Chile embraces sustainability in construction

BillerudKorsnäs’ has been recognised for its leadership in response to climate change and has been awarded a position on the Climate A-list by CDP. CDP is a non-profit organisation that works to transform the way the world does business, thus preventing damaging climate change. The CDP Climate A-list was produced at the request of 827 investors representing joint assets of US$100 trillion. A total of 193 companies, or 9% of all companies that submitted its climate disclosures were included on the list, which reflects global leadership in actions to mitigate climate change.

Among the myriad ways climate change is impacting the planet, one of the most visible is the rise in forest fires across the globe. Without a doubt, fire seasons in the U.S. and many other countries across the world are becoming longer and more severe – with human activity bearing responsibility in both the short and long term. According to a study from researchers at the University of Idaho and Columbia University, since 1979 climate change has been responsible for more than half of the dryness of forests in the western U.S. and the increased length of the region’s fire season. Additionally, research from scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that humans are responsible for starting 84 percent of wildfires in the U.S., which has in turn tripled the length of wildfire season. This creates a perfect storm - sometimes the most innocent of fires, such as camp fires, due to dryness of the land, can quickly spread with devastating consequences. This case is not isolated to the U.S. On the other side of the world, Indonesia is currently preparing for the start of the 2017 fire season, with the devastation drought and the infamous 2015 fires at the forefront of everyone’s minds. According to the World Bank, more than 2.6 million hectares of forest, peat and other Indonesian land burned in 2015 and the fires cost the country’s economy $16 billion. It was reported that much of these fires were a result of illegal land clearing, which combined with El Niño created the elements for these devastating results. click Read More below for more of the story

Berry’s GRI Index was prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards Core option. GRI is the most widely used framework for sustainability reporting used by businesses, governments, and other organizations. Notable statistics in support of Impact 2025 from the Company’s GRI Index include: Recycled Content: Berry set a new record for annual usage of post-consumer plastic in FY19 of 70,000 metric tons (154 million pounds). Much of the increase was driven by our acquisition of RPC, which is included on a pro forma basis. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG): Berry continued its long-term reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions intensity, having reduced its intensity 3% year-over-year and 46% since the Company began measuring its carbon footprint in 2008. The Company is ahead of schedule for achieving its science-based target of a 25% reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions intensity by 2025, having already achieved a 14% reduction vs. its 2016 baseline. Landfill Waste: Berry realized a 13% reduction in its landfill waste intensity from 2018 to 2019. This exceeds the Company’s goal of a 5% reduction year-over-year. Energy: For the year, Berry reduced its energy intensity by 3% year-over-year. This exceeds the Company’s goal of a 1% reduction year-over-year. Water: In the year 2019, the Company decreased absolute water intensity 12% from 2018 to 2019, far exceeding the 1% year-over-year reduction target.