and is free to join. Register for the webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkf-GupzssHtSSCIP29sxfh5AZgHIRW-im

The American Forest & Paper Association announced 68% of all paper consumed in the United States was recycled in 2021 – a rate on par with the highest rate previously achieved. Additionally, the recycling rate for old corrugated containers (OCC), commonly known as cardboard, increased. The rate was 91.4% in 2021, up from the 2020 rate of 88.8%, and overall, a three-year average of 90.5%. “Paper recycling is stronger than ever and remains an environmental success story," said AF&PA President & CEO Heidi Brock. “In 2021, U.S. paper recycling reached a high rate of achievement. Further evidence that our industry’s investment and public participation in recycling programs are proven and effective.”

“When focusing on wood products, that’s where FSC comes in. It’s proven to be the most reputable and stringent option, so we rely on it for all of our projects”, says Katie Stanford of STŌK, a leading built-environment sustainability firm, in a recent webinar on responsible forestry. The webinar, produced by Sustainable Brands, also included Christopher Reeves from Procter & Gamble and Brad Kahn of Forest Stewardship Council US. A peer-reviewed study by Ecotrust and the University of Washington showed that forests managed to FSC standards are globally significant in their ability to store large quantities of carbon, which is key to mitigating the effects of climate change. While some have argued that any form of forest management (short of deforestation) is carbon neutral because trees eventually re-grow, in reality the study found that larger and more protective buffers along streams, retention of more live trees following a harvest, and longer rotation lengths all combine to result in significantly more carbon storage.

Huhtamaki receives a gold medal from EcoVadis on sustainability performance – for the second year running. Our score places us in the top 5% among over 90,000 rated companies across the globe and highlights our continued to work towards our ambitious 2030 sustainability goals. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted business sustainability index. “Our strong EcoVadis rating is a recognition of the work we have done over the last two years, and highlights how our teams globally have embraced sustainability. We are very proud of this achievement. Nevertheless, we must continue to keep our focus on the big picture and our overall 2030 ambition as we still have a long way to go. That is why we are continuously working on improving our sustainability performance, analyzing where improvements are needed and acting on these insights." says Thomasine Kamerling, Huhtamaki EVP, Sustainability and Communications.

As US states embrace extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, brand owners can proactively design or redesign packaging to come out ahead — and win over eco-minded consumers in the process. In states like Maine and Oregon, new laws are being introduced to bolster municipal recycling initiatives. Dubbed Extended Producer Responsibility Programs (EPRs), the policies aim to reduce the volume and toxicity and increase the recycling of packaging material. EPR programs will also take the cost of recycling off of taxpayers and put them onto manufacturers by taxing them based on the recyclability of their materials. These laws have the potential to create real change two-fold: One, by offering fundamentally expensive municipal recycling programs a lending hand with operating costs, while simultaneously encouraging consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Given many recycling programs across the country have been suspended due to collection costs and inefficiencies, it’s not surprising that many other states are considering similar regulation.

“The knowledge gap between forestry actors and society in Korea can be narrowed down through constructive communications: our event contributes meaningfully to the overall country effort,” said Mr Byungki Ahn. Mr Ahn, Director of Forest Policy Division, Service, was speaking at the KFCC-PEFC Customer Relationship & Business Strategy Meeting side event, held on the first day of the XV World Forestry Congress (WFC). “The Korean forestry sector has its specific history. While Korea has had success in forest restoration, there are still relatively strong public concerns on forest use, due to the memory of the devastated forest after the Korean war,” Mr Ahn explained. “A lot of work needs to be done to ensure that forest use is socially acceptable. KFCC is the system that can reassure the public that wood-based products are produced sustainably.”

UPM is the first Finnish company, acting as a shipper and charterer, to discharge its ship-generated wastewater on land and utilise various circular economy solutions in wastewater treatment. The commitment has been published today, on the World Oceans Day, to Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG). The new model will be implemented in the ports of Rauma, Hamina, Kotka and Pietarsaari, which are the four most important ports for UPM's operations. "Responsible waste management on maritime transport and the use of modern technology in the treatment of ship-generated waste is an obvious strategic choice for UPM,” says Lauri Rikala, Director, Global Break Bulk Shipping at UPM. "We have been cooperating actively with Baltic Sea Action Group for over ten years and made several commitments. Therefore, it was only natural that we combine our forces and expertise in this project."

Two Sides was recently flooded with complaints from around the world about unsubstantiated anti-paper environmental claims used by Dropbox, Inc. to encourage the use of its digital services. In an email distributed globally, the digital document management and storage company claimed that “Less Paper = More Trees,” using Dropbox is “more earth-friendly,” and that people can “do their part for the planet” and “secure the future of forests” by using Dropbox. With nearly 17 million paying customers and millions more who use its free service, Dropbox’s misleading claims are damaging consumer and business decision-maker perceptions of paper’s environmental sustainability and threatening the livelihoods of millions of people in the global paper, printing and mail sector. Two Sides wrote to the company’s CEO urging Dropbox to stop using these types of deceptive environmental claims about paper. Now, we’re asking our members to amplify the urgency of our request with letters of your own.

The documents and changes being consulted on are: **Standard to define small and low-intensity forests to now include community forest FSC-STD-01-003 SLIMF & Community Forest Eligibility Criteria sets a generic threshold and definition for ‘SLIMF’ and ‘community forest.’ SLIMF and community forest thresholds are then able to be adapted to the national context. The main changes being consulted on include: *New definition for ‘community forest’ *Adding flexibility to national standard developers, even allowing for the threshold for SLIMF to be over 1000 hectares once there is justification in addition to stakeholder support provided. The consultation ends 13 June 2022. Learn more about the process here. Click read more below for details

As part of the revision process of the FSC forest management standard for continental France, FSC France has published its first public consultation, open to all until 18 July 2022. After a first phase of consultation with stakeholders in the regions and at national level in 2021, FSC France has set up a working group composed of environmental, social and economic organizations in order to improve its forest standard. The process includes two public consultations before validation by FSC International. The first consultation was published on 17 May 2022, and will be open to all until 18 July 2022 on the Consultation Platform, with the aim of collecting the opinions of all stakeholders interested in forest management on the proposals for the evolution of the FSC forest management standard.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Argentine Forest Certification Scheme. Deadline for comments is 29 July 2022. Give your feedback. The Argentine Forest Certification System CERFOAR revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The Argentine system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement. An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

The standard becomes effective on 01 July 2022. This standard is for the use in plantations by smallholders in Indonesia (Management Units smaller than 20 ha) and applies to rough wood and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). The standard has been written in simple language and provides realistic and achievable indicators relevant to the circumstances of smallholders in Indonesia. The Regional Forest Stewardship Standard (RFSS) in Indonesia is an adaptation of the approved RFSS for Asia Pacific for Smallholders in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The national adaptation for Indonesia has been developed and published to pilot test the indicators developed for specific circumstances in Indonesia. For more details on the scope, please refer to sections 1.3, 1.4 and 3.1 of the standard.

Created by Two Sides UK, The Page is published three times a year and brings you all the latest news, facts, information, research and innovation from the world print, paper and paper packaging. You can request a printed copy of The Page by clicking on the link >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4zafQsc8KTFDK2TGUAqz3qZ1GQPkkgIaIAaExog60zoNP2Q/viewform

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 2022 Chain of Custody Standard has met our rigorous third-party assessment and is PEFC endorsed. Organizations certified to SFI’s 2022 Chain of Custody standard can now apply the PEFC on-product label and make PEFC claims, giving them more options to meet customer demand around the world. “SFI makes important contributions that address the needs of North America’s forests and communities and is a valuable national member working with PEFC to elevate the role of sustainable forestry,” said Dr. Michael Berger, Acting Secretary General of PEFC. “Only chain of custody certification standards that meet our rigorous criteria and that are developed in an open, transparent manner through a multi-stakeholder process are endorsed by PEFC.” The SFI 2022 Chain of Custody Standard was endorsed after a 60-day international public consultation period and a detailed examination that included a third-party assessment by an independent assessor.

The numbers are in! Paper is, once again, one of the most recycled materials in the U.S. Our industry has maintained continuously high recycling rates for more than a decade. In 2021, the paper recycling rate climbed to 68%, a rate on par with the highest rate previously achieved. The recycling rate for old corrugated containers (OCC) – you know these as cardboard boxes – was also an impressive 91.4%. More than 50 million tons of paper was recovered for recycling in 2021. That amount could fill rail cars stretching from New York to Los Angeles three times! The paper recycling rate has met or exceeded 63% since 2009.

The Argentine Forest Certification System CERFOAR revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information, we are holding a webinar on 31 May, at 14:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. The Argentine system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

Atlantic just sent 17 pallets of electronic waste to a recycling facility. That’s 7,749 pounds of waste that will be given a new life instead of sitting in a landfill! Every employee at a company has a unique perspective, and when they’re presented with inspiration their great ideas come to life. Two years ago, Nate Huot began collecting old hardware laying around Atlantic’s facilities. This process gradually grew into a popular, new program at Atlantic. Old computers, copiers, monitors, battery backups, and a variety of other products have been collected from our locations in Acworth, Dalton, Greensboro, Tabor City, Wilmington, and Sturgis. These used devices would have ended up in a landfill if it wasn’t for the E-Waste Recycling Program. E-waste is full of valuable rare earth elements (REE’s) and toxic minerals. If these materials are not disposed of properly, they can pollute the environment.