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.

Clearwater Paper Corporation released its 2024 Sustainability Report, an annual update on the company’s progress against their multi-year sustainability goals. Aligned with the company’s strategic sustainability framework, Everyday Responsibility, the report details sustainability work and initiatives spanning three distinct yet equally important pillars: Resource Stewardship, Trusted Products, and Thriving People and Communities. “Reflecting on 2023, I am pleased with what we accomplished throughout the year,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “All our people play a role – every day – in ensuring that we make and deliver excellent products in sustainable ways and work collaboratively with our stakeholders and each other.” This year’s report shares progress the company made throughout 2023, as well as impactful stories and achievements that exemplify Clearwater Paper’s commitment to Everyday Responsibility.

The European Commission announced a proposal for an extra 12 months of phasing-in time of the EUDR. FSC continues to strongly support the creation of deforestation-free markets, in Europe and worldwide, while underlining the continued urgency of swift action to prevent deforestation. Read our response here. FSC remains committed to supporting EUDR implementation and business compliance in the timber and rubber value chains and we encourage companies to continue their preparations. To do so, the following critical updates, clarifications, and resources, recently released by the Commission complements FSC’s mission to streamline the compliance journey. All these materials can be found on the revamped EUDR website. Guidance document: This long-awaited, non-binding guide complements the EUDR text and will be useful for both operators and Competent Authorities. It features sections for legality, timelines, certification systems, and product scope.

SCA has become a co-owner of SE technology and the pilot facility developed and operated by SweTree Technologies. With SE technology, it is possible to quickly and efficiently produce more plants from the best seed material from forest breeding. SweTree Technologies is running a pilot project to develop automated plant production via Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) in collaboration with forestry companies Stora Enso, Sveaskog, Södra, and Holmen. Now, SCA has also joined the project as an SE company and become a co-owner of SE technology and the pilot facility developed and operated by SweTree Technologies. So far, the development has focused on spruce plants, but with SCA's involvement, SweTree has also started the development of SE technology for pine. This is being done jointly with all participating companies, parallel to the ongoing development for spruce.

The first results of the Natural Resources Institute Finland on the forests of Metsä Group's owner-members demonstrate the need for new initiatives that increase biodiversity. According to indicators, biodiversity in forests has developed both positively and negatively over the past decades. Based on the results, the number of trees and also deciduous trees has increased significantly. The increase in the number of trees based on our native tree species indicates a positive development for their companion species. Increasing the proportion of deciduous trees is an important measure in adapting to climate change and also significant for the health of forests. It is good to regenerate forests into mixed forests using, for example, pine-spruce mixed cultivation, as well as increasing the share of birch through natural regeneration. In addition, it is increasingly important to protect less common deciduous trees in order to safeguard biodiversity.

Guess Inc. is stepping up its sustainability efforts with the launch of “Guess Again,” a new apparel recycling program for U.S. online customers. The program launched Oct. 10 in partnership with textile recycling platform SuperCircle. Going forward, Guess will let consumers recycle pre-owned clothing from any brand, participating in a broader circular economy for retailers. Through the Guess website, customers can request a shipping label to send in unwanted clothing. In return, they receive Guess credits for future purchases. From there, SuperCircle handles the rest of the process. Later steps include collecting and sorting the clothes, as well as disassembling them. Then, materials are sent to recycling partners that specialize in different fibers.

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.

As a co-op, we often ask our members, employees and broader community to support policies that enable everyone to enjoy time outside. In recent years, we’ve collectively supported the protection of 246 million acres of U.S. lands and waters; $45 million in federal funding for safe trails to bike and run; and more than $1 billion in funding for state parks. Today we are raising our collective voice in opposition to Washington Ballot Initiative 2117. If ratified by voters in a few weeks, I-2117 would strip billions of dollars in climate investments across our home state—draining programs that support air quality, transportation, wildlife habitats, wildfire prevention, recreation infrastructure, and the health of our public lands and waters.

Metsä Group recently launched a national media campaign “Growth, with a future”. It comes at a time when the requirements for sustainability communication are becoming increasingly strict due to stricter regulation and critical attitudes. As things stand, many marketing professionals may consider a campaign communication strategy known as greenhushing. It means that companies opt to remain silent about sustainability themes to avoid critical attention. This approach may be adopted accidentally, or it may stem from not knowing how to communicate about sustainability, with our world and its regulations in a continuous flux. Greenhushing may also be a conscious choice. Things that just a few years ago were considered typical marketing measures can easily be labelled as greenwashing today. What may seem like minor miscalculations can quickly blow up into a media storm and lead to reputational damage. It’s positive that people today are more conscious, and that greenwashing is recognised more easily. This encourages businesses to pursue genuine sustainability efforts and prevents communication becoming empty words.

Opinel, a symbol of French craftsmanship and proud ambassador of the Savoie region in France, has taken another step forward in its commitment to forest sustainability. During an official ceremony at its Chambéry workshops, the company was awarded PEFC certification, confirming that the wood used in its iconic knives comes from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. For 135 years, world-renowned company Opinel, has continued to stand out for its local roots, unique expertise, and environmentally friendly approach. The achievement of PEFC certification strengthens this historic commitment.

Despite being a common practice for decades, misconceptions about recycling – such as the belief that it mostly ends up in landfills, doesn’t make a difference, uses more energy than it saves, and is economically unviable – persist among consumers. To combat these myths, businesses can focus on education and clarity. They can simplify recycling processes by providing clear instructions, like those offered by the How2Recycle label, and using social media to raise awareness. Collaborations, like those between McKinsey and NielsenIQ, show that environmental claims on packaging can drive consumer interest. Sustana is a proud pioneer and leader in sustainability and circularity. We’re always looking to share our sustainable vision with our customers. We think the most effective time to educate and guide consumers on the best ways to recycle our sustainable fiber-based and paper products is all the time – not just when they’re about to discard a product and trying to remember how to recycle it.

From the forest to the marketplace, what matters most to your business when it comes to forest certification? We are conducting a brief survey to better understand what is important to you regarding forest certification, from responsible sourcing at the forest level to reaching the end consumer. Your feedback will help us enhance our value offering and shape future services. Whether you're a retailer, brand manufacturer, supplier, PEFC-certified company, or source PEFC-certified materials, please share your thoughts! The survey takes approximately 12 minutes to complete and is divided into three sections: Sustainability issues; Certification performance; Training needs and other areas. Take part in the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PEFCmarketSurvey2024

Amcor's overall score increased from 70 to 73, placing the company in the 95th percentile of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. This recognition highlights Amcor's extensive work and positions the company among the top 5% of all companies evaluated. Notably, Amcor ranks in the top 1% of companies in its sector for sustainable procurement. The EcoVadis Gold medal underscores the company's commitment to implementing impactful initiatives and achieving measurable progress throughout the year. David Clark, chief sustainability officer at Amcor, said, "We understand that our customers seek partners who not only share their values and support their strategic goals but also consistently demonstrate the highest standards. We are thrilled that EcoVadis has recognized Amcor's with a Gold medal. It serves as a testament to our dedication and the tangible progress we've made in our journey."

The latest sustainability report shows Sun Chemical’s progress toward its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, with 2013 as a baseline, and becoming net carbon neutral by 2050. Sun Chemical approaches its three business pillars of operations, products and services, and collaborations using the ‘five Rs’ framework – Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle, and Redesign – to guide its sustainable initiatives and products in an effort to achieve a circular economy. “As the industry’s spotlight on sustainability grows brighter, brand owners and converters need supplier partners who can help them adhere to regulations and meet their goals,” said Michael Simoni, Director, Global Sustainability, Sun Chemical. “We are proud to announce that Sun Chemical is 86 percent of the way to meeting its own 2030 target to cut carbon emissions in half. Our ‘five Rs’ framework has focused our strategic efforts on reducing waste and improving efficiency, recyclability, and compostability while maintaining the highest standards of performance to best serve our customers.”

Holmen’s operations already benefit the climate today through forest carbon uptake in growing forests, products that can replace fossil-based products and generating renewable energy from water and wind. Despite this, the work continues to minimise the very low fossil emissions that remain at Holmen’s mill in Iggesund. Holmen’s mill in Iggesund, Sweden, places great emphasis on sustainability and reducing its climate impact. Over the years, it has delivered on this through steady improvements. Last year alone, the mill reduced its direct fossil CO2 emissions (from 2022 to 2023) by almost 25 per cent – and this was achieved without any major investments.

“We welcome ongoing developments in forestry legislation and sustainability initiatives worldwide, and we strongly believe that mandatory and voluntary actions must work hand-in-hand to achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes,” said Matteo Mascolo, FSC's Lead for EU Affairs & Engagement. FSC fully supports the creation of deforestation-free markets and continues to underline the urgency of swift action to prevent deforestation. FSC was one of 170 NGOs co-signing a letter of urgency for the timely implementation of the Regulation.

The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding the European Union’s Commission decision to extend the EU Deforestation Regulation implementation deadline to December 2025. “We appreciate the EU Commission for being responsive to U.S. government officials and the numerous partners across the globe who have voiced concerns about the complex requirements and significant technical barriers of EUDR. Today’s additional guidance and extension of the implementation deadline provides industries like ours with more time to engage on workable solutions that avoid trade disruptions. “AF&PA fully supports the EUDR goal of deforestation-free supply chains. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation." "We believe in balanced and achievable regulations, and are a strong proponent of international efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation. As such we welcome the Commission's commitment to a stronger cooperation framework."