During the first six months of 2023, 21 additional companies representing approximately 90 million customers have removed greenwashing messages such as “Go green, Go paperless” and “Go paperless to help protect the environment” from their marketing communications. “In addition to misleading consumers, these types of unsubstantiated environmental claims pose a serious threat to the economic security of the more than 7 million people whose livelihoods depend on a healthy North American paper, printing and mailing sector,” says Two Sides North America President Kathi Rowzie. “Our recent research found that 65% of consumers who’ve seen anti-paper greenwashing are influenced to go paperless.” That same research found that the Two Sides Anti-greenwashing Campaign has preserved more than $300 million in annual revenue for the paper, printing and mailing sector over the last decade.

FSC has opened the registration to join the revision process of the chain of custody certification and the chain of custody evaluations standards. Sign up to contribute to the development of key concepts and fundamental aspects that will shape the revision by filling out this form. FSC is revising the FSC-STD-40-004 Chain of Custody Certification and the FSC-STD-20-011 Chain of Custody Evaluations. Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification is the core standard that specifies the requirements which apply to all CoC-certified and applicant organizations with respect to sourcing, processing, labelling, and sale of forest-based products as FSC certified. The standard will be revised together with Chain of Custody Evaluations Standard, which provides the requirements for FSC-accredited certification bodies for auditing CoC organizations against applicable requirements of the FSC normative framework. Please access the process page here to learn more about this joint revision.

Metsä Board has achieved A- rating in Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s latest Circulytics® circular economy assessment. The Circulytics® assessment comprehensively measures the extent to which Metsä Board as a company has achieved circularity across its operations. The company scored the highest scores in the ‘Enablers’ category, which highlights a strong strategic priority to transition to a circular business model. The category encompasses strategy and planning, innovation, people and skills, operations supporting the circular economy, and external engagement. This year’s A- score is an improvement from last year’s score of B, and is an encouraging acknowledgement of Metsä Board’s ongoing work of supporting the circular economy in its operations.

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the French Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 21 September. Give your feedback. PEFC France revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The French system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement.

Important reminder for companies still certified against the 2013 version of the PEFC Chain of Custody standard, or certification bodies issuing PEFC chain of custody certificates: any certificates issued against the 2013 version will no longer be valid as of 14 November 2023. If you are a company still certified against the 2013 standard, please reach out to your certification body for assistance or to organise your next audit against the 2020 standard. It is important to note that the transition to the new version does not impact the certification cycle, so it can happen during a surveillance audit. If you still have existing stocks of products and printed material covered by a 2013 chain of custody certificate and carrying the PEFC trademarks according to the previous 2008 Trademarks standard, you can still sell them once you have transferred your chain of custody system to the 2020 version of both these standards.

As part of the commitments laid out in its Twentyby30™ sustainability program to help advance responsible supply chains, Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) has expanded its Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifications into the Asia Pacific region. The Company's Nong Khae and Crown TCP beverage packaging plants in Thailand were recently awarded the ASI Performance Standard certification, bringing the total facilities in Crown's network with the designation to 12. Crown's operations in Brazil and Mexico have also achieved ASI Performance Standard certification. The ASI Performance Standard addresses environmental, social and governance principles for the aluminum value chain, confirming the recipient's production practices are responsible. Beyond meeting the required criteria as part of an independent, third-party audit, the recent certifications in Thailand can be linked to advancing employee training around biodiversity, safety and human rights.

PEFC invites stakeholders globally to give their feedback on the second draft of ST 1004, Requirements for Certification Bodies operating Certification against PEFC Endorsed Forest Management Standards. This is the second public consultation for this vital benchmark standard, with the first consultation concluding earlier this year in January. The working group developing the document discussed the feedback received during the first consultation and revised the draft standard accordingly. Thank you to everyone that gave their feedback during the first consultation, we have tried to address all the comments in this new draft. Now we need to hear from you again. Give your comments, feedback, and suggestions, to help us ensure this standard meets your needs and expectations.

NOVA Chemicals Corporation has made a significant expansion of its Circular Solutions business today by announcing an investment into developing its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Ind. The facility will process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO™ recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025, delivering over 100 million pounds of rPE to the market by 2026. NOVA Chemicals plans to expand its recycling footprint over the next several years to help it reach its industry-leading 2030 ambition of 30 per cent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales. The company recently announced its 2030 Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership aspirations, including its anticipated investment of between US$2-4 billion by 2030 to expand its sustainable product offerings, decarbonize its assets, and build a state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business while exploring new advanced recycling technologies.

The French Forest Certification System has been submitted to PEFC for assessment. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 24 July to 21 September 2023. PEFC France revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. The revised French Forest Certification System also includes new Trees Outside Forests (TOF) requirements. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, and Domtar, a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products; announce that the two companies have partnered to launch a special sustainability program for PRINTING United Expo 2023. In this partnership, Domtar has committed to working with local small forest landowners to dedicate land to plant two trees for every registration made for the 2023 Expo, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 18-20. Domtar will additionally highlight other sustainability initiatives, products, and services at its booth on the show floor where attendees can learn more. “Attending the latest Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO) meeting in Anaheim, CA, I was able to participate in a group discussion around sustainability and got to hear to what the other top Expos are doing in this space,” says Mark J. Subers, president, PRINTING United Expo. “As the printing and packaging industry, with great partners such as Domtar, we can take actionable steps to not only ensure we are following best practices, but to also be proactive. I’m thrilled that the team at Domtar is collaborating with the Alliance to drive this initiative forward.”

The FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Non- Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for Vietnam has been published. Organizations can now certify their NTFPs, supporting the promotion of responsible forestry around the world by ensuring social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. In Vietnam, NTFPs including bamboo, rattan, bamboo shoots, edible plant, fruit, and herbal plants carry good potential for organizations and communities to generate additional income from forest resources; especially for natural forests over which a logging ban has been put years ago. Thus, NTFP utilization can have many positive impacts on rural livelihood. The rubber sector in Vietnam includes both larger corporate forests and plantations managed by smallholders. This standard will help to remove bottlenecks and boost the supply of FSC certified NTFPs such as bamboo, rattan, oil from community/ natural forests, and latex from rubber plantations which are increasing in demand in Vietnam, thereby supporting sustainable forest management.

The new FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Slovenia has been published and becomes effective from 01 October 2023. Forest Stewardship Standards (FSS) are the key mechanism to transfer FSC’s Principles & Criteria into forest management on the ground. They are FSC‘s tool to promote responsible forestry around the world, by ensuring social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. The process for developing the IFSS for Slovenia included consultations with various stakeholders, reaching a consensus with social, environmental, and economic interests. An additional public consultation of the HCV Framework was conducted to raise awareness in interested parties on this process, and to organize open discussion on key changes. Relevant comments were incorporated into HCV Framework draft, and one representative of environmental interests said: "It is the first time that the protection of sacred natural sites in Slovenia is mentioned in this kind of document."

Today, too much plastic waste ends up in incineration or landfill in the EU instead of being recycled back into new products. According to the latest statistics, 35% of post-consumer plastic waste went to recycling, 42% to energy recovery and 23% to landfill in 2020*. High-quality recycling of plastics is an important contributor to our climate goals both at the EU level, within member states and for companies. Together with our customers, we at Trioworld can increase the amount of plastic waste going to recycling. The goal for the EU is to be climate neutral by 2050 to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The transition to a climate-neutral society, with net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, is both an urgent challenge and an opportunity to build a better future. The strategy to reach this objective is called the European Green Deal and one essential aspect is the new circular economy action plan. A new regulation is now being negotiated stating that all packaging on the EU market needs to be reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030. This regulation will also come with requirements for the amount of recycled plastic allowed within the packaging.

Present in Santa Catarina for over 50 years, Klabin remains committed to promoting environmentally responsible actions that contribute to the sustainable development of the region. The results of the Company's effort can be seen in the 2023 Public Summary of Klabin's Forest Management Plan in the state, now available to society at the link. The document brings important evolutionary data on the forestry management adopted by the company, as well as on the environmental education actions implemented by the company. According to the material, Klabin's forestry base reached 141 thousand hectares, distributed in 44 municipalities in Santa Catarina, in the West, Middle West, Serra Catarinense, North and Alto Vale regions, in addition to the Northeast, Center Northeast and East of Rio Great South. The Company also has forests in Paraná and São Paulo, with information available in separate documents.

We’re thrilled to share the success of our recent tree-planting initiatives in Australia. In May, our Southern Operations colleagues joined forces with various organizations, including the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, to plant over 1,000 native seedlings near our Wonnerup Mine. Together, we built protective fencing to ensure the saplings’ growth. Continuing our commitment to environmental stewardship, a dedicated crew of 70 employees and their families, including visitors from the U.S., gathered at our Northern Operations. Over the course of the day, we planted a remarkable 8,500 seedlings along the Yalyal Brook, significantly contributing to the restoration efforts. We partnered with the Chittering Landcare Center for the 22nd consecutive year, resulting in an incredible 170,000 trees planted thus far.

The landmark EU anti-deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enters into force. The EUDR provisions will become applicable as of 30 December 2024. FSC has supported the development of the EUDR since the beginning, and is now ready to work together with the EU Commission, EU Competent Authorities, NGOs, and businesses to make it a success. The EUDR prohibits placing or exporting products in/from the EU market that do not comply with its legality and sustainability requirements. Companies must conduct due diligence to ensure that the products they source are legal and are not linked to land that has been deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020. The EUDR's main goal is to reduce the EU's impact on global deforestation by promoting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces Truth in Advertising laws that require marketing claims be truthful and substantiated by appropriate evidence. These are designed to protect consumers, including when they look to buy products promoted as being environmentally responsible. The commission issues guidance specifically focused on sustainability, or “green,” marketing claims, commonly referred to as the FTC Green Guides to help marketers avoid making unfair or deceptive environmental promises. These laws apply whether the marketing claim appears on paper, online or on the side of a bus. Ensuring believable claims helps build trust between buyers and sellers, which in turn facilitates efficient markets. “Meeting customer needs without misrepresenting Domtar’s offerings is critical,” says Katie Zorn, Domtar’s vice president of marketing, product management & strategic planning. “The Green Guides are an essential resource that we reference before making any sustainability-related claims.”

Just as the world takes a major step in turning the tide on plastic pollution with a global treaty, the European Union is on the cusp of agreeing new regulations that could flood the market with millions of tonnes of new plastic. Well intended but misguided amendments have been put forward on the Commission’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which are now being debated in the European Parliament. These amendments undermine the spirit of the regulation by trying to introduce mandatory reuse targets for cardboard, a material that is often unsuitable for multiple reuses. If accepted, these amendments would push economies away from the most recycled packaging materials and towards plastic alternatives, embedding a plastic economy into the market.

The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 3 July to 31 August 2023. PEFC Czech Republic revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 3 July, at 10:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. Register for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqfuCuqzMtH9cvXBYvlPKQp0XKPk1lKRM2#/registration

What’s the main purpose of the Trend Tracker survey? The purpose of the survey is to understand changing consumer preferences, perceptions and attitudes towards print, paper, paper-based packaging and tissue products, revealing challenges and opportunities for the industry. What value does it have for the paper and packaging industry? We see the survey as great value for our industry as it directly reports on consumer opinions on a number of areas within our sector. Covering a wide range of topics from forest growth and recycling rates to reading habits, packaging preferences and thoughts on mail versus digital communication, the consumer data will help to inform the industry on what’s working and what needs improving.

Starbucks is significantly increasing its commitment to sustainability – in partnership with Arizona State University. The coffee giant plans to develop a new sustainability learning and innovation lab at Hacienda Alsacia, the company’s global agronomy headquarters for research and development located in Costa Rica. The lab will serve as a hub for hands-on and virtual learning opportunities for Starbucks employees, students, researchers and industry leaders to develop and scale sustainable solutions for issues including climate adaption and agricultural economics.

FSC has a global agreement in place with South Pole, a carbon project developer working to implement comprehensive emission reductions that create long-term business opportunities. As part of this agreement, the two organizations are looking to identify FSC Forest Management certificate holders to develop best-in-class projects that demonstrate robust practices with respect to both forest management and carbon sequestration. If you are an FSC-certified forest manager, you are eligible to opt-in to learn more about the opportunity.

In comments to the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Trucking Associations outlined three bedrock principles the industry is committed to pursuing to reduce emissions from heavy-duty trucks. “ATA starts with ‘Yes,’” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear, “and we want to achieve the same things that the EPA does when it comes to reducing emissions. In fact, our record over the past 30 years of collaborating with EPA in reducing both carbon and NOx pollution is strong. Together, the agency and industry have arrived at tough but achievable regulations that allow for technology to develop on timelines to minimize market disruptions and job losses. “However, EPA is moving at breakneck speed to force the industry towards electrification while failing to address the key enablers towards any new technology adoption. EPA’s proposed adoption rates assumes that product availability, vehicle costs, range, weight reduction, energy capacity and recharging and refueling infrastructure will all be available for fleets to utilize the technology,” he said. “Instead of the agency leap frogging existing low-carbon technologies towards electrification, allow today’s technologies to be fully adopted.”

Cost Cutting Cloaked in Greenwashing - - Even if it were true that the pharmaceutical industry could “save 11 million trees a year,” by switching from paper to electronic prescription information for doctors and pharmacists, such claims of environmental superiority are meaningless, if not deceptive, because they do not consider the vast and growing environmental footprint of digital communications. The environmental impact of digital communication is often underestimated because of the “invisible” nature of the infrastructure that supports it. Nowhere does your article mention the environmentally invasive mining and drilling required to extract finite raw materials (iron, copper, rare earths, petroleum for plastics, etc.) necessary to manufacture electronic devices and the massive server farms that support them, the predominance of greenhouse-gas emitting fossil fuel energy used to power them, the massive amounts of water consumed to cool data centers, and that only 15% of U.S. electronic waste gets recycled. Compare this to paper, which is in fact is one of the few products on earth that has a truly sustainable, circular life cycle. U.S. manufactured paper is made from an infinitely renewable resource - trees that are purpose-grown, harvested and regrown in sustainably managed forests – in a process that uses a lot of water but consumes very little of it, and is powered mostly (64% on average) by renewable bioenergy. And with a recovery rate of 68%, paper is recycled more than any other material in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. Using unsubstantiated and misleading environmental claims as a means to a digital-only end is greenwashing that completely ignores the documented environmental impacts of digital communication and threatens the livelihoods of millions of workers across the U.S. print, paper and forest products value chain.

Metsä Group has made the funding decisions for 2023 in its nature programme. Twenty-three projects were selected for funding to manage and restore Finland’s biodiversity. As a result of these selections, the projects are more diverse, and their geographical coverage is more extensive. Independent experts from the University of Eastern Finland, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Sitra and the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) participated in evaluating the project. The themes of the projects selected for funding include watercourse improvement, restoration of flowing waters, removal of invasive species and predators, management of traditional habitats, restoration of wetlands and management of sandbanks. The nature programme does not fund activities in commercial forests, as these are developed as part of Metsä Group’s strategy for regenerative forestry.

A new global study commissioned by FSC with Ipsos is one of the largest of its kind, surveying 26,800 consumers in 33 countries. It provides new insights into what consumers are concerned about, who they trust to address these concerns, and how they’re acting individually through their purchases to affect change. Ongoing global economic instability and conflict appear to have shifted consumer priorities. While climate change ranked second after health during the pandemic, top concerns for consumers are now economic hardships, and wars, conflicts and terrorism. Yet issues relating to the environment haven’t fallen off the radar. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation remain key forestry issues of concern around the world.

The Italian Forest Certification System has been submitted to PEFC for assessment. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 26 June to 24 August 2023. PEFC Italy revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.