UPM Biofuels wins Pulp and Paper Industry’s Bio Strategy Award 2016

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

Ahlstrom-Munksjö is one of the founding members of the #GreenSource initiative to promote the role of forest-fiber industries in the effort to achieve the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050. #GreenSource brings together members of the European Pulp Industry Sector Association (EPIS) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi). The forest-fiber industry wishes to play a central role in offering solutions that respond to the needs of the European citizens and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle, while making sure that forests keep growing, absorbing CO2 and protecting biodiversity.

The shift to online shopping has accelerated dramatically in recent years. At the touch of a screen, consumers can search for a product, order and have it delivered to their door, sometimes on the same day. As consumers have come to appreciate the safety, speed and convenience of buying products online, they also are increasingly more concerned about how those products are packaged and delivered. European consumers are demanding that retailers do more to ensure their packaging is widely recyclable, and 49% believe that paper-based packaging is easier to recycle than other materials. Recycling data reflects this belief: 82% of paper packaging is recycled, the highest recycling rate of any packaging material. Glass has a recycling rate of 76%, metal 76% and plastic just 38% (Eurostat, 2020).