After five years of effort, Taiwan has achieved a significant milestone in the Asia-Pacific region, with 100% of public forests now certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The certification covers nearly 1.6 million hectares, representing 71.5% of Taiwan’s total forest area—the highest certification rate in the region. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture introduced the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system since 2018 to promote sustainable forest management. Mr. Lin Hua-qing, Director of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, emphasized that this accomplishment will help reduce Taiwan’s reliance on imported timber. By sustainably managing domestic plantations, Taiwan aims to increase self-sufficiency, reduce energy consumption, and cut carbon emissions from long-distance timber transportation.

Bio-based materials are on the rise as companies strive to phase out fossil-based materials and transition to bio and circular economy. Today, non-forest bio-based materials are mixed with forest-based materials in FSC-certified products such as textiles, packaging, and furniture. Currently, non-forest bio-based materials are considered neutral in FSC-certified products and are exempt from FSC Chain-of-Custody requirements. FSC’s Circularity Hub is currently analyzing the use of non-forest bio-based materials in FSC-certified products to explore the potential of these emerging materials and FSC’s approach to them in the future. To gain insights into the actual use of bio-based materials, the Circularity Hub has launched a survey that FSC stakeholders are encouraged to participate in.

Since its founding in 1994, FSC has championed sustainable forest management, spanning economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability. With its rigorous and trusted forest certification system, FSC is contributing to healthy and resilient forests, upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and forest sector workers, promoting gender equality, and safeguarding biodiversity. Strong relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders are central to FSC’s mission and impact. As of 2024, FSC’s impact across the globe includes: *160+ million hectares of forest certified worldwide *1,150+ members from 89 countries offering environmental, economic and social perspectives *300+ staff across 42 local offices extending FSC’s reach and advocacy *60,000+ certifications issued verifying sustainable practice *1,700+ brands holding an FSC promotional licence, helping drive awareness

Last week, we held the latest instalment of the PEFC alignment to EUDR webinar series, sharing news from the European Commission as well as the roll out of the new PEFC EUDR compliance support solution. With our PEFC experts Hubert Inhaizer (Sustainable Forest Management), Maja Drca (EU Affairs), Marta Martínez Pardo (Chain of Custody), and Rob Shaw (Data and Integrity), we touched on the alignment of our Sustainable Forest Management benchmark, the PEFC EUDR DDS module, partnerships with technology experts to ensure data management, and the latest new from the Commission. If you missed the webinar, you can see the recording at: https://pefc.org/news/on-the-path-to-eudr-alignment-see-our-webinar-recording

For the printing industry and its supply chain, embracing sustainable practices is not just a smart business decision—it’s essential for our future. Reducing your carbon footprint is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to a healthier planet while ensuring long-term business success. The following five strategies are practical, actionable, and designed to make a significant difference for businesses of all sizes. 1. Track Your Emissions - Before you can reduce your emissions, you need to know where they originate. 2. Implement Energy Efficiency Measures - Improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. 3. Reduce Waste - Reducing waste is a key component of sustainability. 4. Update Your Machinery - Modern machinery often incorporates innovations in automation and energy efficiency, making it more environmentally friendly than older models. 5. Validate Your Carbon Emissions and Reductions - Third-party validation of your carbon emissions and reductions adds credibility to your sustainability efforts.

The new PEFC RED II standards are a significant move towards PEFC providing companies with a tool to demonstrate their compliance with the RED II sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria across the European Union (EU). These new standards will enable PEFC chain of custody certified organisations seeking RED II compliance to obtain a PEFC RED II certificate and use the PEFC certification scheme to demonstrate that the forest biomass they use meets the relevant RED II sustainability criteria.

In an exciting collaboration between Wilfa and Papira® by Stora Enso, the wood-based packaging of the ProBaker kitchen mixer becomes a masterpiece creating a recipe for a more sustainable future. A collaboration that requires no compromise on either company’s strong focus on design, quality, safety and innovation. Who knew sustainable materials could look this good? Norwegian company Wilfa is dedicated to environmental responsibility and is actively seeking sustainable alternatives in packaging materials. With their ProBaker kitchen mixer they needed a solution that could meet their demands on sustainability, without compromising on protective features and design. “We will always try to challenge some established truths and technologies. The ProBaker has been developed together with professional bakers and users, and we’re becoming the favourite of advanced and demanding home bakers! When Stora Enso reached out to us with Papira®, we found this to be a perfect match for the ProBaker”, says Arnt Sandvik Nilsen, Category Director at Wilfa.

Tetra Pak has received the ‘Resource Efficiency’ Award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024, for its paper-based barrier material innovation. The awards recognise the most innovative advancements in sustainable packaging over the past year. A world-first in the carton packaging industry, the paper-based barrier when combined with plant-based polymers, reduces the carbon footprint of aseptic food packaging by up to one-third, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and performance. The carbon reduction achievement has been verified by the Carbon Trust.1

In alignment with the FSC Strategic Framework on Diversity and Gender (2022-26), and furthering the foundational efforts of the Free to Grow in Forestry Movement, the co-leadership of FSC Canada, FSC US and FSC International, a North American Council comprised of FSC economic, Indigenous, environment and social chambers, and the International Forest Students Association (IFSA), are now working collaboratively to lead the sector toward strengthening their workplace culture for the betterment of all people. The FSC Strategic Framework on diversity and gender calls for a “paradigm shift” in workplace culture that can only be achieved by the joint efforts and contributions of all members of society. With that in mind, FSC has established an Inclusion Council for its North American membership. This council will provide strategic guidance on the development of an action plan, serving as a pilot case study for fostering the transformational change FSC aims to create internationally.

Metsä Group introduces voluntary nature compensation measures in its environmental deviations. Part of regenerative forestry, nature compensation overcompensates the harm to nature resulting from any legal violations. The operating model ensures that corrective measures linked to defective performance result in greater benefit than harm to nature. Nature compensation will be applied in matters related to the Nature Conservation Act and the Forest Act – key legislation in terms of biodiversity. The development of the compensation model is ongoing, and it will be applied retrospectively from 2023 for deviations detected. During 2025, an independent expert group invited by Metsä Group will participate in the determination of nature damage and compensation measures for these sites, while the operating model's methods are developed for the future.

Billerud’s new Science Based Targets have been officially approved, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to contributing to a low carbon society. This approval highlights Billerud’s ambition to lead the industry in producing high performing, renewable paper and packaging materials. As part of this commitment, Billerud has committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year. “We have already made significant progress in European operations, and while continuing our efforts there, the largest reductions going forward will come from our North American operations. We have established plans including a dedicated organization and the necessary investments to achieve these targets,” says Ulrika Wedberg, EVP Sustainability & Public Affairs.

Pregis® has taken a transformative step toward its 2040 net-zero pledge. In 2024, the company will match 100% of the electricity consumed at six facilities with wind power. The sites selected primarily produce curbside recyclable paper mailers. This milestone reduces market-based scope 2 emissions by over 4,000 metric tons of CO2e annually—the equivalent of driving from New York City to Los Angeles 3,723 times. This renewable energy initiative accelerates the company’s comprehensive decarbonization strategy, which includes: *Transitioning all global operations to renewable energy *Enhancing energy efficiency and electrification in manufacturing *Expanding on-site solar energy installations *Innovating sustainable products with lower carbon feedstocks

FSC met with representatives of Domtar to discuss the potential implications of the transfer of the beneficial ownership of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) to Mr. Jackson Wijaya (the current beneficial owner of Domtar) and to agree on the next steps forward in the legal review of the corporate and ownership links between Domtar and APP. We understand that the transfer of the beneficial ownership of APP to Mr. Jackson Wijaya has not yet taken place, and no details are available to us on the date of the expected transfer. The parties agreed to cooperate on a fast and rigorous process of review to examine the shareholding and ownership relationships, if any, between Domtar and APP because of this planned transfer. This review will be commissioned immediately and concluded after the transfer of beneficial ownership of APP to Jackson Wijaya is complete.

With a joint investment of around €3 million by Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams, a new recycling plant is set to start operations in Ittervoort (The Netherlands) in the second half of 2025. The facility will handle the non-fibre component (polyAl) from used beverage cartons, boosting the recycling capacity in the European Union (EU). Strategically located near the Belgian and German borders, the plant has the potential to process the entire volume of polyAl from beverage cartons recycled in Belgium and The Netherlands, and part of the volume from Germany. Featuring an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes, this second Dutch plant complements the existing 8,000-tonne capacity at Recon Polymers’ facility in Roosendaal, marking a significant increase to the region’s recycling capacity. It also adds to the existing and well-established recycling infrastructure in the EU, where beverage cartons are recycled in 20 specialised paper mills, with polyAl currently processed by ten facilities.

The European Parliament, Council of the European Union (EU), and EU Commission have agreed to a one-year delay in the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), amongst other outcomes. This decision underscores the complexity of tackling deforestation and degradation whilst ensuring regulations are both rigorous and enforceable. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) remains a staunch supporter of the EUDR’s ambition to create deforestation-free supply chains, in Europe and globally. This delay should not deter immediate action for sustainable forestry. We urge stakeholders to take the tangible steps already available and continue advancing forest stewardship together. FSC’s recommendations: 1. Act as if the EUDR is already in effect 2. Accelerate supply chain traceability 3. Strengthen collaboration with EU authorities 4. Empower smallholders and Indigenous Peoples while collaborating with governments

November 27th, the European Parliament approved the revised text of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). It means that the legislative process for the new regulation is soon finalised. What remains is the approval by the Council and then publication in the EU Official Journal by the European Commission. Since the European Parliament in April approved the provisional agreement made with the Council, the text has been on a legal and linguistic revision. One important change in the revision concerns the general obligations for re-use of transport packaging in Article 29 paragraph 1. It has now been clarified that the requirement applies in total and not for each of the listed packaging formats. The obligation on economic operators using transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transportation is that at least 40% in total of the listed packaging types must be reusable within a re-use system from 1 January 2030,.

As many brands have made commitments to using more sustainable packaging, a top priority tends to be shifting to recyclable or compostable packaging where possible. For brands who rely on flexible plastic films for their packaging, this can pose a challenge because of the lack of infrastructure in the U.S. to recycle these films through curbside programs. Given this challenge, companies are left with a few options to shift their packaging to: 1. Curbside-recyclable, fiber-based flexible packaging. 2. Compostable flexible packaging. 3. Rigid plastic packaging that is generally accepted for curbside recyclability. 4. Store drop-off, mono-material PE plastic. In other words, switching to an SDO-eligible film is just one option companies have when considering how to make their plastic film packaging more circular. So, when does it make the most sense to switch to each kind?

Domtar is a separate company from APP with its own management structure and governance. Domtar and APP will remain distinct entities, with no operational overlap and independent governance structures. The companies under the Domtar brand have long been among the most supportive champions of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Domtar actively engages with FSC policies, procedures, and practices, consistently seeking opportunities to engage suppliers to source more FSC-certified fiber. Domtar is continuing that engagement directly with FSC International to analyze and understand the implications of the Policy for Association and the Remedy Framework in light of this development. Domtar’s historical commitment to sustainable forest management and responsible fiber sourcing – as previously affirmed by the FSC – and its distinct separation in governance from APP should be considered in regards to its certification. The company remains committed to maintaining and continuously improving the sustainability of its operations while fostering strong collaboration with Indigenous partners and local communities.

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.

FSC has blocked Join Bums (Shandong Join Bums Eco Tissues Co. Ltd. - FSC-C159817/SCS-COC-007503), an FSC certificate holder from China, for making false claims regarding the bamboo toilet paper rolls it sold to its clients in the United Kingdom. Between May 2021 and March 2024, Join Bums sold large volumes of bamboo toilet paper rolls with FSC 100% claims. However, the company reported zero sales and purchases of FSC-certified material to its certification body since it was granted FSC certification in 2020. Join Bums also waived two surveillance audits in 2021 and 2023. Earlier this year, FSC was alerted to a possible integrity risk in its certified bamboo toilet paper supply chain. In March 2024, a British media outlet published an investigative article, alleging that bamboo toilet paper sold by FSC-certified companies contained very little bamboo fiber, despite claims of being 100% bamboo. Tests revealed that the toilet paper rolls contained high amounts of acacia and eucalyptus instead.

We are proudly supporting the largest conservation easement project in South Carolina history, dedicating over 62,000 acres of the Pee Dee Basin to permanent protection. The $50 million grant, administered by the U.S. Forest Legacy Program and supported by Atlantic Packaging, the Open Space Institute, the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the South Carolina Office of Resilience, aims to balance sustainable forestry, recreation, and environmental resilience for generations to come. This historic project addresses the urgent need for conservation amid South Carolina’s rapid population growth. Protecting these vast lands, equivalent to three times the size of Hilton Head Island, ensures clean water, flood mitigation, wildlife habitat preservation, and a boost to South Carolina’s timber economy.

Beyond Board is a set of services designed to address the evolving needs of Stora Enso’s customers in the packaging industry. The portfolio focuses on sustainability services, and spans from trainings and regulatory support to circularity assessment and LCA services. The sustainability training aims to build a foundation of sustainability knowledge throughout organisations, including sales, sourcing and product management. While these teams are experts in their products, they can benefit significantly from guidance on topics like forestry and fibers, circularity, recyclability and impact on the climate. As sustainability becomes increasingly vital in decision-making, this training provides valuable knowledge for our customers.

Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global organization committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable world. By becoming a member of WBCSD, Ahlstrom will collaborate with some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies to further the global sustainability agenda. Together, Ahlstrom and WBCSD aim to tackle urgent environmental issues, including climate change, the need for clean air and water, decarbonization, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution. “At Ahlstrom, we are committed to being part of the solution to global sustainability challenges. We believe that sustainability is a complex journey that requires collaboration to drive meaningful change. Our purpose, ‘Purify and Protect with Every Fiber for a Sustainable World,’ guides our efforts to innovate fiber-based solutions that are safe and sustainable by design,” says Helen Mets, President & CEO of Ahlstrom.

How to incentivise smallholders for sustainable commodity production in a world of increasingly complex supply chains was part of discussion at the “Next-Gen Forest Solution – Financing A Systemic Solution for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation” side event at COP 16 in Cali, Columbia. “In the end, it is producers whom we want to produce commodities sustainably, and many of them are smallholders,” highlighted Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International, during the panel discussion. “It has been important that brand owners and retailers have specified PEFC in their procurement policies, as this has led to widespread adaption of certification, yet it has also placed a financial strain on producers who must absorb the costs of compliance.”

AptarGroup, Inc. reported strong third quarter results due to solid operational performance and margin improvement across the company. Results were driven by growth in proprietary drug delivery systems, as well as increased demand for closure technologies. Reported sales and core sales increased by 2%, as currency and acquisition effects did not impact the quarter. Aptar reported net income of $100 million for the quarter, a 19% increase from the prior year. “Aptar delivered another strong quarter driven by our Pharma and Closures segments. We saw increased demand for our proprietary drug delivery systems, active material science solutions and closure technologies, especially for food applications. The Beauty segment saw growth in the personal care and home care markets, but it was not enough to offset tough comparisons from tooling and fragrance dispensing solutions from the prior year period. All three segments continued to demonstrate solid operational performance and margin improvement. We are proud of the strong results and progress we have made for the first nine months of the year and are positioned to achieve double-digit adjusted EPS growth for the full year,” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO.