Forest Carbon Opportunity for FSC Certificate Holders

Global print consumables supplier Flint Group has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, outlining the organisation's performance in the critical areas of social, economic and environmental responsibility. It is the company's first Sustainability Report since 2020 and marks a revised approach to sustainability reporting for Flint Group. Flint Group’s sustainability report offers all stakeholders greater insight into its sustainability initiatives and performance. In addition to demonstrating progress in the vital areas of resource efficiency and carbon footprint reduction, the report details the company's sustainability targets and PRISM sustainability framework, which focuses on three core areas: Product, Planet, and People.

WestRock received a Leadership in Sustainability Award for Water for its Covington Mill Power Boiler Ash Handling Systems project and the Innovation in Sustainability Award for its Moving Products the Green Way project. “By converting and updating an existing system at its Covington, Virginia mill, WestRock reduced the facility’s water use and is now able to provide a biomass byproduct for beneficial reuse,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. To optimize its management of fly ash – a byproduct of burning coal in boilers for energy in the paper mill's manufacturing process – WestRock’s Covington, Virginia mill converted its boiler ash handling system from a water-managed to a dry ash system. Benefits include an 8 percent reduction in daily water usage at the mill, improved water effluent quality, and increased opportunities for reuse of the fly ash. “Developing innovative software allowed WestRock to reduce the environmental impact of its transportation systems and save costs without sacrificing the company’s high standards for customer service,” said Harman. Click Read More below for additional information.

Glatfelter announced that it has entered into a consent decree with the United States Government, the State of Wisconsin, and Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products, under which Glatfelter expects to fully resolve its liability for the Lower Fox River and Green Bay environmental remediation and related Superfund litigation. The consent decree is subject to approval by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The Lower Fox River and Green Bay site involves the remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the bed of the river, and has been the source of complex, multi-party litigation since 2008. Under the terms of the settlement, Glatfelter agrees to pay to the United States $20.5 million to resolve all claims for past government cleanup, enforcement, and oversight costs and natural resources damages. Glatfelter will also be responsible for payment of future oversight costs. In addition, Glatfelter will be primarily responsible to perform the long-term monitoring and maintenance work in certain portions of the site, with Georgia-Pacific performing that work in other portions of the site. Click read more below for additional detail.