“Building Shared Value: Sustainability and Competitiveness, PEFC in Latin America” will take place from 4-6 July 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Join our South American PEFC members as they welcome certified companies, procurers, retailers, media and others to share best practices, build capacity, and discuss how to improve market demand and access for PEFC-certified products in the region. The event will kick off with an introduction to how PEFC promotes sustainability for procurers of forest-based products, retailers and media. Some of the largest forest-based products producers and retailers in the region such as UPM (Uruguay), Suzano (Brazil) and Unilever (Argentina) will then share their experiences on how to encourage sustainability at the highest level. On Day 2, the focus shifts to certified companies including printing, packaging and publishing sector and key stakeholders, consultants and professionals committed to sustainability. Workshops on how to implement strategic branding of forest products and on how to integrate sustainability and a safe supply chain in marketing and promotion strategies, will enable participants to benefit from existing best practices and consider opportunities for their own operating environments.

the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). So it is fair to say that the PEFC process for the endorsement and mutual recognition of forest certification system is THE process of our organization. This process is now under scrutiny, as part of our comprehensive Standards Revision process that is currently underway. The responsibility of its revision falls to Working Group 6, which met for the first meeting on 1 - 2 June, in Geneva, Switzerland. The WG members began with focusing on how the effectiveness and efficiency of the endorsement and mutual recognition process can be increased, as well as how we can improve the comprehensibility and readability of the complex assessment reports. The Working Group will now meet in October this year to discuss a first Working Draft document of the revised process.

“We appreciate Sens. Collins and Merkley’s legislative efforts to bring closure to EPA’s six-plus years of uncertainty for biogenic CO2 emissions and ensure federal regulations recognize the atmospheric carbon reducing benefits of biomass-based energy. The Senate Interior Appropriation bill provides a policy framework that uses a practical, science-based approach to achieve this. “The paper and wood products manufacturing industry is the largest producer and user of renewable energy of any manufacturing sector in the U.S., with on average about two-thirds of the energy needed to run our mills being generated on site from biomass. Most of this biomass comes in the form of manufacturing residuals, the use of which avoids approximately 181 million metric tons of CO2e emissions per year – equivalent to removing about 35 million cars from the road.

The “Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec” (Quebec Federation of woodlot owners or FPFQ) has released the fourth edition of the “Sound Forestry Practices for Private Woodlots Field Guide,” which is used by small woodlot owners and forest contractors to promote responsible forest management. The updated guide was supported by an SFI Community Partnerships Grant. “This newest edition includes enhanced recommendations covering key themes such as identifying watercourse crossing features and wetlands, forest certification, conservation of wildlife habitat, timber measurement and stacking for transport, sugarbush development and tree-felling safety regulations. The online version of the guide also features videos that illustrate some of the key concepts,” said Pierre-Maurice Gagnon, Chair of the FPFQ.

The Massachusetts State Senate has passed a budget bill that includes language requiring stores to charge at least 10 cents for paper bags. “Why?” you may ask. We are asking that very question. Paper bags are not the primary target of this legislation. In fact, most Massachusetts communities – including Framingham, Harwich and Nantucket – excluded mention of paper in their ordinances when they considered bans or taxes for their communities. Paper bags are a recyclable and sustainable packaging option for consumers who need a carryout bag. Many retailers are choosing to offer paper as the default option in response to consumer demand from the environmentally-conscious. Not only are paper bags made from recycled paper, they are highly recycled themselves and are a fixture in community recycling programs throughout the state and the rest of the country.

On June 15, 2016, FSC International launched the third round of public consultation on the revised Chain of Custody Standard (FSC-STD-40-004) and corresponding Transaction Verification requirements that are proposed in the FSC Standard for Chain of Custody Evaluations (FSC-STD-20-011). Comments will be accepted until August 31, 2016. The main changes in the revision of the Chain of Custody standard include: •Transaction verification •Cross-site accounting proposals for credit and (new) percentage systems •Reduction of labeling threshold for FSC Recycled label to align with FSC mix labeling threshold •Clarification of credit system requirements •Incorporation of advice notes and standard interpretations

This is the first time Hungary has submitted its national forest certification system to PEFC for endorsement, following their acceptance as a PEFC National member earlier this year in January. Hungary is one of the few remaining European countries with a significant share of private forest owners that is yet to have an endorsed national forest certification system. The successful endorsement of the Hungarian forest certification system will enable the country’s forest owners, including the many small- and family forest owners, gain international recognition through PEFC certification. For Italy and the UK, this is the third and fourth time, respectively, that the countries have applied for endorsement by PEFC.

We’re celebrating one of our oldest and most important partners—Earth. Even though astronomers recently found more than 1,000 new planets, we remain committed to ours. Twenty-five years ago HP and its customers joined together in HP Planet Partners to reduce waste by recycling HP printing supplies and any brand’s hardware. Since its creation, HP Planet Partners has spread to 73 countries and territories. With the help of our customers, we’ve recovered more than 3.3 billion pounds of products and recycled more than 682 million cartridges. HP’s closed-loop recycling process diverts millions of pounds of plastic from landfills to make Original HP cartridges—satisfying customer demands and reducing environmental impact.

Germany has become the second country to successfully achieve PEFC re-endorsement of its national forest certification system for a third time. The Malaysian Criteria and Indicators (MC&I) for Forest Plantations standard has also received PEFC re-endorsement. This endorsement not only confirms that they continue to meet PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks, but also ensures that certified forest owners and companies in these countries continue to benefit from the global acceptance of PEFC. The Malaysian Criteria and Indicators (MC&I) for Forest Plantations is a complementary standard to the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which includes the MC&I for Natural Forests. The endorsement of this second edition of the MC&I for Forest Plantations, which is designed to assess the management practices for, and enable the certification of, forest plantations, follows the re-endorsement of the MTCS in 2014. “These re-endorsements show both the commitment of our members and underlines PEFC's leadership in the continuous improvement of forest certification," said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. “We appreciate their continued commitment, as well as the contributions of all the stakeholders who have participated in the standards revision and assessment processes.”

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today welcomed the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers’ (CCFM) new Innovation Action Plan, calling it an “important step” towards a low-carbon economy. Following an all-day meeting yesterday in Dawson City, Yukon on the future of Canada’s forests and forest products sector, the CCFM announced a renewed commitment to enhance “innovation and industry transformation,” including the Action Plan that outlines how Canadian jurisdictions will better work together on innovation and bio-economy initiatives. Under the three pillars of collaboration, engagement and mobilization, the CCFM’s Innovation Action Plan outlines how jurisdictions will work together to help the forest sector achieve its potential in areas such as bio-products and building with wood, competitiveness and sustainability.

“We are delighted to welcome AEBIOM, CEETTAR, CNVP and WestRock Company as International Stakeholder members,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, following the acceptance of the four new members. “By becoming members, these organizations help and support us in our vital work to ensure the sustainable management of the world’s forests.” With these four new members, we now count 26 International Stakeholder members, as well as 43 national members.

Södra's members are delivering increasingly higher volumes of wood to the company's industries. A focus on improved forest management has led to a steady increase in forest growth. This, in turn, has enabled more harvesting. In southern Sweden, growth is so strong that forest stocks are rising as harvesting operations increase. "Our members are managing their forests so well that forests are now growing better than ever. And, although we continue to harvest more forest, there is still more forest remaining. This is a very positive trend," says Håkan Larsson, President of Södra Skog. There is so much potential for trees as a raw material and we need to use the forest more actively if we want to meet the challenges of climate change and the transition to a fossil-free society." Most of the wood delivered by Södra's members is softwood - pine and spruce. Supplies are delivered in the form of pulpwood and sawlogs to Södra's own pulp mills and sawmills, and as biofuel to external thermal power stations. In 2015, wood deliveries from members rose 4 percent year-on-year, and since deliveries have remained at the same level at the beginning of the current year, the increase seems stable

“While forest certification has been present in Republic of Korea for the last few years, the current models are not well suited to our national conditions,” continued Ms. Lee, explaining the motivation to develop a national forest certification system in line with PEFC’s international requirements. “As voices urging the implementation of their own certification system, which reflects the distinct characteristics of Korean forests, grew among stakeholders, the Korea Forest Certification Council (KFCC) was established,” Ms. Lee explained. The KFCC has since conducted various activities such as the development of national standards and pilot tests. Applying and becoming a PEFC member was an important step towards the submission of the national system to PEFC. “Furthermore, we are going to apply for PEFC endorsement within this year,” Ms. Lee concluded. “We believe that through PEFC endorsement we can promote and spread sustainable forest management throughout Korea.”

We are delighted to announce Japan as the latest country to achieve PEFC endorsement of its national forest certification system. To celebrate this milestone, the Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council (SGEC) – our National member for Japan – held a special Forest Certification Forum today, attended by a diverse range of stakeholders and honored by the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado. A highlight of the event came as Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, officially presented the SGEC certificate of endorsement to Satohiko Sasaki, Chairman of SGEC, presided over by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.

Ensuring our standards are the best they can be is always a priority for PEFC. As our Standards Revision process gets underway, we are calling on all stakeholders to submit their input and comments on our current PEFC Chain of Custody Standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013) by 3 July 2016. The objective of this revision is to identify the areas where PEFC Chain of Custody could be improved in terms of usability and outcome, and where we need to adapt the standard to better meet today’s stakeholder expectations and market realities. To kick off the process, we have launched a 30 day public consultation to gather your input. We invite all PEFC stakeholders, especially users of the PEFC standards such as certified companies, accreditation and certification bodies and consultants, to submit comments through the PEFC Consultation Tool by 3 July 2016.

We are delighted to welcome Ghana as our latest PEFC National member, becoming our third member in Africa, alongside Cameroon and Gabon. "Joining the PEFC Alliance is a vital step towards gaining international recognition for our Ghanaian National Forest Certification System," said Emmanuel Amoah Boakye from the Working Group on Forest Certification. "Once our system has achieved PEFC endorsement, our country’s forest owners, forestry companies and the whole forestry sector will be able to demonstrate their sustainable forest management practices, here and abroad."

Thailand announces their application to PEFC for membership and we highlight the opportunities of certification in Asia and beyond – Asian Paper Bangkok 2016 was a busy few days! “Accelerating demand for legal and sustainable timber represents both opportunities and challenges for the world's forest's, specifically in Asia,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, as he spoke at the Certification, Environment and Sustainability session on the first day of Asian Paper. “Certification must adapt to the constantly shifting sands of needs of people. We need to ensure that sustainable forest management equally balances the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability, we need to find common ground between global demand side requirements and local supply side expectations," Mr. Gunneberg explained.

Stakeholders globally are invited to provide feedback on its compliance with PEFC International's Sustainability Benchmarks by 29 July 2016. Sweden was one of the first countries to achieve the PEFC endorsement of its national system back in 2000, and joins Finland (now re-endorsed) and Germany as the only other countries to submit a system for re-endorsement for a third time. There are now nearly 11.4 million hectares of PEFC-certified forests in the country. PEFC International ensures that national systems are revised regularly in multi-stakeholder processes by limiting the validity of endorsements to five years, after which they can apply for re-endorsement to continue benefitting from PEFC recognition.

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) and the Belantara Foundation last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Sumatra provincial government, as well as a declaration of commitment with the West Kalimantan provincial government, to support both provincial governments in sustainable landscape management to achieve green growth in their respective region. Both provinces are leaders in this space and have driven the push for integrating environmental protection and economic growth policy in Indonesia. The agreement with the South Sumatra Provincial Government will run until 30 October 2018 and focuses on developing sustainable landscape management, with particular focus on forest fire prevention and protection of peatland. Both APP and Belantara Foundation also commit to be part of donor committee to fund landscape projects in South Sumatra, managed by the Partnership for Landscape Management (KELOLA) led by the Governor of South Sumatra and supported by Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

At the heart of PEFC is our ambition to enable smallholders to access forest certification, independent of region and socioeconomic condition. But there is more than can be done. This was highlighted last week at the first meeting of Standards Revision Working Group 2, responsible for the revision of PEFC's Group Certification Standard and the development of a set of requirements for certification bodies operating audits in forest management. The importance of strengthening the management system approach and of clearly describing the interaction between group members and group management was emphasized by representatives from the accreditation community. While the current standard already responds to these issues, their further development will support the use and expand the application of the standard.

Prof. Stefan Doerr and Dr Cristina Santin from Swansea University’s College of Science carried out a detailed analysis of global and regional data on fire occurrence, severity and its impacts on society. Their research, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, examined a wide range of published data arising from satellite imagery, charcoal records in sediments and isotope-ratio records in ice cores, to build up a picture of wildfire in the recent and more distant past.

Most living organisms adapt their behavior to the rhythm of day and night. Plants are no exception: flowers open in the morning, some tree leaves close during the night. Researchers have been studying the day and night cycle in plants for a long time: Linnaeus observed that flowers in a dark cellar continued to open and close, and Darwin recorded the overnight movement of plant leaves and stalks and called it "sleep". But even to this day, such studies have only been done with small plants grown in pots, and nobody knew whether trees sleep as well. Now, a team of researchers from Austria, Finland and Hungary measured the sleep movement of fully grown trees using a time series of laser scanning point clouds consisting of millions of points each.

Forest conversions and trees outside forests: two of the nine areas to be given specific consideration during the revision of the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. This is one of the key outcomes of last week’s meeting of the Standards Revision Working Group 1 – the Working Group (WG) responsible for the revision of our Sustainable Forest Management standard. Taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, 35 participants from around the world and covering all relevant stakeholder groups contributed their knowledge and experience as we kicked-off of the standard revision process. The group discussed what they expect a future Sustainable Forest Management standard to deliver over the next years, as well as carrying out a detailed analysis of the existing requirements.

The work has included development of a new depot in Snodland, the installation of new balers at its Snodland, Blackburn and Glasgow depots and an additional weighbridge in Nottingham to ease traffic flow into and out of the depot there. The new Snodland depot in Kent is processing locally-sourced paper and cardboard for recycling at the Group’s new Smurfit Kappa Townsend Hook mill on the same site, which operates a state-of-the-art 5m lightweight paper machine producing approximately 250,000 tonnes of quality containerboard material per year. The depot will also supply recycled paper grades not used at Townsend Hook to other mills. Smurfit Kappa Recycling has constructed the new depot on part of the mill site freed up by its redevelopment, installing a new Bollegraaf HBC 120 baler in a new facility designed to operate efficiently and safely.

Starting last summer, staff at the Sonoco Recycling facility in Savannah took a hard look at its business operations, in terms of both cost and sustainability. Working together, the team realized that by diverting dry waste material from their normal waste streams and taking it to a waste-to-energy service provider every month, they could save money and lessen their environmental impact. Now, only wet or bulky waste goes in the Dumpster, and all other waste is converted to energy via hauling trips that are often combined with normal hauling operations to optimize freight cost and lessen the facility’s carbon footprint. “This process change is a first for a Sonoco Recycling location,” said Mike Pope, general manager and president, Sonoco Recycling. “The plant is doing a great job capturing a large amount of waste for recovery in waste-to-energy programming, and their improvements have positive implications for both sustainability and cost savings.”

Forests close to urban areas, like all other types of forest areas, need to be properly managed in terms of both production and environmental considerations. One problem is that local residents have not known what is being done. In the Höör forestry operations area, Södra is now opening the door to improved dialogue. The aim is to provide information about planned activities, and to explain why various measures are carried out. In addition, local residents and other interested parties will be able to express their views and ask questions. "An unannounced change can often be perceived as something undesirable, especially when it affects the local area. Forestry measures are undertaken with a purpose and they lead to change, sometimes in several stages. By explaining why the measures are being carried out, the outcome will be more positive," says Johan Johnsson, Area Manager of the Höör forestry operations area.

“While a number of uniquely different forest certification systems are used around the world they: 1- have much in common; 2- share many basic objectives; 3- provide an additional measure of commitment to sustainable forestry; and, 4- are effective tools for supporting a responsible marketplace.” Two Sides, the initiative exploding the myths and setting out the facts about print media's sustainability in a clear and concise manner, has brought together facts from a variety of sources illustrate just these points. See below for a snapshot of some of their findings: “There are dozens of forest certification programs around the world. Two programs – the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) - account for the vast majority of certified forests and chain-of-custody certificates. These two programs operate around the world.”

Cascades is proud to announce that by the end of its 2013-2015 Sustainable Development Plan, the company gave a second life to 76% of the residual materials generated by its plants, exceeding its target of 71%. Over this three-year period, a total of 1.4 million tonnes of residuals were recovered. "Cascades was founded with the aspiration to re-imagine commodity product manufacturing by prioritizing the use of recycled fibre. This business model allows us to divert millions of tonnes of used paper and cardboard from landfill each year. For us to have the smallest ecological footprint possible, we also chose to focus on giving a new lease of life to our own residual materials," explained Mario Plourde , the company's President and Chief Executive Officer. The bales of used paper bought by Cascades to serve as raw material can contain up to 10% of contaminants (plastic, metal, glass, etc). The company must therefore manage a large amount of diverse residual materials. Other categories of residuals are also derived from Cascades' manufacturing process: mixed sludge and deinking sludge. These two by-products are now used for different purposes: animal bedding, liming material for land farming, fill layer in cardboard production, restoration of damaged sites and capping material for sanitary landfill sites.

A dramatic exception to the rule played out Thursday as the council considered the adoption of a 5-cent fee on paper and plastic bags at most stores. The 28-20 vote to approve the bill came only after a fierce debate centering on lofty themes of regressive taxation, income inequality and environmental policy. “This is a very, very expensive place where people are struggling to survive,” Councilman Mathieu Eugene, a Brooklyn Democrat whose district includes parts of Crown Heights and Flatbush. Councilman Barry Grodenchik, a Queens Democrat, called it “one of the most regressive pieces of legislation to ever come before this council.”

The Myths covered are: •European forests are shrinking •Planted forests are bad for the environment •Paper is bad for the environment •Paper production is a major cause of global greenhouse gas emissions •Only recycled paper should be used •Print and Paper is a wasteful product •Electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than paper-based communication •Digital is always the preferred means of communication •Packaging is wasteful and unnecessary Some of the key facts about paper's sustainability highlighted are: •Between 2005 and 2015, European forests grew by an area the size of Switzerland - that's 1,500 football pitches every day! •Europe recycles 72% of its paper •84% of the industry’s raw materials come from Europe •Between 2005 and 2013, the CO2 emissions of the European pulp and paper industry were reduced by 22% •56% of the industry’s total primary annual energy consumption is biomass-based

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced that 66.8 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2015. U.S. paper recovery rate statistics are available at http://www.paperrecycles.org/statistics. “Industry efforts, the voluntary, market-driven recovery system, and the millions of Americans who make the decision to recycle every day have helped to keep U.S. paper recovery at continuously high levels,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.

It's a common assumption: if paper comes from trees, then using paper must be bad for forests, right? Wrong. American-manufactured paper actually benefits our nation's forestland and is a driving force in maintaining it for future generations. "It may seem counterintuitive, but the responsible production and use of paper is sustainable and helps keep forest land in the U.S. as forests," said Kate McGlynn, Product Environmental Steward for Boise Paper. "Using wood-based products like office paper actually gives American landowners incentive to sustainably manage their forests." If you're striving to "go green" this Earth Day, here's some good news: your office paper is green, as long as it comes from a responsible producer. Here are a handful of ways that paper use and production can support a healthy, forested landscape for future generations.

Holland Litho Printing Service has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “We welcome Holland Litho Printing Service to the growing network of Two Sides member companies and our team looks forward to working with them to help spread the positive word about the sustainability of print and paper,” says Two Sides North America President, Phil Riebel.

The Canadian forest products industry is pledging to help Canada move to a low-carbon economy by removing 30 megatonnes (MT) of CO2 per year by 2030 — more than 13% of the Canadian government’s emissions target. The “30 by 30” Climate Change Challenge was issued today by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), making the forest sector the first to voluntarily contribute to the federal government’s climate goals. Canada has signed the Paris agreement on climate change and is now promising to reduce emissions by 30%, the equivalent of cutting 225 MT of CO2 a year by 2030. The forest sector has a solid record of reducing greenhouse gases from its manufacturing processes. Since 1990 for example, Canada’s pulp and paper industry has reduced GHG emissions by about 66%.

Fischer Paper Products has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “It’s a well-known fact that many retailers and communities are switching from plastic to paper bags for environmental reasons. Fischer Paper Products is a provider of such paper products and we are very proud to have them as a new members of Two Sides. We look forward to helping them promote the environmental features of paper,” says Two Sides North America President, Phil Riebel.

Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has announced the release of its 2015 Sustainability Report. The report showcases Sappi's industry leading sustainability performance. "Each year, we look forward to reporting our progress against the five year goals we set to ensure that Sappi North America continues as a thriving, sustainable, re-investable company," said Mark Gardner, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have an eye to the future and are committed to make those decisions which best position our company in the changing business environment."

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) welcomes FSC’s announcement of the start of stakeholders consultation phase on the draft roadmap to end disassociation. The stakeholders consultation is now being conducted after FSC and APP agreed on a draft Roadmap for Ending Disassociation which outlines the commitments that APP needs to fulfil before the FSC Board of Directors will consider ending its disassociation. The stakeholders consultation is opened from April 4th until May 31st 2016, and will consist of a series of informational webinars as well as regional consultations.

UPM supports a school project called "Local waters". Originally launched in schools in the city of Rauma, the project will expand to other UPM mill locations in Finland in 2016. The project aims to improve grammar and encourage secondary school students to become more interested in natural sciences-particularly natural science related to water-by exploring the natural waters in the vicinity of the schools. In addition to UPM, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Raumanmeri Rotary Club and the organisation puhdasvesi.fi are also involved in the project. Schools involved in the project will receive equipment needed for water studies. Pupils will solve water-related tasks using information from various school subjects, and the findings are transmitted digitally to teachers via smartphones. The project is aimed at 5th and 7th graders. UPM will expand the project to other locations in Finland this year, particularly to Jämsä, Kuusankoski (Kouvola), Pietarsaari, Valkeakoski and Lappeenranta where UPM's mills are located.

Last week, USA Today published a column entitled “Paper may be bad for trees, but it is good for people” by Tal Gross, an assistant professor at Columbia University (@talgross https://twitter.com/talgross). Here at Two Sides we could not agree more with the findings and statements related to the benefits of paper for education and learning. Mr. Gross outlines research showing the following: •Students that read on paper versus screens score better in comprehension tests. •Those that take notes on paper versus a laptop learn more from lectures. •Those that doodle on paper (versus sitting still) while listening to a recording performed better in memory tests. Neuroscientific experiments have shown that there is a stronger emotional connection with print and paper versus screens, and our fact sheet Print and paper play a key role in learning and literacy highlights the tremendous social benefits of print and paper. We also have more good news for Mr. Gross, as outlined in the facts below, regarding the environmental sustainability of paper.

The leadership and personal commitment of the Algonquin Park Forest Advisory Group has been rewarded with the 2016 PEFC Canada Stewardship Award. “The Algonquin Park Forest Certification Advisory Group is one of many dedicated multi-stakeholder public groups in forest communities across Canada that provide advice on locally-adapted measures of good forest management,” said John Dunford, Chair of PEFC Canada. The Algonquin Park Forest Advisory Group is a forest certification advisory committee working with the Algonquin Forestry Authority on sustainable forest management within Algonquin Provincial Park in south-central Ontario. “There are many demands placed on public forests that influence how they are managed. These advisory groups help balance these forest values within the context of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) sustainable forest certification standard,” John continued.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and other forest groups around the world welcome the official signing of the United Nations agreement on climate change that was reached late last year in Paris. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among world leaders in New York for the signing ceremony. The global forest products industry has a highly significant role to play in Canada achieving its targets outlined in this deal, says Derek Nighbor, CEO of FPAC. “Canada’s forest products companies have made it clear that we intend to step up to the plate and help in the transition to a low-carbon economy here in Canada and elsewhere around the world,” he says. ”The global forest products industry has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, stocking carbon and generating greenhouse gas removals—all helping to mitigate climate change,” said the President of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations, Elizabeth de Carvalhaes of the Brazilian Tree Industry.

Designed to bust myths about paper production, and about other forest products, the new infographic reveals that in North America less than 36% of the annual timber harvest is directly used for paper and paperboard. In fact, most trees are harvested to make lumber and other solid wood products essential for construction, such as building homes and furniture. The infographic spotlights other key facts about paper, recycling, and other forest products, including: •Every year, North America grows many more trees than are harvested. •Paper is one of the most recycled products in the world with recovery rates of 65% and higher in North America. •About 35% of our paper products use recovered fiber as a raw material. Other key raw materials are sawmill residuals leftover from lumber manufacturing. •Forest products, such as paper, are based on a highly renewable and natural raw material – wood from sustainably managed North American forests.

The substantial impact of PEFC on promoting responsible forest management globally and locally, and the close alignment of our activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): these are all clear to see in the 2015 PEFC Annual Review ‘Seeing the Bigger Picture’, released today by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the world's leading forest certification system. This Annual Review captures just a few of our activities and those of our members in 2015, but it already demonstrates that sustainable forest management is much more than just an environmental issue. It equally addresses the social, economic and cultural dimensions of sustainability at the core of the 17 SDGs.

It's a common assumption: if paper comes from trees, then using paper must be bad for forests, right? Wrong. American-manufactured paper actually benefits our nation's forestland and is a driving force in maintaining it for future generations. "It may seem counterintuitive, but the responsible production and use of paper is sustainable and helps keep forest land in the U.S. as forests," said Kate McGlynn, Product Environmental Steward for Boise Paper. "Using wood-based products like office paper actually gives American landowners incentive to sustainably manage their forests." If you're striving to "go green" this Earth Day, here's some good news: your office paper is green, as long as it comes from a responsible producer. Here are a handful of ways that paper use and production can support a healthy, forested landscape for future generations.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has been granted membership in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organization devoted to helping the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environmental and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with almost 1,300 government and NGO members and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. “We are so pleased to join this network of conservation-minded organizations. Biodiversity conservation is central to both IUCN’s and SFI’s mission. SFI is committed to quantifying the conservation impact of certified forests and responsible sourcing of forest products through programs such as the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. Membership in IUCN will give us access to important tools and expertise to help this work,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI Inc.

Weyerhaeuser Company plans to commit up to 3 million acres of private timberland in Washington and Oregon to support a variety of conservation efforts focused on reintroducing the North American Fisher (Fisher) throughout the West. The Fisher reintroduction and conservation effort is being led by a variety of partners including: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and private forestland owners, like Weyerhaeuser. Today, the USFWS took a constructive step by recognizing the positive benefits of working forests when it determined the Fisher is not warranted for listing as a threatened or endangered species in the Northwest. Instead, it will cooperatively work with private landowners to encourage Fisher conservation. "Weyerhaeuser's working forests are perfect partners for wildlife conservation efforts because they are continually managed," said Rhonda Hunter, Weyerhaeuser's senior vice president for timberlands. "Private timberlands held by companies like Weyerhaeuser are attractive habitats for animals, like the Fisher. Sustainability is a core value at Weyerhaeuser, and we're proud to be part of this program." The Fisher is one of the larger members of the weasel family and is found only in North America's boreal and temperate forests. Fisher populations in Washington and Oregon were reduced dramatically in the 1800s and early 1900s through trapping, and predator and pest control.

Smithers Pira has published a new report entitled, The Future of Tissue Manufacturing to 2021, which provides an in-depth, long-term assessment of the rapidly evolving tissue manufacturing processes. Operating environment trends and diverging product performance levels will push alternative manufacturing technologies. Tissue manufacturers occupying economy segments compete primarily on price. This requires increased focus on productivity and cost control. Premium level product performance will drive increased adoption of structured sheet technologies supported by chemicals and fibres. Changes are well underway as the standardisation of crescent former configurations and sizes have allowed machines to be built in auto assembly line fashion in workshops at much lower costs than the traditional engineered custom machines. Steel Yankee assembly is rapidly joining this disruptive approach to machinery sourcing.

RenFuel and Nordic Paper have signed an agreement to build a production test facility in Bäckhammar in the region of Värmland, Sweden in order to test-manufacture an advanced biofuel based on lignin. The project has been granted 71 million SEK by the Swedish Energy Agency. The Swedish bioenergy research firm RenFuel has developed and patented a method to refine the lignin from black liquor, a renewable byproduct from the production of paper pulp, into lignin oil. The oil, called Lignol, can replace fossil oil and be used as raw material in the production of renewable gasoline and diesel. Using the black liquor also leads to an increase in production capacity and profit in the paper pulp industry. “Our product Lignol is the key to reaching the goal of a fossil free vehicle fleet in Sweden by 2030. We are very pleased to finally being able to put the product into large scale testing, as a result of the cooperation with Nordic Paper and the financial support from the Swedish Energy Agency,” Sven Löchen, CEO of RenFuel said.

UPM Raflatac has cooperated with leading Italian wine producer Cielo e Terra on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) to study the environmental impacts of wine bottles. The comprehensive study took into account the full life cycle of the wine bottle and related packaging elements, and was performed in accordance with ISO 14040/44 standards. The study will be presented in a congress organised in connection to Vinintaly, international exhibition on wine and spirits, on 12th April 2016. "Our aim is to better understand the environmental impacts related to our products and, together with our suppliers, find new ways to reduce them. The impacts of our recent investments in renewable energy are clearly visible in the results of the LCA study," says Giampietro Povolo, Finance and Operation Manager, Cielo e Terra. "When comparing the years before and after the investments, we can identify reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 10% and water consumption of 24% during the life cycle of a wine bottle."

GreenBlue, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials in industry, has launched an updated version of the Environmental Paper Assessment Tool, EPAT 3.0. EPAT (www.epat.org) is an innovative, web-based tool that allows buyers and sellers of paper products to work together to evaluate the sustainability of their paper products. For paper buyers, EPAT provides a customized analysis to measure key environmental performance indicators in their supply chain and work with suppliers to meet sustainability criteria. This latest version of EPAT builds on this the collaborative aspects of the tool and makes it even easier for buyers to gain transparency into their supply chains, including historical data, to look at improvement over time. For paper suppliers, EPAT offers a single, consistent framework for reporting environmental data.

Scandinavia is soon to welcome its first PEFC Project certified building as Mäihä, a wooden apartment block, is unveiled at the Seinäjoki Housing Fair in Finland this July. Through PEFC Project Certification, the building constructors will be able to demonstrate the project’s contribution to environmental conservation and economic sustainability. “We are pleased that the first Nordic PEFC construction project will be in Finland,” announced Auvo Kaivola, Secretary General of PEFC Finland. “There have already been several good examples of PEFC Project Certification, including Kingsgate House, a certified apartment block in the UK, and the Winter Universiade in Italy.” Mäihä will be built from modules made of PEFC-certified cross laminated timber (CLT) assembled in Stora Enso's mill. The modules are prefabricated in Hartola mill, and ready for assembly in the construction site. The prefabricated elements include windows, doors and kitchen units.

The green building movement – from architects and builders to specifiers and planners - can now benefit from an expanded range of responsibly sourced timber and forest products eligible for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has just issued an Alternative Compliance Path (ACP). The ACP rewards building projects that use "wood products from certified sources as defined by ASTM D7612-10", which includes internationally recognized voluntary forest certification standards such as PEFC (including its North American based members ATFS, CSA and SFI) and FSC. The ACP will apply to all LEED v4 rating systems including Homes v4 and to all LEED 2009 rating systems. “Sustainable, PEFC-certified timber provides architects and the construction industry with great opportunities,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) applauds today’s news that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will now recognize wood and paper products certified by a variety of authorities. The USGBC has previously recognized only sustainable forest management certification from a single standard. But the USGBC says builders and architects can now get credit for the use of wood and paper products certified by a number of standards authorities. For Canadian forest products companies, this change will mean increased market access for some products, wider recognition of the value of some Canadian forest products, and, potentially, increased revenue and employment for the forest products sector.

Average recycled content of newspapers in 2015 was 71 per cent - ahead of the voluntary target agreed between newspaper publishers and the Government, according to a report compiled by independent auditors for the Newspaper Industry Materials Committee. Newspaper industry body NIMC provides a forum for the discussion of matters of mutual interest with regard to production materials used in newspaper publishing. On a biannual basis, publishers commission an audit to establish whether recycling targets are being achieved. The auditors comment that the results have been affected “fairly dramatically” by a singular event, namely the closure of Aylesford Newsprint in the early months of 2015 and the resulting loss of some major domestic recycled newsprint capacity.

An editorial, “Pushing back against progressive bullies,” which appeared in The Wall Street Journal on March 18, 2016, provides an interesting synopsis of the events between Resolute and Greenpeace and concludes: “Greenpeace has tried to contain the Resolute case and ensure it only affects its Canadian operations, but Justice Fitzpatrick wisely understood that it is one global organization. Now the Divisional Court in Ontario is considering the issue and if Greenpeace loses again, the outfit could soon be coughing up the internal documents behind its various campaigns of fear and intimidation world-wide.”

Two Sides, a global initiative by companies from the Graphic Communications Industry including forestry, pulp, paper, inks and chemicals, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing, printing, envelopes and postal operators, recently released a new upbeat animated video that busts more myths about print and paper. It’s packed with great facts you don’t want to miss.

The UPM BioVerno renewable diesel project reached a significant goal when the product was launched onto the market at the beginning of May 2015. Finnish energy company St1 has been selling UPM BioVerno as part of their Diesel plus fuel at its filling stations in Finland for almost a year now. St1 confirms that an important share of its diesel customers use Diesel plus containing UPM BioVerno on a daily basis as there are over 100,000 Diesel plus refills in a day.

Danny Kennedy, managing director of the California Clean Energy Fund and co-founder of Sungevity, will explore the imminent explosive growth of solar when he headlines the April 6 "The California Renewables Rush" conference, hosted by Penton‘s The Energy Times. As an internationally recognized clean-technology entrepreneur and environmental activist, Kennedy will reflect on the journey to push our economy towards renewables and what it will mean for those involved in the transformation.

FSC reached 30,000 certificates in the supply chain – an impressive milestone that couldn’t have been achieved without the support of all our members and stakeholders. “We are incredibly proud of this landmark achievement, and all the hard work that has gone into transforming FSC into a globally recognized, and used, market tool over the past 22 years,” commented Director General, Kim Carstensen. FSC has the highest number of chain of custody certificates of any forest certification scheme. The number of certificates is a clear way to measure FSC’s market growth, and impact on the market. However, behind that number there are roughly 50,000 independent companies and organizations that buy, manufacture, trade or sell FSC-certified material and products.

A comprehensive review of Motions 29 and 36 from the 2014 General Assembly, FSC Global Strategic Plan, and all stakeholder feedback was carried out by FSC and the technical working group during a meeting in February 2016. This review established that in order to adequately address the motions and balance the feedback from the consultation, we need to know more about both consumer understanding of the FSC labels and the potential impacts of these changes on certificate holders. Therefore, we need to take more time to further investigate these aspects. While this research is conducted, we will continue to move forward with improving and streamlining the other components of the standard. We intend to combine the results of our research with other revisions into a second draft of the standard. The second draft will be opened to public consultation by the end of 2016, with the aim to approve and publish the final standard in 2017.

The Foodservice Packaging Institute introduces a free toolkit that offers step-by-step guidance for implementing an in-store recycling and/or composting program. The newly launched Foodservice Packaging Recovery Toolkit, from the Foodservice Packaging Institute, provides free resources for recovering foodservice packaging, thanks to a multi-year effort with input from many stakeholders. “Recovering cups, containers, boxes, bags, and other foodservice packaging is a topic of intense interest not only for consumers but also for the foodservice packaging supply chain and those in the recycling and composting industries,” says Lynn M. Dyer, President of FPI. “We’ve created this toolkit to respond to the questions and needs of many different stakeholders involved in the recovery process.”

Low gasoline prices and continuing performance issues have slowed the growth of electric car sales. But that has not stymied progress in electrifying larger vehicles, including garbage trucks, city buses, and medium-sized trucks used by freight giants like FedEx. The clang of garbage cans will still probably wake people way too early in the morning. But in Santa Rosa, California, at least, the roaring diesel engine will be quiet, replaced by a silent, electric motor.

Finland was one of the first countries to achieve endorsement of its national forest certification system back in 2000, and today most of Finland’s forests are PEFC-certified. Recognizing the scale of Finnish forest sector, Ben and Fabienne Sinclair, responsible for marketing, travelled out to meet with the country’s numerous stakeholders. “This visit was an excellent opportunity for us to get an update, and I am very pleased with the strong progress that PEFC is making,” said Antti Sahi, Secretary General of MTK, which represents farmers, forest owners and rural entrepreneurs in Finland.

Klabin, Brazil's largest paper producer and exporter and the leading producer of paper and board for packaging, corrugated board packaging and industrial sacks, is participating as a signatory to the Cities for Water Coalition. The initiative created by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its partners was launched in November 2015 with the goal of improving water security in 12 metropolitan areas of Brazil and contributing to the recovery and conservation of priority areas for water production.

“As the first International Day of Forests since the COP21 agreement and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is great to see forests being put into the spotlight,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. “As a grassroots organization working in the forest and with forest-dependent communities, we directly contribute to most, if not all, of the 17 SDGs. From improving life on land, to poverty alleviation, food security, good health and education, sustainable forestry has a vital role to play as we look to meet these challenging targets.” Ben was speaking at the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) organized International Day of Forests dinner in Australia earlier this week, sharing the speakers’ platform with Senator Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is pleased to see today’s federal budget put strong emphasis on climate change initiatives, innovation and research and development. The budget tabled by the Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau, included a $1 billion fund over four years to support clean technology for the forest sector as well as other resource industries. The budget is also heavily investing in climate change and clean technology initiatives including $2 billion over two years for a Low Carbon Economy Fund and $40 million to integrate climate resilient changes to building codes.

“The real work begins now,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, while speaking at a special event at the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF). “Achieving PEFC endorsement of New Zealand forest certification system was the first step, but now the work begins to run the system, engage with stakeholders, promote PEFC/NZFCA certification, and get those forests certified.” Ben, who is currently travelling around Japan, Australia and New Zealand, headed to Auckland on Thursday 17 March to speak to NZIF members, updating them on new developments at PEFC, but also stressing the importance of their continued involvement in the country’s national system.

A study undertaken late in 2015 by Leger the Research Intelligence Group asked international buyers of wood, pulp and paper in the United States, Europe and Asia about their perceptions of forest products and environmental issues. (fpac.ca/leger) The results are comparable to a similar survey done by Leger two years ago. “Once again the Canadian forest products industry is getting top marks when it comes to our environmental credentials,” says Derek Nighbor, the CEO of FPAC. “Our sector has worked hard to reduce our environmental footprint and we are committed to continual improvement. This survey shows international customers feel confident when they source forest products from Canada.”

Covering more than 400 million acres – and representing 25 percent of the world’s remaining intact forest – the Canadian boreal forest is larger than many countries. There are more than 500 indigenous communities in the boreal and 400,000 Canadians rely on the forest for their livelihoods. It is also the source of huge quantities of wood and fiber for customers in Canada and the US. In short, the Canadian boreal forest is an important place that delivers a wide range of values, some hotly contested. First Nations recognize the boreal forest as their ancestral lands. Forest managers see opportunities for economic development and jobs. Environmentalists focus on the vast swaths of intact forest and habitat for many species, including woodlands caribou. On the surface, these interests may seem to be in opposition. In reality, they can be aligned if the forest management respects environmental and social values. But this alignment does not happen by accident; it is the product of hard work among parties to find solutions in the common interest.

UPM builds its climate change mitigation and adaption actions on three main pillars. We aim to ensure that our most important raw material - wood - grows in sustainably managed forests, which, again, act as carbon sinks. We promote high biodiversity value ecosystems that are less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Resource efficient operations and constantly increasing use of renewable and low emission energy are our key drivers in production. On top of all, our products are renewable, recyclable and act as carbon sinks. They are also an endless innovative source for new businesses and products that can replace non-renewable materials with renewable. "We updated our 2030 responsibility focus areas and targets in 2015. On the climate agenda we aim to reduce the fossil CO2 emissions from own combustion and purchased electricity by 30% and the acidifying flue gases by 20%. On the forest 2030 agenda we have set a target to use only certified wood in our production," Salpakivi-Salomaa lists concrete actions.

Banks, credit card companies, and other businesses are aggressively pushing consumers to receive their monthly statements electronically, but a new report by the National Consumer Law Center warns that these efforts can create more harm than good for consumers. The report notes that millions of Americans -- particularly lower-income, less educated, older, and households of color -- are on the other side of the “digital divide,” lacking home broadband Internet access. According to a recent Pew Research study: •59% of households with incomes under $20,000 and 53% of those with less than a high school education do not have home broadband Internet access. Even those with access may have older computers, slow connection speeds, or may lack a printer or money to afford expensive ink to print statements. •About half of Hispanics (50%) and African Americans (46%) lack access to home broadband Internet. •Over half (55%) of Americans 65 years or older lack home broadband Internet. Even if they have access, older consumers may be less comfortable with electronic statements or find them risky. Paper statements can be critical for family members who are trying to piece together financial records for an older consumer who is incapacitated or has passed away. The report also notes that mobile devices aren’t a substitute to home computers because of their smaller size and formatting and unsuitability for record keeping.

The need for collaboration and cooperation to expand forest certification in Japan was the resounding conclusion to the SGEC Forest Certification Forum, held last week in Tokyo. “Our bottom up approach to forest certification, which gives national stakeholders control in the development of their own national standards, is the perfect fit for the Japanese context,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, during his keynote speech at the forum. SGEC, the Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council, is our National member for Japan. After submitting their system to PEFC last year, the country’s national forest certification system is expected to achieve PEFC endorsement later this year.

In a pioneering move to promote forestry conservation, a group of Filipino advocates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will move the country towards the establishment of a national forest certification system. “We need a bolder and more ambitious transformation of stakeholders to embrace sustainable forestry, and the very structure of the forestry sector, ranging from governance to industry, through a national forestry certification system,” said Sec. Neric Acosta, Presidential Adviser for Environment Protection, during his opening speech. He also went on to challenge the forestry sector to contribute to the country’s sustainable development.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Center for Corporate Climate Leadership recognized Kimberly-Clark with one of only 17 Climate Leadership Awards given nationwide for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The awards acknowledge the voluntary work organizations do to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain. Kimberly-Clark received the Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management "Goal Achievement Award" for reporting and verifying organization-wide greenhouse gas inventories and achieving publicly-set aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals. "We're proud of the progress we've made in finding ways to grow sustainably," said Sandra MacQuillan, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for Kimberly-Clark. "We are increasing efforts to educate, excite and engage employees around sustainability by demonstrating how it connects with our vision and values as a company."

“The world needs more wood. And in the crowded landscapes of Asia, this wood won’t be coming from conventional large-scale plantations, but from millions of dispersed smallholders,” remarked Stephen Midgley during the opening session of PEFC’s Stream Event at the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week (APFW). “But how can we connect the markets and investment that private sector provides to smallholders in a way that addresses their barriers – such as providing competitive prices for wood compared to other crops?” Mr. Midgley continued. PEFC’s event was designed for this question; exploring the interface between large-scale private sector and smallholders in the Asia region.

Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, has expanded its fiber certification program into Brazil and Mexico, as of mid-February 2016. Although most of the raw material used in our mills is 100 percent recycled fiber, this certification also requires that Sonoco select suppliers of virgin fiber and virgin fiber components that avoid trading or sourcing raw material that is: a) illegally harvested, b) harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights and c) harvested where global conservation priorities are threatened. “Fiber certification is a demonstration of Sonoco’s commitment to recycling, healthy forests and responsible resource management,” said Laura Rowell, global sustainable packaging manager.

As part of the country’s continuing fight against illegal logging and promote responsible forestry, Filipino stakeholders are working with the government as they push to establishment a national forest certification system. With the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week taking place last week in the Philippines, we travelled out to the country to meet with policy makers as they embark on the development process. Both PEFC International representatives and our National members from the region were on hand to give their advice and guidance.

In conjunction with Natuur en Bos, Sappi HQ's Employee-led Tree-Planting Initiative resulted in a further 4,000 saplings planted in the Forêt de Soignes in Belgium on 26th February 2016. This brings the total number of trees replanted by the group to over 16,000 since the initiative started 6 years ago. Jens Kriete is the Environmental Manager at Sappi Europe, "Our mantra at Sappi is that to make sustainability a success, we have to involve our people. This is a great example of where Sappi employees have taken the lead by regularly getting together to plant trees in a local forest." Sappi's tree-planting initiative also has a strong community dimension, engaging in and with our local environment.

With the deadline just over two weeks away, we encourage anyone who was not yet applied for the 2016 Collaboration Fund to send us their proposals for new and innovative projects. The last day for submitting your proposals is 18 March 2016. Interested in getting involved? Through the Collaboration Fund we seek to support efforts to advance sustainable forest management and forest certification around the world by our members and partner organizations. Any new and independent projects which embody and stand to deliver on the Fund’s objectives while be considered.

Graphic Dimensions has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “We have observed the great work that Two Sides has accomplished for many years. We are excited to become a member of this organization. The knowledge base that they have amassed and continue to provide is very impressive. Being that we are dedicated to the growth of the print industry our association with this organization is a perfect fit,” said Bill Reid – Graphic Dimensions VP of Sales and Marketing.

We have had a fantastic response to the call for nominations for our Standards Revision Working Groups. Regarding both the competence and background of the nominees, as well as the number we received, the nominations are impressive. We would like to thank all the nominees for their interest in PEFC’s work and their willingness to contribute to the further improvement of our standards. We are now evaluating all available nominations. We will come back to the nominees in the next three weeks with further information about the acceptance or rejection of the nomination. In case of acceptance, the nominees will receive more detailed information about the further process.

UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland, one of the world's largest organizations for environmental protection, have signed a three-year contract to continue the cooperation on the 'Rivers for Life' project. The project embraces efforts towards the conservation and restoration of natural river ecosystems in Poland, and has been supported by UPM Raflatac since 2012. "The private business sector can have an enormous impact on the condition of nature, positive or negative. As the Biofore company, we want to lead by example, raise awareness and find ways to improve our environment together with various stakeholders," says Jani Konkarikoski, General Manager of UPM Raflatac Poland.

Viet Nam has taken a big step towards the development of a national forest certification system in line with PEFC requirements, following the approval of Decision 83 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), which establishes a Vietnam Forest Certification Scheme (VFCS) Program. The government-approved VFCS Program aims to implement sustainable forest management and forest certification in the country over the period 2016-2020, and appoints key organizations with the required authority and resources to lead implementation.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today kicked off its celebration of the 75th anniversary of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), the largest and oldest sustainable forestry program for family forest owners. In celebration, AFF's governance, Tree Farmers, volunteers and partners have pledged to measurably increase their impact on the clean water, wildlife habitat and wood supply that comes from family-owned forests. “Our woodlands are facing incredible challenges today – a changing climate, catastrophic wildfires, insect epidemics, development pressures, and much more,” said Tom Martin, President and CEO of AFF. “Yet we continue to need the clean water, wildlife habitat and wood supply we depend on from our forests. Tree Farmers exhibit the most exceptional forest stewardship that helps protect and enhance these benefits.”

Russia has successfully achieve PEFC re-endorsement of its national forest certification system, confirming that it meets PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks and ensuring that Russian certified forest owners and companies can benefit from the global acceptance of PEFC. With the Russian Federation containing an estimated 800 million hectares of forest, the equivalent to over 20% of the world's forest area and more than Canada and Brazil combined, the continued development and increase of sustainable forest management in the country will have considerable environmental, social and economic benefits.

Stakeholders are invited to give feedback on the enquiry draft for Emission Data Transfer – Requirements. This draft document is an attempt to outline requirements for a strictly voluntary mechanism for the transfer of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission related data along the PEFC certified supply chain. Stakeholders have until the 4 April 2016 to submit their feedback. The use of the PEFC framework to transfer GHG emission related data along the supply chain has been the subject of increasing interest among the bioenergy sector and other industry sectors processing forest-based materials in recent years.

APP is one of the biggest pulp and paper companies in the world, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It manufactures about 18 million tonnes of paper products a year and sells them into 120 countries. And it is a company that has faced a number of run-ins with the NGO community over its practices, with Greenpeace its most vocal critic once labelling APP the world’s "worst destroyer of pristine forest". In 2011, Greenpeace ramped up its campaign against APP when it targeted the LA headquarters of the toy company Mattel – a huge buyer of packaging from APP – unveiling a huge poster across the front of the building featuring Ken dumping Barbie (made by Mattel) with the slogan, "Barbie: It's over. I don't date girls that are into deforestation.” APP had to act. And act it did; in an extraordinary turn of events, APP and Greenpeace teamed up to work together on a new zero deforestation policy for the business. In early 2013, Greenpeace promised it would suspend active campaigning, after three years of continuous protest against the business.

There is a lot of misinformation about paper use and sustainable forestry - we need your help to get the facts out. Please have a look at our new animated video and share it with your network.

As we begin our standard revision process 2016-2017, there are several different ways for stakeholders to get involved. Please take a look at the range of options below, and help us to make the best even better! Working Groups: The Working Groups (WGs) are the most powerful institution in the revision process. Expert Forum: The deliberations of the Working Groups will be informed by two online Expert Forums for Sustainable Forest Management and for Chain of Custody. People with expertise in these two areas can apply for membership. Stakeholder Conference: In spring 2017, we will organize 2-3 Stakeholder Conferences in different geographic regions. Public Consultation: Global Public Consultations will allow stakeholders anywhere in the world to provide input into the Enquiry Drafts of the standard, for a minimum period of 60 days. Revision Newsletter: We have created a new Standards Revision Newsletter with specific information about the revision process.

Forester Grant Steeves of the JDI Sussex Woodlands office has discovered a rare plant population on JDI-managed Crown Land near Havelock, New Brunswick. During his survey walk of a forest block last fall, Steeves noticed a low-ground plant with unique broad white stripes on its leaves. Having had rare plant identification training, Steeves was aware that this could be quite a find. Steeves took a photo of the plant and sent it to JDI Naturalist Kelly Honeyman, who then visited the site to confirm the rarity: a Downy Rattlesnake Plantain - classified as an S-1 plant (with five or less known populations in New Brunswick) - the rarest in the rare plant ranking system.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI), our National member from North America, recently announced grants for 19 projects to help further understanding of the conservation benefits of managed forests, and to strengthen the connection between communities and forests. The grants were made as part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.’s Conservation and Community Partnership Grants Program. These grants represent collaborations between SFI Inc., SFI Program Participants, and partner organizations throughout North America. “Our conservation grants advance SFI’s long-standing commitment to forest research. These projects provide the science-based data that resource professionals need to improve forest management, and to assess the value of that work,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI Inc. “Our community grants represent SFI’s unique role at the intersection of sustainable forestry, responsible procurement and thriving communities. SFI engages local communities through a variety of initiatives including youth outreach, forest education programs, and green building projects for low-income families.”

Imperial Communications has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “We welcome Imperial Communications to the Two Sides network and look forward to working with them to promote the sustainability of print and paper among their stakeholders,” says Two Sides North America President, Phil Riebel. “By becoming more resourceful, more respectful and more forward-thinkers we ensure the paper that is used on our customer’s projects is responsibly sourced,” says Joel Salzman, Executive Vice President at Imperial Communications.

Hachette Book Group increased its use of paper from certified sources, and upped its use of recycled fiber in 2015 over 2014, according to a progress report released by the publisher. HBG’s carbon footprint rose by 9% in 2014 (the last year for which results are available), but HBG still hit its long-term goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50%. It was able to hit that target thanks to substantial gains made in previous years. The company's increased use of carbon in 2014 was due to a 20% increase in ground product transportation, which HBG attributed to an increase in the sale of print books. Though shipping more books increased the amount of carbon HBG emitted in 2014, the company said it had declines in other areas that contribute to carbon footprint, including copy paper (20% reduction), mail transport (-19%), business travel (-12%), and employee commuting (-6%).

Today, Two Sides North America released a new study outlining key facts on why paperless initiatives do not save trees. Findings point to mounting evidence that loss of markets for paper and other wood products, a large portion of which are produced from wood harvested on privately-owned land, increases the risk of forest loss. The study was conducted by Dovetail Partners, an environmental think-tank specializing in forestry research and analysis. "This study is another example of why slogans such as 'go paperless - save trees' or 'go green - go paperless' are not only misleading, but false. Over the past 60 years, the number of trees on managed U.S. forest lands has been increasing considerably due to responsible forestry practices. Wood is a valuable renewable resource that we are taking care of," explains Phil Riebel, President of Two Sides North America.

While PEFC certification is part of the license to operate for many companies along the timber supply chain, why forest certification matters is not clear to others. Why are forests important, what does PEFC deliver, how can my company contribute? These questions are answered in a new 2-minute video recently launched by PEFC.

PEFC Forest Certification Week not only provides an opportunity for PEFC members from around the world to gather together, but also welcomes representatives from countries actively developing national forest certification systems. This year, we welcomed representatives from Ghana, Guatemala, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam and to our 2015 PEFC Week. “PEFC is the best way to enable the one million small-forest owners in Viet Nam to access certification,” said Bach Le Van, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MARD. David Everard, from SAPPI South Africa, echoed this, highlighting how “PEFC offers an important solution to South African smallholders.” Other countries, including South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam, all took the opportunity to express their desire to become part of the PEFC alliance, “We are ready to join PEFC,” said Seoggu Son, from the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute.

Since 2009, Best Buy has voluntarily operated the most comprehensive e-waste recycling service in the United States. We remain an industry leader and the only national retailer to provide this service. We are fully committed to being a convenient local resource for people to safely dispose of their consumer electronics and appliances. From time to time, though, we will make changes to ensure the service itself is sustainable, including charging fees to recycle certain products for which recycling costs have risen sharply. And we will continue to work closely with the consumer electronics industry to develop more and better recycling options. Our goal has always been to simply break even on our recycling program, and we’re not there today. The new fees will help cover the increasing cost of managing TV and monitor disposal through our network of stores, distribution centers and recycling partners. E-waste volume is rising, commodity prices are falling and global outlets for recycled glass, a key component of TVs and monitors, have dramatically declined. More and more cities and counties have cut their recycling programs for budget reasons, limiting consumer options even further. While providing recycling solutions for our customers is a priority, Best Buy should not be the sole e-cycling provider in any given area, nor should we assume the entire cost.

“By joining the PEFC alliance we have the opportunity to share our experience as an advocate for sustainable forestry, while benefiting from the insights shared by other members,” said Lucita Jasmin, APRIL Group Director for External Affairs. “As an industry based in the global South, there is much to contribute from our journey, particularly on the aspect of integrating social development and poverty alleviation in our sustainability approach. We are also eager to participate in conversations that help advance the standards and best practices of sustainable forestry.” APRIL Group achieved PEFC Sustainable Forest Management certification for its first forest area in June earlier this year. The company now has more than 60 percent of its concession in Indonesia PEFC-certified, adding to the existing PEFC Chain of Custody certification awarded to its manufacturing operations.

Today’s announcement of the Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order by the Government of BC and First Nations is being applauded by five BC forest product companies as a unique solution for a globally significant area. BC Timber Sales, Catalyst Paper Corp., Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Corp., Interfor Corp., and Western Forest Products Inc. formed the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative (CFCI) in 2000. For 15 years, CFCI worked with ForestEthics Solutions, Greenpeace and Sierra Club to deliver joint recommendations to the Province and First Nations. “It is collaboration not conflict that ultimately drove the solutions in the Great Bear Rainforest,” said Rick Jeffery, representing CFCI. “This agreement will deliver certainty for coastal forests, local communities and jobs for years to come.”

On 1 February, Södra will launch a new package of forestry services. The new services will facilitate forest ownership and present opportunities to improve the profitability of members' forest estates. The new package includes a financial advisory service and improved digital services. The new package will be launched on 1 February and includes an advisory service to facilitate ownership transfers, as well as cash flow analysis and property valuation services. The forest estate agreement is a new service for forest owners who seek secure, profitable and professional management for their entire estate. "This is a comprehensive package of services, designed to meet the needs of Södra's members. The requirements of forest owners - as well as technological solutions - change over time, and these new services represent a major step forward toward a new and improved member offering. The aim is to make active and profitable forestry easier," says Håkan Larsson, President of the Södra Skog business area.

Stakeholders globally are invited to nominate candidates to participate in the revision of some of the core standards of PEFC, the world's largest forest certification system. The standards include PEFC's global requirements for sustainable forest management, forest certification procedures, standard setting procedures at national level, and the PEFC assessment and endorsement process of national/regional forest certification systems. The nomination deadline is 22 February 2016. "We review our standards every five years to ensure that they incorporate latest knowledge, best practices, and evolving stakeholder expectations," explained Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. "This process is of fundamental importance as these documents define not only the environmental, social and economic requirements for sustainable forest management, but also how implementation in the forest is certified."

McDonald’s UK have partnered up with British papermaker James Cropper in a new trial aimed at recycling the fast food giant's paper cups. The partnership will enable paper cups used in McDonald’s restaurants across the UK, every week, to be recycled at James Cropper’s state-of-the-art reclaimed fibre plant – turning previously non-recyclable, plastic-coated paper cups into new paper products. Richard Burnett, market development manager at James Cropper, said: “It’s estimated that up to 2.5 billion paper cups are used in the UK every year. Most of these are currently not recycled as, being polyethylene-coated, they can’t be recycled amongst ordinary household waste. In addition, collecting used paper cups for recycling has been problematic due to the nature of their use – they’re used on the go and are often taken away from the place of purchase”.

“If the court forces EPA to lower of the ozone standard even more, projects to keep paper and wood products manufacturing facilities competitive could be halted, putting at risk countless high-paying jobs in rural America. The new standard at 70 parts per billion (ppb) is already precariously close to background levels in the environment. Lowering the ozone limit to 65 ppb or lower - as petitioners demand - would unnecessarily divert needed resources from more productive use and is not supported by the scientific evidence.”

Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA: “EPA’s federal plan and model rules should provide for least-costly implementation possible to ratepayers and the economy, including recognizing the climate benefits of biomass energy. EPA needs to provide more certainty to biomass as a fuel. For example, the agency should list pre-approved qualified biomass fuels so that states know which options are on the table for CPP compliance. Our industry relies on forest biomass and manufacturing residuals in a variety of forms to generate about two-thirds of the energy we need to operate; failure to explicitly list these materials as good sources of energy will result in inefficiencies and unnecessary waste.”

PEFC International is delighted to welcome the Hungarian Forest Certification Non-profit Ltd. as the 41st national member joining the PEFC family. “We have learned from experience that PEFC is much more than a just label that allows consumers to make ethical purchases. PEFC is a cleverly designed, robust technical framework. Perhaps even more importantly, PEFC is a community of friendly people who care about forests and care about our future. We are proud to become a member of this community,” said Endre Schiberna, Head of the Standard Setting Committee. “Hungary is a perfect example of how the forestry sector can benefit from forest certification,” continued Mr. Schiberna. “While our forest related regulations are said to be among the most rigorous in Europe, the general public is unaware of this, even within the country. This means that Hungarian forest products are not favored by environmental-conscious consumers.”

Sonoco has granted a silver-level Sonoco Sustainability Star Award to its Display & Packaging facility in Iowa City, Iowa, for successful and exemplary efforts to reduce its waste to landfill and implement sustainability-oriented processes. Administered by Sonoco Recycling, the Sonoco Sustainability Star Awards program is comprised of three tiers. Gold awards recognize facilities that have achieved 99 percent landfill diversion; silver awards honor facilities achieving 95 percent landfill diversion; and bronze awards distinguish facilities that have made significant waste reduction achievements, such as drastically reducing their waste streams or implementing a new composting system.

Slovakia and Norway have become the latest countries to successfully achieve PEFC re-endorsement of their national forest certification systems, verifying their continued compliance with PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks. With this re-endorsement, the countries’ certified forest owners and companies can continue benefitting from the global acceptance of PEFC. Norway, one of the 11 original national members of PEFC, was among the first to achieve PEFC endorsement of their forest certification system back in 2000. This was followed by two more successful endorsements in 2006 and 2010. Since then, more than 9.1 million hectares of forest have become PEFC certified, equaling more than three quarters of the country’s forest area. In Slovakia, almost two-thirds of the country’s forest area, more than 1.2 million hectares, has become PEFC certified in the ten years since the system was first endorsed by PEFC. This is the second successful re-endorsement of the Slovakian certification system, with the country achieving their first re-endorsement back in 2010.

Member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) have agreed to follow an innovative approach to sustainable forest management that takes its cue from nature. The approach, known as Natural Range of Variation (NRV), is aimed at recreating natural landscapes by harvesting in patterns that are similar to the impact of wind, fire, insects and other natural disturbances. FPAC members committed to follow this approach after working collaboratively with environmental groups under the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The pledge to implement NRV is considered a major step towards the environmental and industry CBFA goal of making Canada a world leader in sustainable forest management.

A common rallying cry for “going digital” is environmental sustainability—using less print and paper, the argument goes, saves resources—but rarely do those making the argument consider the very real environmental…

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is pleased with the landmark global climate deal reached in Paris including its recognition of the fundamental role played by the world’s forests. Nearly 200 countries, including Canada, have agreed to hold the increase in global temperature to 2°C above pre-industrial levels to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. The agreement calls on countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, while recognizing the role of conservation and the sustainable management of forests. Canada has more than 9% of the world’s forests which absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide to the benefit of our entire planet. Unlike many other forest nations, all harvested trees are regrown largely ensuring the maintenance of our carbon stocks. More to the point, Canada has virtually zero deforestation, just 0.02% per year.

Rottneros' subsidiary Vallviks Bruk AB has on January 12th been granted permission by the Land and Environment Court in Östersund to produce the requested 255,000 tons of sulphate pulp. It is a comprehensive permit under the Swedish Environmental Code, which is associated with a number of conditions, which are broadly in line with the company's previously stated position. "The new permit will ensure that we can continue with our long-term industrial plan, Agenda 500 and increase the capacity of both our mills. The permit also ensures that we can continue to develop the company and our organization," says Per Lundeen, CEO of Rottneros.

Two Sides spends a lot of time batting down the baloney that often gets passed around under the guise of environmental sustainability. The latest major company to incur Two Sides’ wrath is Verizon, which may have run afoul of the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides for environmental marketing. In a customer communication, Verizon told customers to “Go Green with Paperless Billing and Auto Bill Pay.” Among the bulleted points in favor of paperless billing, Verizon lists “Green—Help save the environment, one paperless bill at a time.” That drew the ire of Two Sides.

Over the past year, companies such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, P&G and Mars publicly committed to implementing zero deforestation policies throughout their supply chains. Sustainability is evolving from a nice-to-have to a business imperative, and businesses are beginning to recognize that what is good for the environment can also be good for revenues and help drive business growth. When done right and systematically, sustainability and zero-deforestation policies lead to improved brand image, industry differentiation, brand loyalty and, ultimately, stronger relationships with customers. For consumers, in particular, a company’s environmental practices are often defined by its supply chain, which provides a clear picture into how materials are produced and sourced.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski have issued the following statements after filing a joint petition for review in the D.C. Circuit Court of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) treatment of biomass energy in the final Clean Power Plan.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International is convening a mediation process to bring together stakeholders in a spirit of collaboration, to address issues raised recently in Canada, particularly in Quebec and in Ontario, about FSC certification. Over the last two years, significant areas of FSC certified forests were suspended in Canada mainly because of lack of consent from First Nations, and also because of inadequate forest management plans for species at risk, namely woodlands caribou in the Canadian boreal forest. Most of these suspended or terminated FSC certificates are held by Resolute Forest Products (Resolute FP).

The U.S. wind power industry is celebrating after reaching a new milestone in November: 70 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity. "That's enough to power about 19 million homes," says Michael Goggin, senior director of research at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). There are more than 50,000 wind turbines operating across 40 states and Puerto Rico, according to the AWEA.

Developed and produced at the Lappeenranta mill site, UPM’s renewable diesel is a good example of the transformation of the forest industry. Finnish innovation helps the industry expand into new fields. Jaakko Nousiainen tells the story of BioVerno, UPM’s renewable diesel. The story began nearly a decade ago when the management of UPM was looking into expanding the company’s operations from traditional wood and paper industries into new fields. One of the ideas discussed was biofuels. Soon enough, UPM started research on converting wood mass to biofuel by gasification. Another approach to biofuel production was to utilise the side streams from pulp and paper production, but initially this option did not get as much attention.

On 11 November 2015 in Helsinki, Finland, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Board of Directors approved the Requirements for Sourcing FSC Controlled Wood (FSC-STD-40-005 V3-0). The standard has now been published on the FSC International website, and it is planned that it will enter into force on 1 July 2016. The approved standard – which can be downloaded here – outlines the requirements for organizations with an FSC chain of custody certificate to implement a due diligence system to avoid material from unacceptable sources which cannot be used in FSC Mix products. Unacceptable sources are the five categories of controlled wood, which are defined in the standard.

Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), a leading supplier of metal packaging products worldwide, has published its third Sustainability Report. Titled ‘Perpetual Progress,’ the 2015 report documents Crown’s continued advancement in the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. It also underlines Crown’s broad efforts in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to improve its sustainability footprint, resource use and emissions per standard unit, even as the Company has seen global volume growth and expanded its geographic reach.

The Innovation Centre for biomaterials will host research, application, business development and strategic marketing under one roof. By creating renewable solutions and products from second-generation biomass, such as wood, in order to replace fossil-based products, the centre is addressing societal problems such as climate change, increased urbanisation as well as water and land use issues. “The Innovation Centre in Stockholm is another important step on the road to Stora Enso’s transformation into a renewable materials company. It will help us build on our long, worldwide tradition in forestry, which – when coupled with access to sustainable raw materials and our expertise in fibres – gives us an excellent starting point for creating solutions that will benefit our customers and end-users in various industries and markets,” says Karl-Henrik Sundström, CEO at Stora Enso.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has achieved leadership status in the materials sector of the CDP’s 2015 Forest programme. One hundred and eighty companies globally responded to CDP’s forests information request, out of which nine were awarded a leadership status. This follows swiftly on the news that Metsä Board has also been recognised for its management in water security and climate change by the CDP. CDP launched its 2015 Global Forest Report at the Global Landscapes Forum in Paris, coinciding with UN’s Climate Change Conference, December 2015.

“Earlier this week, we saw an historic outcome from COP 21. Global government leaders and communities convened and agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, place a larger focus on climate temperatures, and pledged $100 billion a year to help developing countries meet their goals. We applaud our global leaders and tip our hat to all in attendance. Thank you for the good work you have committed to accomplish. Although the agreements entered in Paris last week are goals, not requirements, it’s up to us and our fellow businesses to venture onward, continuing the good work set in Paris. We also added our names as a signatory in the Business Backs A Low Carbon USA statement.

Estonia and Poland have become the latest countries to successfully achieve PEFC re-endorsement of their national forest certification systems for the first time. This not only confirms that they continue to meet PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks, but also ensures that certified forest owners and companies in these countries continue to benefit from the global acceptance of PEFC. "The re-endorsement of these national forest certification systems shows both the commitment of our members to PEFC and underlines PEFC's leadership in the continuous improvement of forest certification," said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. “We appreciate their continued commitment, as well as the contributions of all the stakeholders who have participated in the standards revision and assessment processes.”

A three-year corporate responsibility initiative on water stewardship run by Stora Enso and the global chemicals company Kemira in Guangxi Province in Southern China has now been completed. Launched in 2013, the initiative was designed to find new responsible water management solutions through stakeholder engagement, local community work, and capacity building. Pilot projects launched by Stora Enso and Kemira in the villages of Nahupo, Shengping, and Baimei in the spring of 2015 have addressed local concerns such as poor sewage treatment and water supply systems. During the six-month construction phase, a total of 12.7 kilometres of water and sewage piping were laid, with water storage tanks and artificial wetlands also built. The projects have given almost 2 600 villagers better access to clean water.

Nearly 200 countries, including Canada, have agreed to hold the increase in global temperature to 2°C above pre-industrial levels to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. The agreement calls on countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, while recognizing the role of conservation and the sustainable management of forests. Canada has more than 9% of the world’s forests which absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide to the benefit of our entire planet. Unlike many other forest nations, all harvested trees are regrown largely ensuring the maintenance of our carbon stocks. More to the point, Canada has virtually zero deforestation, just 0.02% per year.

With an increase of more than 5.5 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest area over the past year, China has been recognized for the greatest increase in forest certification by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) during PEFC Forest Certification Week last week. PEFC Spain received the award for the highest increase in number of PEFC Chain of Custody certified companies.

CarbonCO officially relaunched the initiative yesterday (10 December) in partnership with international conservation charity World Land Trust (WLT). Carbon Balanced Paper balances the carbon impact of the paper that printers, paper-makers and distributors use through the work undertaken by WLT. As part of its activities, WLT has identified areas of forest that, through protection and reforestation projects, can offer opportunities for specific carbon balancing programmes. Carbon is offset through the purchase and preservation of ecologically important forestry under imminent threat of clearance, which then locks carbon that would otherwise be released.

“Ensuring that forest certification is realistic and affordable for smallholders is an essential part of this equation and PEFC is dedicated to supporting the expansion of group certification globally.” To share experience between countries and learn from Spain’s vast experience in delivering group certification for smallholders, an international group of forest experts gathered together in Madrid, Spain in early December. Spain is one of the world leaders in enabling small forest owners to gain certification through the group certification model, with group and regional certification accounting for 84% of forest certification in the country.

Monadnock has achieved re-certification for compliance with ISO14001:2004, the leading international standard for environmental management systems (EMS). SGS Group, a leader in third-party registration, recently completed a comprehensive independent audit of Monadnock’s Bennington, New Hampshire facility. Monadnock successfully met the ISO14001 EMS requirements and demonstrated the processes to maintain that system and its commitment to continuous improvement. Further, Monadnock recently achieved re-certification for compliance with Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody standards. Rainforest Alliance completed their third-party independent audit and found that Monadnock satisfied the requirements for tracking and documenting FSC fiber from suppliers, through its production facility and delivery to its customers.

The steam generation through energy recovery project carried out by the Cascades energy efficiency team at the Cascades Tissue Group – Mechanicville plant won two major energy awards this year: it was one of the top three projects of the year as voted by ENERGY STAR members and also the Energy Manager Today Project of the Year Award initiated by the Environmental Leader group. These two awards are a source of pride for the company, since this is the first project of its kind in the North American industry.

Each year during the holiday season people begin decorating and buying gifts. For those that celebrate Christmas, an important decision is choosing a tree. This includes deciding if it will be a real or artificial Christmas tree. How does your decision impact the environment? Cost, convenience, and personal preference are all important considerations, but so too is the environmental impact. Research has shown that locally-sourced natural trees have less environmental impact than artificial ones. An independent Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) study released by the Montreal firm Elliposos determined that real trees have less overall impact in terms of distribution, disposal, and average carbon emissions than their artificial counterparts. The LCA method allows for evaluation of potential environmental impacts of a product (or service) over its entire life cycle and takes raw material processing, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, reuse, recycling and disposal impacts into consideration.

The team at our Cedar Springs, Georgia, mill believes not only in being a good neighbor, but also a responsible environmental steward. In fact, the Wildlife Habitat Council recently certified the mill as a Wildlife at Work property, a distinction designed to recognize outstanding habitat management on industrial lands. Wildlife at Work certifications aren’t easy to come by, but for Cedar Springs, the recognition is well-deserved. The employees working at the nearly 5,000-acre site go out of their way to minimize disruptions to wildlife living in the area. For example, the team has carefully relocated a dozen gopher tortoises over the years to ensure the animals are not harmed when a mill expansion or construction project occurs. Other species the team is working to increase include bluebirds, purple martins, bats, and insect pollinators, and it protects endangered mussels living in the Sawhatchee Creek, which runs through the property. The team is also planning to replant longleaf pine trees on 300 acres of the site, a move which will benefit a multitude of indigenous creatures, including the gopher tortoise.

eiko Epson has developed what it believes to be the world’s first*1 compact office papermaking system capable of producing new paper from securely shredded waste paper*2 without the use of water*3. Epson plans to put the new “PaperLab” into commercial production in Japan in 2016, with sales in other regions to be decided at a later date. Businesses and government offices that install a PaperLab in a backyard area will be able to produce paper of various sizes, thicknesses and types, from office paper and business card paper to paper that is colored and scented. A developmental prototype of the PaperLab will be demonstrated at the Epson booth at Eco-Products 2015, an environmental exhibition that will take place at the Tokyo Big Sight from Dec. 10-12.

This increased commitment to Riau Ecosystem Restoration (RER) is believed to be the biggest investment by a private sector company in a single eco-restoration project in Indonesia, covering assessment, restoration and protection, and management and partnerships. "This commitment illustrates how private sector organizations can support climate goals not just in terms of pledges but by going beyond them and actually putting resources on the table," said Tony Wenas, Managing Director, APRIL Group Indonesia Operations.

“We need a global agreement at COP 21 with clear actions and firm commitments, outlining effective pathways to address climate change,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International ahead of the upcoming PEFC Forest Certification Week. “These commitments must recognize the multiple benefits of forests and encourage policies that promote sustainable forest management and the use of certified forest products. This will enable PEFC as the world's leading forest certification system to further enhance its contribution to tackling climate change, safeguarding forest ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods."

Stora Enso’s Global Responsibility Performance Report 2014 has won four awards in the independent annual sustainability report review, commissioned by FIBS, Finland’s leading non-profit corporate responsibility network. The four awards include the best sustainability report, best reporting on Human Rights and on Tax Footprint and the top choice of a consortium of Finnish corporate sustainability students. In FIBS’ review Stora Enso’s report was particularly acknowledged for its extensive and transparent sustainability reporting, with a special focus on reporting related to the target-oriented management of human rights.

Several years ago, GDUSA began to spotlight the good works of design firms active in “green” design. In the early days, the focus was well-meaning but narrow: how designers used and sourced specific products or services — good examples being recycled papers or vegetable inks — to reduce waste. Then, over time, a more holistic notion of “sustainability” arose that encompassed papers, products and services, yes, but also took into account broader concerns such as energy and emissions, forest stewardship and conservation, third party certifications and sourcing, media alternatives and relative footprints, shipping and distribution, internal studio procedures — all now seen as integral factors in sustainable design.

Two Sides, the global initiative to promote the sustainability of print and paper, has reported a 70% success rate in persuading global organisations to remove misleading green claims from their communications as part of its worldwide anti-greenwash campaign. 377 of the world’s leading corporations, including banks, utilities, telecoms and insurance companies have been researched and checked by Two Sides, exposing 240 of those companies to be using misleading greenwash statements in their marketing and communications activities. To date, 168 of those offending companies have removed their misleading greenwash statements as a direct result of ongoing lobbying by the Two Sides initiative.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), an independent North American forest certification program, has applied for re-endorsement by PEFC. The public is invited to comment on the documentation submitted by the SFI Program for their SFI 2015-2019 Standard and Rules by 3 January 2016. In 2001 the SFI program became a PEFC National Member and in 2005, the SFI Forest Management Standard was endorsed by PEFC after a detailed examination by a PEFC-approved assessor. This endorsement adds international value to SFI Inc.’s position as a highly respected, third-party certification program in North America. The SFI program has grown to cover more than 100 million hectares of forest area in both the United States and Canada – nearly 40% of all PEFC-recognized certified forest worldwide.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented its 2015 Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 13 in San Antonio, Texas. Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, AF&PA’s annual awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories. This year, seven companies received eight awards from 26 outstanding submissions across the industry.

Appleton Coated is one of 31 companies recognized worldwide by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for its environmental transparency leadership as demonstrated by its voluntary participation in the WWF Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI) 2015. Appleton Coated has improved its scores since participating in the prior WWF EPCI in 2013. In the product category “Graphic Paper” Appleton Coated has achieved 60.2% of total achievable scores for WWF’s Environmental Paper Company Index (2015). In the sub-category “Responsible Fiber Sourcing” Appleton Coated has achieved 66% of total possible points.

*As the nation's leading papermaking state, Wisconsin feels the disruption caused by digital media acutely. The state's ink-on-paper economy has been shrinking for over a decade — pulpwood is the largest volume consumer of Wisconsin-grown timber — while the 2008 housing meltdown was so severe that sawmills and lumber works have yet to fully recover. *Family-owned woodland, which accounts for more than half of the state's forests, is being inherited by a generation that is less inclined to maintain the land as "working" forests — those that feed paper mills and saw mills — and more inclined to sell it off piecemeal. *Wall Street investors have been buying up forestland in Wisconsin and other states, then parceling it and flipping it. Some of the land becomes subdivisions and golf courses, and some is held by investment funds that sell it in far less time than it takes a tree to reach harvesting maturity. *The globalization of the economy since the 1990s has increased competition from warmer climates such as South America and southern Asia, which can grow pulpwood more efficiently than Wisconsin, where brutal winters annually interrupt growth cycles.

The Forest Stewardship Council US has recently launched a project to consider additional indicators that would define FSC certification on lands managed by the US Forest Service. Because the Forest Service oversees many beloved lands, it is required to manage for a range of values, including water, recreation, wildlife and timber. And due to the special nature of these lands, FSC certification of US Forest Service lands has not been possible to date. In fact, US federally managed lands are the only land type in the entire FSC system globally that are not currently eligible for certification.

The increasing value proposition that the PEFC brand provides to forest owners, companies and society as a whole, also confirmed by the first PEFC/GfK Global Consumer Survey that showed the PEFC label to be the most trusted forest certification label, comes with a downside: namely uncertified companies and organizations that try to associate themselves with PEFC’s reputation and brand trust by fraudulently misusing the label and claims. Ultimately, this puts at risk the good work undertaken by millions of actors from the forest, throughout the supply chain to the final consumer. PEFC is therefore taking steps to strengthen its trademark protection. PEFC is clear in its objective of protecting certified forest owners, companies and consumers against the abuse of the PEFC label and claims.

In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued “Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels” to guide federal procurement. For lumber and wood, FSC is now the only EPA recommended standard. The Forest Stewardship Council US applauded this decision and sent a letter of thanks to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.

To celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15—and to encourage Americans to recycle more plastics year round—Plastics Make it Possible® is offering some tips to widen the types of plastics collected for recycling, as well as a chance to win an iPad Air. Recycling plastic beverage bottles from American kitchens has become commonplace, but many other types of plastics also can be recycled, beyond the kitchen and even beyond the home. Plastics Make it Possible® urges Americans to recycle plastics used throughout the home, from the bathroom to the outdoors, as well as plastics used away from home.

How can brands protect forests? Join us at Sustainable Brands in London as PEFC International CEO Ben Gunneberg discusses this very question at the PEFC Activation Hub on 17 November. You will find us at our Activation Hub throughout the three day event, which takes place at the Beaumont Estate, Windsor, from the 16-18 November, as we highlight how PEFC certification can provide brand owners with the responsible sourcing assurances they require. “Consumers are increasingly demanding that the products they buy come from sustainable sources,” said Mr. Gunneberg. “By choosing PEFC-certified materials, brand owners can use the globally recognized PEFC logo, satisfying consumers’ expectations for responsibly produced products.”

2014 Sustainability Highlights •Verso demonstrated industry-leading safety performance, with a 2014 Total Incident Rate of 1.43, which is approximately one-half the U.S. Paper Industry's last reported average of 2.8 (2013). •The Quinnesec Mill in Michigan was recertified to Star status in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). VPP recognizes facilities for having safety systems that exceed OSHA standards, a strong safety commitment and sustainable health and safety management systems. •Fifty percent of the fiber Verso used to manufacture its products was third-party certified to a credible forest certification standard and 32 percent of the total paper it sold was chain-of-custody certified. •Carbon-neutral, wood-based biomass accounted for more than 65 percent of onsite energy generation at Verso's mills.

Best Buy has been awarded a prized position on the CDP Climate A List for our efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the past year. The commendation puts Best Buy in the top 5 percent of thousands of companies that submit annual emissions data and climate management strategies to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). We are in good company. Other corporate “A Listers” now include sustainability powerhouses and partners such as Apple, Google, LG, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony and Sprint.

BillerudKorsnäs is among 5% of the corporations participating in CDP’s climate change program to be awarded a position on the Climate “A” List. The purpose of the list is to recognize companies’ actions to mitigate climate change in the past reporting year. The list is requested by 822 investors representing more than a third of the world’s invested capital. “2015 is an important year for our climate with the Paris conference COP21 as a milestone. In combating climate change all parts of society have to participate and we are extremely pleased that the dedicated efforts of BillerudKorsnäs now have been recognized by CDP.

CDP, the international non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability, has identified Stora Enso as a Nordic leader in disclosing climate change data to investors and other stakeholders. In CDP’s Nordic Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), Stora Enso receives a score of 99/100. High scores within the index indicate that a company provides robust climate data with a high level of transparency. “Since our core business is based on renewable raw materials, we are in a unique position when it comes to controlling our carbon emissions,” says Noel Morrin, EVP Global Responsibility at Stora Enso. “Combating global warming is a top priority and our commitment to transparent reporting helps us make the right decisions that can drive change.”

UPM continues improving the environmental performance of its graphic and newspaper and chemical pulp production. According to the Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI) of The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), published today, UPM's performance improved yet again year on year. Published biannually, this Index promotes transparency and continuous improvement of the environmental performance of paper and pulp manufacturing companies. In the Index, WWF invites 80 sector leaders and evaluates their environmental policies and targets, as well as their environmental performance with regard to overall production of news, graphic, packaging and tissue papers and pulp.

UPM has achieved a top position on the Nordic Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) for the high quality of its climate change related information. UPM's score was 99 out of 100. This is already the 7th time in a row that UPM is listed on the CDLI. Top scores indicate a high level of transparency in the disclosure of company's climate change-related information, such as data regarding carbon emissions and the use of energy.

Flint Group are pleased to present our portfolio of products for printers seeking Blue Angel certification. The Blue Angel is an environmental label organised by the federal government of Germany for the protection of people and the environment. It sets very exacting standards, is independent and has proven itself over more than 35 years as a guide for selecting environmentally-friendly products. The Blue Angel for Printed Matters (RAL-UZ 195) is awarded to printed matter that represents an environmentally friendly alternative to standard printed matter available on the market. Flint Group’s range of ‘Blue Angel’ products confirms our commitment to the environment and to ensuring best in class products are at the heart of our portfolio. These products have been developed to deliver exceptional performance characteristics coupled with leading environmental benefits.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) reconsideration of the 2013 Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule. “With the compliance deadline of January 2016 looming, we’re pleased that the final Boiler MACT reconsideration rule has been completed and addresses many of the issues we asked EPA to reconsider, particularly around how to safely and quickly start-up and shutdown our boilers while preventing damage to control equipment.

The evaluation against the UK Government Timber Procurement Policy (TPP): Criteria for Evaluating Certification Schemes (Category A Evidence) Fourth Edition, October 2014 concluded that both the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have achieved scores of 100% for legality criteria and over 90% for sustainability criteria and as such are recognized as continuing to deliver requirements for both legality and sustainability. Overall, the evaluation demonstrated PEFC to have a 96% compliance with the UK criteria, with FSC achieving 94%. "These very high scores demonstrate the significant progress made in international forest certification since the first evaluation conducted in 2004. Both FSC and PEFC have made substantial improvements to their schemes since 2010, reflected in the scores awarded," Defra writes in the final report.

PEFC and the Handicraft & Wood Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA) will work together to develop PEFC Chain of Custody certification in Viet Nam: this was one of the key results from a week of outreach in the country. PEFC-certified material from around the world is already used by many solid wood processing companies in Viet Nam - in particular by the furniture manufacturing members of HAWA. Focus is now switching to the development of a national forest certification system in the country, paving the way for the production of domestic PEFC-certified sources.

Governor Paul R. LePage presents Irving Woodlands, LLC with the prestigious 2015 Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award. This prestigious award recognizes people or organizations that stand above their peers to further forestry, forests, or forestland conservation in the state of Maine. Started by the Maine TREE Foundation in 2004, it is the only award in Maine that recognizes stewardship of the working forest. “Maine’s working forests are a vital part of our past, present, and future economy. Named after one of Maine’s longest contributing professional foresters, the Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award is an opportunity to publicly recognize exemplary management of working forests.” – Governor Paul R. LePage.

Robert Glowinski, President and CEO, AWC: “EPA has overreached with its Clean Power Plan in how it seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Despite claims of flexibility, EPA has actually limited the types of renewable energy states can use, which includes our industry’s production and use of biomass energy. AWC joins this litigation in order to ensure continued use of renewable energy and to support states’ ability, as some have already done, to fully recognize biomass energy as a critical component of clean power.” Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA: “Energy is an essential element for paper and wood products manufacturing. We are concerned that this final rule will threaten availability of affordable electricity and reliability of the electricity grid system. AF&PA joins this litigation to protect the global competitiveness of our industry, which is among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 47 states. We hope the court will grant our requested stay while these serious legal challenges are heard.”

An economic and policy study commissioned by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and developed by engineering firm Burns & McDonnell shows that high-performing single-stream recycling systems recover more paper and other recyclable materials than mixed-waste facilities that combine wet and organic waste with dry recyclables. Mixed-waste processing recovers much less mill-quality paper, but more metal and plastic, and requires 2.5 times the facility capital cost of single-stream recycling.

This is an historic moment for Best Buy. In our pledge, we committed to further advancing our efforts toward addressing this global challenge. Here’s what we said: •We will reduce our own carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2020 from operational reductions and renewable sourcing. This science-based goal builds on our 2014 achievement of a 26 percent reduction in carbon emissions within our operations. •We will provide energy-efficient products and solutions to help customers minimize their own carbon footprints. In 2014, we helped our customers prevent 900 million pounds of carbon emissions through the ENERGY STAR® certified products they purchased from Best Buy. •We will work with industry partners to promote sustainable electronics through manufacture, transport, use and end-of-life solutions.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI), American Forest Foundation (AFF) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) made announcements this week expressing mutual support for new approaches to forest management planning and certification, which will help streamline forest certification, and ensure access to the global marketplace. Among these efforts, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) announced a joint effort by AFF, the Florida Forest Service and the University of Florida for a pilot landscape management plan to encourage sustainable forestry and bring more wood grown on family-owned forests into the sustainable global supply chain.

When you buy pulp, paper and lumber from us, you know you are buying from a sustainable supply chain. The attached SlideShare tells that story in 14 simple slides, from the importance of asking where wood comes from to what responsible sourcing is and how chain of custody works. The work we do today all starts with responsible sourcing. That means 100% of the woodlands Resolute manages meet internationally-recognized standards for responsible and sustainable forestry. That’s where it starts, but chain of custody is where it continues. Having an unbroken trail of records that track the harvested trees from forest to forest product provides assurance that 100% of the wood purchased meets a minimum due diligence.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) was honored for the sixth time with a SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for working with transportation providers to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while reducing the impacts of carbon pollution. Since joining the SmartWay program in 2006, Kimberly-Clark has more than doubled its use of intermodal transport, saving an estimated 72 million gallons of diesel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 734,000 metric tons - the equivalent of taking 138,000 cars off the road for one year. The adoption of more efficient transport has also saved the company an estimated $415 million.

Foresters in JDI’s Northern Maine woodlands say growing conditions this season were ideal for young mixed softwood plantations. Josh Philbrook, a Forester with JDI Woodlands, explains that in general, trees grow very well in Northern Maine. “The trees are about 12 feet tall already, just after seven years. These trees have grown 36-40” in one year.” Philbrook attributes exceptional tree growth to improvements in JDI nurseries. “The trees we’ve grown in our nurseries are selected best from trees in forests across the region and grow several times faster than the natural forest, allowing us to excel the cycle of sustainability, and produce more wood that sustains jobs at our mills,” said Philbrook.

GreenBlue and the American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced a new partnership to bring together America’s family forest owners and several of the most well-known marketplace brands, including Mars, Incorporated; McDonald’s; Avery Dennison; and Evergreen Packaging. For the first time ever, both ends of the forest products supply chain will connect and take part in a dialogue to explore their respective needs and challenges relative to sustainable forest management. The dialogue, which kicks off this November and lead to a meeting in January, builds on GreenBlue’s Forest Products Working Group efforts to examine the role of forest certification to explore, in partnership with AFF, frameworks for providing assurance that wood from family woodlands is produced sustainably.

The 10th of September 2015 marks a significant turn towards more responsibly sourced paper and pulp products in China. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), The Chinese Forestry Industry Association and the leading producers and buyers of paper and pulp products have established The China Sustainable Paper Alliance (CSPA) to promote the development of responsible sourcing and sustainable forest operations within the forest industry in China. UPM is one of the 10 founding members of this Alliance. The members represent both domestic and international companies covering the whole supply chain of China’s pulp and paper industry. UPM is among international players such as Kimberly-Clark, Fuji Xerox, HP and IKEA as well as some locally significant players.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today that the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, certified Blackwater River and Tate’s Hell State Forests, covering 413,000 acres, through one of the world’s most recognized, independent, third-party forest management certification standards, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). “We are proud of our efforts to ensure that the land and resources entrusted to the Florida Forest Service are managed responsibly and conscientiously. Thanks to certification programs, such as SFI, the public can remain confident that our state forests are managed in line with some of the highest standards in the nation and will remain healthy and productive for generations to come,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

Office Depot, Inc. today announced that it was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, North America for the tenth year in a row. “Our inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for a decade in North America is a testament of our long-term commitment to corporate sustainability,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, senior director of sustainability for Office Depot. “We do this by advancing social accountability guidelines for workers in factories around the world, launching award-winning community programs through the Office Depot Foundation, and growing our diverse and green product sales.”

UPM and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) have been developing a method for assessing ecosystem services derived alongside the production of wood-based products. This pilot study focused on the environmental impacts resulting from the growth of trees used for the production of one tonne of pulp. In this study, the carbon sink effect, water protection and the sustainability of native forest species were analysed in detail. The study confirmed that the forest area from where pulpwood is sourced yields multiple benefits besides just wood raw material. The study examined the amount of wood required for the production of one tonne of softwood pulp at UPM in Finland, as well as the time required for the trees to grow. The trees purify over eight million litres of water and absorb over 4,000 kg of carbon dioxide during their lifetime.

“As we welcome India to the PEFC alliance, we can take this time to celebrate reaching the important milestone of 40 PEFC national members,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, as India’s Network for Certification Conservation of Forests (NCCF) joined PEFC last month. “We would like to use this opportunity to thank all of our supporters that have enabled PEFC to outgrow our European roots and become the world's leading forest certification system and to reflect on our history.” It was back in 1999, when national organizations from eleven countries came together to establish PEFC, responding to the specific requirements of small- and family forest owners in Europe. This was swiftly followed one year later with the endorsement of the first national forest certification systems, enabling forest owners and managers in Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden to certify their responsible forest management practices.

Nine large U.S. companies on Wednesday committed themselves to achieving a major sustainability goal — and three of them are retailers. Walmart, Starbucks and Nike are among the firms joining RE100, a global initiative led by The Climate Group to engage, support and showcase influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. Other firms joining the campaign include Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Salesforce, Steelcase, Voya Financial. The commitment to use 100% renewable energy is not a new one for Walmart.

“Sustainability continues to define the way we conduct our business and interact with customers, colleagues, shareholders, suppliers and the communities where we operate,” said Antoine Fady, CEO Flint Group. “Our sustainable vision, strategic objectives and core values underpinned by our Mission and Guiding Principles are closely integrated in all of our policies, procedures, processes and operations that continue to make us the company we are today. He continues, “At Flint Group we believe that applying this commitment and approach to sustainability is simply smart business practice – a fundamental driver to long-term shareholder value and the delivery of a vibrant, successful business. As companies along the packaging and graphic arts supply chains increasingly embed sustainable philosophies and practices into their businesses, they can rely on Flint Group to be a strong link in that sustainability chain.”

Over the past 20 years, Södra has taken a systematic approach to its nature conservation work. These efforts have resulted in voluntarily protected areas with high conservation values and a production forest with growing conservation values. At the same time, we are seeing increased growth in forests, with a larger wood volume - in other words, forests where production and conservation values go hand in hand. As a result of the company's long-term nature conservation work, the areas with the highest conservation values are now protected. Our members have chosen to certify forest holdings covering 23,000 forest estates. They have also agreed to obtain a Green Forest Management Plan, which requires forest owners to set aside at least 5 percent of their forest area for nature conservation. A total of 8 percent of the forest area (140,000 hectares) has now been set aside for nature conservation purposes, equivalent to more than 200,000 football fields.

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced today an exciting new partnership for future forests. The two organizations have established a memorandum of mutual support that promotes forest management for the benefit of the nation’s forests and wildlife. “Every year, millions of people enjoy recreational opportunities in forests managed to meet SFI standards,” said NWTF Chief Conservation Officer Becky Humphries. “If we hope to achieve the conservation goals of the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, partnerships like this one with SFI are critical.”

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is celebrating the international recognition for the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA) at the World Forest Congress now going on in Durban, South Africa. An interactive side event called From Conflict to Collaboration featured a huge 8 by 11-metre floor map of Canada’s boreal forest detailing everything from caribou habitat to the rural communities that rely on the forest sector. Panel members at the event included Mark Hubert, the Vice President of Environmental Leadership at FPAC and Éric Hébert-Daly of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. They talked about the global relevance of the CBFA, the world’s largest conservation agreement, which integrates both economic and environmental values.

A recent study by researchers at Yale University revealed that there are more than 3 trillion trees now growing on the planet, seven times more than scientists previously thought. Using a combination of satellite imagery, forest inventories, and supercomputer technologies, the international team of researchers was able to map tree populations worldwide at the square-kilometer level. Their results, published in the journal Nature, provide the most comprehensive assessment of tree populations ever produced and offer new insights into a class of organism that helps shape most terrestrial biomes.

With the expiration of the Russian National Forest Certification Scheme on 31st August 2015, PEFC International advises that all certificates issued against the Russian Scheme are no longer recognized by PEFC. PEFC limits the validity of endorsements of national forest certification systems to five years. National systems are required to revise their respective standards in multi-stakeholder processes to become eligible for re-assessment and potential re-endorsement. This allows for continuous improvement of standards through the integration of new scientific research, experience and best practices. Equally important is that it encourages ongoing social dialogue among stakeholders, thereby enhancing mutual understanding, support and further development of the concept of sustainable forest management at national level.

The Finnish Forest Certification Scheme has become the first ever system to achieve PEFC endorsement for the fourth time. This confirms that Finland continues to meet PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks and ensures that Finnish certified forest owners continue to benefit from the global acceptance of PEFC. “For us the next step is to organize training for organizations, contractors, forest owners and all other stakeholders involved in implementing the revised PEFC requirements in Finnish forestry,” highlighted Auvo Kaivola, Secretary General of PEFC Finland. “This will begin in October as we travel the country holding meeting with PEFC-certified organizations.”

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced a new initiative to ensure family-owned forests in the southern United States can continue to meet the growing and changing global market needs for sustainable wood supplies, while protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat and other forest benefits, now and for future generations. This announcement comes on the heels of a new report from AFF - Vanishing Pieces of the Puzzle - that highlights the most significant resources, or benefits, Americans receive from family-owned forests – with wood for products being a top benefit, along with clean air and water, wildlife habitat and species biodiversity, space for recreation and rural jobs. The report also revealed regional priorities, with wood and wildlife habitat emerging as top in the South. Through this new initiative, AFF will assess how these forest benefits vary across woodbaskets in the south and how sustainable land management can play a role in protecting and enhancing them. Overall, the forest products industry in the South produces 57 percent of the total U.S. timber harvested by volume. This industry supports more than 439,000 jobs, as well as indirect employment, totaling 1.1 million jobs. The economic engine behind this industry is driven largely by private forests, where in the South, 58 percent are owned by families and individuals. In recent years, some southern forests and forest owners have seen an increase in demand for wood pellets and other products, for both domestic and European markets. Through this assessment, AFF will gain insight into how these demands are impacting the South's family forests and identify potential strategies to help family woodland owners continue to sustain these forests and their benefits. Not coincidentally, southern forests also rank at the top of all forests in biodiversity when measured by wildlife and plant species, with 12 southern states ranking in the top 20 in the U.S. in number of species. According to an April 2015 report issued by the National Academy of Science, three of the top five priority locations for conservation fall within this southern region. “AFF has a long history, almost 75 years, of successfully working with family forest landowners through the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and other AFF programs, to ensure forests provide for all Americans,” said Rita Hite, Executive Vice President of Woodlands at AFF. “The Southern Initiative is just one of the ways we are looking into how we can evolve and strengthen our programs to ensure family-owned forests meet our needs today and in the future. We hope that our partners in the forest community and the forest products supply chain, from manufacturers to consumers, see the potential for a greater impact on the ground with this regionalized approach and work with us to bring our initiative to fruition.” The initiative, which is launching in the lead up to the 75th anniversary of ATFS, will be conducted in two phases. Phase one focuses on building an understanding of the priority wildlife habitat areas and wood supply needs by conducting an assessment of existing data and gathering input from forest industry partners, ATFS State Committees, forest landowners, state agencies, conservation partners, and brand companies. Initial input from these AFF partners suggest that one of the largest barriers to sustainable supply for forest products companies is family forest landowners who are not engaged in active land management. Further analysis on landowner attitudes, interests and barriers to sustainable forest management will also be conducted throughout the assessment. http://www.twosidesna.org/US/American-Forest-Foundation-Announces-New-Initiative-Across-13-Southern-States-Regarding-Sustainably-Managed-Wood

More than 75% of consumers say that environmentally sound packaging has an influence on the beverage brand they buy, according to Tetrapak’s Environment Research 2015 . The global survey of some 6,000 consumers across 12 different countries revealed a growing appetite among consumers for products that tick the right environmental boxes. When asked about recent purchasing habits, two-thirds said they have bought environmental products, even when they cost more, while around the same proportion have avoided specific brands or items due to environmental concerns.

India has become the latest country to join PEFC – an addition that sees PEFC reach the 40 National members milestone. With Japan joining in 2014, and China and Indonesia achieving endorsement of their national forest certification systems the same year, the addition of India’s Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF) underpins that momentum is gathering pace for PEFC in the Asia region.

The TFT and Ata Marie study was useful in verifying the foundational data of our existing supply chain and helping to identify some of the challenges and opportunities facing the business in the years ahead. We agree with the Rainforest Alliance that the future fibre supply of a business cannot be entirely predicted on the basis of one report, and that the work to ensure that our plantations are efficient and productive, as documented in our FCP Implementation Plan 2015 and Beyond, must be an ongoing priority.

R.C. Brayshaw & Company has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “We are very pleased to be a new member company of Two Sides North America. When my father, Richard C. Brayshaw started the company in 1979, he made a commitment to do whatever was necessary to protect the environment,” stated Tom Brayshaw, President and CEO. “Our commitment to environmental awareness is ongoing and means taking a responsible approach at all our facilities and operations. At R.C. Brayshaw & Company we always look for ways to help make our communities better places to live and raise our families.”

Arlington Swifty Printing has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “The information Two Sides provides is very important and will allow us to get the true facts out to our customers about printing and paper. Two Sides is a perfect fit with our own environmental friendly approach here at Swifty,” said Charles Pappas, Arlington Swifty Printing.

Many small steps add up to large ones. That’s a simple way to sum up Iggesund Paperboard’s environmental work. It is easy to give examples of Iggesund’s multi-million euro investments and their importance. But the company also makes many smaller investment decisions which have important environmental aspects. One of these is the wooden bridge that links the mill at Iggesund with the wastewater purification facility on the adjacent island of Skälön. “Long-term environment work is less about making a few big decisions and more about making many small decisions which include the environmental aspects,” explains Anna Mårtensson, Environmental Manager at the company’s Swedish paperboard mill, Iggesund Mill. “In this case a wooden bridge was a better environmental choice than a concrete one.”

We are encouraged to read recent comments by Greenpeace that it is willing to engage Northern communities, workers, First Nations and governments in finding long-term sustainable solutions for the boreal. Clearly, Greenpeace has heard the voices of the people of the boreal. Resolute has been consistent on the need for inclusive discussions, negotiations, and compromise solutions, developed in collaboration with governments, communities, workers and First Nations that lead to the most sustainable outcomes. And we welcome this change of heart by Greenpeace.

PEFC-certified wood is at the heart of the new Gold-rated Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) building in Berlin, Germany. From wooden doors and furniture fittings, to roofing and wooden windows, wood originating from sustainably managed, PEFC-certified forests can be found throughout the new building. In March 2015, the new BMBF building was awarded the Gold Standard by BNB (Sustainable Building Rating System; a Sustainable Building Guide for Federal Building). To achieve such a high rating, at least 80% of all the wood-based products used in the construction had to originate from a sustainably managed forest and come with a recognized certificate – such as a PEFC.

Informed procurement choices can support sustainable forest management, help protect workers’ health and the rights of those who depend on forests. Increasingly, those involved in public sector and corporate purchasing are setting ambitious targets which aim to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. The ‘Sustainable Procurement Guide for Wood and Paper-based Products’ from the World Resources Institute (WRI) & World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is designed to help procurement professionals do just this, enabling them to make informed choices and gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in the development and implementation of procurement policies for paper, packaging and solid wood products.

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) today announced it is committing to retire around 7,000 hectares of commercial plantation areas to protect threatened carbon-rich peatlands, the first time that plantations on tropical peatland have been retired for conservation purposes worldwide. Peatland development in Indonesia represents one of the single largest terrestrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the world1. Retiring these plantation areas will help support the Government of Indonesia’s target of a 26 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.

The 2015 report showcases the company's progress against stated sustainability goals. Key accomplishments in this year's report include: 74% of electricity used in Domtar's pulp and paper mills was self-generated, outpacing the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry average of 59%. 52% reduction in the recordable safety incident rate since 2008. 23% reduction in waste sent to landfills from Domtar's pulp and paper mills, and avoided landfilling materials equivalent to the weight of almost two Empire State Buildings since 2013. Sold the five-millionth ton of Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper in 2014, a first for the North American market. $1.35 million donated in community investments throughout 2014.

Desertification is one of the major environmental problems faced by Maghreb. The sustainable use of forests in these countries would help to mitigate and adapt to this global change. This is why MENFRI, the Mediterranean Network of Forestry Research and Innovation, gathered together forestry experts in Barcelona this summer to discuss opportunities and challenges brought by innovative solutions such as forest certification in the Mediterranean region. “If in the northern Mediterranean PEFC certification is well developed, it’s not the case in the south,” explained Sarah Price, Head of Projects and Development at PEFC International, who travelled out to Spain to take part in the meeting. “The MENFRI project is therefore a great opportunity to discuss how forest certification could help Mediterranean forests and their products to be better valued.”

Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE), has been named a Green Giving Corporation by Matthew 25: Ministries. Matthew 25: Ministries, a top-ranked international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, has named Sealed Air as a “Green Giving Corporation” representing the pinnacle of responsible corporate environmental stewardship through the Green Giving program. Sealed Air and other corporations work throughout the year with Matthew 25: Ministries to rescue, recycle, reuse and repurpose millions of pounds of excess products, saving these products from the landfill, protecting our environment and helping millions of people throughout the US and worldwide each year.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski have issued the following statements expressing concern about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Clean Power Plan and the proposed Federal Plan released Monday. Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA: “While the final Clean Power Plan and proposed Federal Plan reaffirm the carbon benefits of bioenergy and forest products manufacturing residuals, EPA missed an important opportunity to clarify how biomass energy can be practically used by states to meet emission reduction goals. These residuals would have released CO2 to the atmosphere if they had not been used for energy, so the industry is simply harnessing their energy value and utilizing the full carbon cycle of biomass. EPA’s lack of guidance and direction creates confusion and uncertainty for states and business investment, which hinders the competitiveness of America’s paper and wood products industry.”

J.D. Irving Limited’s (JDI) partnership with Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Service has led to the commercial development of advanced tree breeding, field testing and seedling production techniques. Maritime Innovation, JDI's new lab in Sussex, New Brunswick was designed to use advanced seedling production technologies based on selection from our native tree population for a range of high value traits such as fast growth rate, high wood quality, resistance to insects and disease and broad adaptation to climate change. A propagation method called Somatic Embryogenesis is used to produce large numbers of seedling from a broad range of genetically diverse trees which have been field tested across the region. Another aspect of the lab’s research involves fungi which live inside the needles and leaves of trees across our region which are called endophytes. A range of these fungi have been selected because they produce compounds which improve their host tree’s tolerance to insect and disease attack. Methods have been developed to inoculate small seedlings in the nursery with these special fungi which stay with the tree throughout its life. Investing in this technology will sustain diverse forests, contribute to a sustainable wood supply for the forest industry and improve tree tolerance to various insect and fungal pests leading to a reduction in pesticide usage.

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (NYSE: KS) recently released its 2014 sustainability report, which continues to demonstrate the company's progress towards meeting its 2020 sustainability goals. The goals were developed based on the company's commitment to social responsibility and extend well beyond applicable laws and regulations mandated by federal, state and local government entities. The report conforms to a voluntary standard defined by the Global Reporting Initiative's G4 guidelines, reporting at a core level, and compares the company's performance to the 2010 year as the baseline. Also included in KapStone's report is a materiality assessment review, which engaged stakeholders to evaluate perception of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman has issued the following statement regarding the letter sent today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency from 154 members of the U.S. House of Representatives supporting biomass as a sustainable energy source. “The paper and wood products manufacturing industry is the largest producer and user of bioenergy of any U.S. industrial sector. Our industry’s use of biomass residuals and commitments to forest planting and regrowth help to ensure that the nation’s forest stocks are stable and rising. The natural carbon cycle should be recognized in EPA policies. “This letter from House members joins support from Senators, scientists and agencies around the world in recognizing the carbon neutrality of biomass energy. AF&PA thanks Representatives Ribble, Bishop, Poliquin, Schrader, Harper and Graham for their leadership.”