Metsä Group will introduce nature compensation in its environmental deviations

Get informed about the sustainability of print and paper! We’ve added our latest two fact sheets to our website, addressing key environmental topics. Download them by clicking the links below. Electronic Communication - As global demand for resources continues to grow, a sustainable future will depend heavily on the use of products that are highly recyclable and based on renewable materials and energy, as opposed to non-renewable materials produced with fossil fuel energy. Paper is well positioned given its unique sustainable features. “Go paperless, go green” is a common claim that encourages us to switch to electronic transactions and communications. But are appeals to help the environment by eliminating paper based on sound science or on marketing strategies? The responsible manufacture, use and recycling of print and paper contribute to long-term, sustainable forest management in North America and help mitigate climate change. Print and paper will remain an important element in our media mix, and will also continue to provide social and economic benefits that contribute significantly to the well-being of North American businesses and citizens alike.

In terms of sustainability, UPM has ranked as or among the best performers in its industry for many years based on the actions we take and the progress we make. Our most recent recognition is Triple A List status in CDP for our actions to mitigate climate risk, prevent deforestation and enhance water stewardship. A remarkable achievement given that only six Triple A List companies in the entire world have earned this status! The Finnish Friends of the Earth declared this CDP status, and UPM's public commitment to the UN Global Compact’s business ambition to limit global warning to 1.5C, as a “UPM greenwashing campaign”. This is a stunning claim that undermines not only the work done by our employees but also the highly respected non-profit organizations that are well known for their high integrity. Like many companies UPM is often asked to respond to different ratings and rankings because of the increasing interests and demands from customers, investors, rating agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) towards our environmental, social and governance performance. These ratings are not based on what companies say but what they actually do. click read more below

The nation’s largest supermarket chain is ditching plastic bags across all its banners — but not all at once. The Kroger Co. on Wednesday announced it is phasing out single-use plastic bags and moving to reusable bags chainwide, with the transition expected to be completed by 2025. Kroger is undertaking the initiative in phases, and its Seattle-based QFC chain will be the company’s first retail division to phase out single-use plastic bags. The company expects QFC’s transition to be completed in 2019. The company noted that some estimates suggest that 100 billion single-use plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year. Click Read More below for additional information.