Two Sides North America and Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) Team up to Change Misleading Green Claims

Proving you’re contributing to the world’s net-zero by 2050 goal is now a business imperative. In this third blog of the "Unite in the Forest Fight" series, we share how companies’ forest stewardship is unlocking tangible benefits with verified data. For far too long, the value of forests has been measured by the quantity of commercial products we can take from them. Unsustainable harvesting of timber, rubber, and other forest products are taking their toll, as is continued deforestation for expansion of agricultural land for livestock feed production, such as soy and, and for crops such as palm oil1. It’s no surprise that each year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed2. Traditionally, economic incentives have prioritized degradation and conversion at the expense of conservation, often neglecting the vital efforts of forest managers. Yet, as the world confronts the imperative of achieving a global net-zero by 2050, forest stewardship finally finds its rightful place in the spotlight.

As consumers, every time we finish a product, we have a choice to make about the empty container: Will it be repurposed, recycled, or sent straight to the trash can? The decision may seem like an insignificant one (after all, what’s just one piece of trash from one consumer, anyway?)—but, depending on the packaging and the substrate it’s made from, this simple action can contribute to major collective impact. Take metal, for example: Every minute, nearly 90,000 aluminum beverage cans are recycled in the U.S. Together, that volume of recovered materials saves enough energy to power more than 35,000 U.S. homes for one hour, demonstrating the importance of viewing each piece of packaging as a critical component of a much larger entity.

On 14th of March, Mondi confirmed its four ambitious commitments as part of its efforts to eliminate plastics waste and thereby contribute to a better world. Mondi first started collaborating with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2017, and joined the New Plastics Economy initiative in 2018 to work towards eliminating plastic pollution and creating 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging by 2025. Peter Oswald, said: “We believe all packaging must be ‘fit for purpose’: paper where possible, plastic when useful. Paper is the packaging material of choice as it is naturally compostable and a renewable resource, not just recyclable. Mondi, as the world’s leading producer of kraft paper and paper bags, has many innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste." Click Read More below for additional detail.