Forest Sector Welcomes Natural Resource Canada’s Clean Growth Program

Together with FSC Finland, UPM is hosting today a visit by Kim Carstensen, Director General of the international forest certification organisation FSC. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) promotes environmentally friendly, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. The FSC certificate indicates to consumers that the wood used in the product has been sourced responsibly. UPM actively co-operates with FSC both internationally and in Finland to increase the use of FSC-certified wood in its production processes. It also aims to promote awareness of the FSC forest certification and related responsibility issues both in Finland and around the world. UPM has certified its own forests in Finland and its tree plantations in Uruguay.

DS Smith has joined other leading businesses in signing up for Business for Nature’s Call for Action to reverse the loss of biodiversity, urging government to enact effective change for the environment. Businesses, societies and economies all rely on nature and its resources, however, over half of the world’s total GDP ($44 trillion) is moderately or highly exposed to risks from biodiversity loss. For industries like corrugated packaging, which uses wood and water, this represents an insurmountable loss of income, livelihoods and essential materials. DS Smith has always had a strong focus on sustainability, putting it at the heart of everything it does and making biodiversity a particular priority.

The world of the future must run on renewable raw materials instead of fossil fuels. Wood is the best renewable raw material, and in Finland it grows faster than it is used. Digitalisation is transforming the Finnish forest industry, providing unprecedented solutions that make forests more intelligent. Data can be collected from forests using innovative methods, and modern data can be used to optimise forest use and management. Virtual forests are also emerging. Metsä Group, a Finnish forest industry company, has developed innovative digital services for forest owners and leads the way in the industry. Finland is the most forested country in Europe: forests cover more than 75 per cent of the country’s area. As a result of sustainable forest use and management over the decades, the amount of wood that grows every year exceeds clearly the amount used. Click Read More below for additional information.