International Paper Publishes 2022 Sustainability Report

The biological treatment plant at Obbola paper mill cleans the mills’ waste water before it’s released to the river. The purification is made in several stages where, among other things, suspended material (particles such as fibre residues, oxygen-consuming substances and biological sludge) is purified. Last year, an improvement project was initiated with the aim of improving the purification in the biological treatment plant. The factory had experienced interruptions in the plant and risked not being able to meet the emission conditions for the next years, if no measures were taken. A cross-functional team worked intensively for 12 weeks to collect data to be able to investigate the root cause of the disruptions at the plant. A number of measures were taken.

It’s been a busy start to the year and for us, much of that has been driven by the changing relationship we are seeing between consumers and packaging. Whether it is the growth in online shopping or a personal desire to be greener and more ethical in our consumption, we are seeing significant shifts in how we all relate to packaging materials. And as we build on these experiences, this year presents a unique opportunity for all of us: to shake up the green and circular economy agenda and be bold in our thinking. A recent article in Forbes noted that 2021 was the ‘Year of the Package’ and we continue to see the impact of that every day. At DS Smith, we only make fully recyclable paper-based packaging and are committed to a future free of plastics.

Supermarkets in New Jersey will no longer be able to give paper bags to customers starting in mid-2022. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a law prohibiting N.J. retailers and other businesses from handing out single-use paper and plastic bags, single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam containers. The law, which is being called one of the toughest of its kind in the country, goes into effect in May 2022. The bans apply to a variety of businesses, including restaurants, convenience stores, food trucks, movie theaters and grocery stores that are 2,500 sq. ft. or larger. The ban also does not apply to reusable carryout bags, defined in the bill as those made out of polypropylene, or nylon, cloth, hemp and other washable fabrics.