Metsä Board achieves A- in Circulytics® assessment

Earlier this month, more than 4,700 government officials and business leaders from around the globe gathered for the fourth UN Environment Assembly, to align on decisions regarding its 2030 agenda. While the focus was on solutions for achieving sustainable consumption and production (UN SDG of Responsible consumption and production), a 2018 ScienceDirect study interestingly points to the importance of forests in contributing to the achievement of other SDGs, concluding that “forests and the services they provide are critical to [all other] SDGs and can advance multiple goals simultaneously”. The United Nations proclaimed March 21st the International Day of Forests, with 2019’s theme as Forests and Education. With deforestation being a notable contributor to global warming (responsible for roughly 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions) protecting forests is crucial to lessening the impacts of climate change and to maintaining “healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies”. Mining the “urban forest” is key to Rolland’s success in limiting our impact on world forests, and central to our three-pillar 2019 Sustainability Strategy of protecting the planet, while supporting people and optimizing our products: Click Read More below for additional detail.

UPS announced it will deploy a prototype extended range Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) in its Rolling Laboratory fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. UPS is working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other partners to design a first-of-its-kind, zero tailpipe emissions, Class 6 medium-duty delivery truck that meets the same route and range requirements of UPS’s existing conventional fuel vehicles. Unlike fuel cell auxiliary power units, this vehicle will use the onboard fuel cell to generate electricity to propel the vehicle. This project is an important step toward demonstrating the commercial viability of zero tailpipe emissions trucks to fleet operators and the developing FCEV supply chain. click Read More below for additional detail

Novolex released its third annual sustainability report, building on disclosures in prior editions and including many new topics reflecting Novolex’s values and commitments as well as stakeholder interests. Expansion of content continues Novolex’s journey of aligning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting with Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) formats as well as documenting the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New topics in the 2020 report include a greenhouse gas (GHG) target as well as disclosures related to raw material sourcing, focused giving, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, human rights and others. Highlights of the new content include Novolex’s first timebound target for greenhouse gas reduction from operations of 20% by 2025. Additionally, the report provides readers with greater information about Novolex products and the raw materials used to make them, aligning with SASB reporting standards for packaging companies. In 2020, 49% of raw materials were derived from renewable and post-consumer recycled (PCR) sources.