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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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