New Free eTraining on the Continuous Improvement Procedure

Sonoco announced it has been awarded the How2Recycle®’s (H2R) “Check Locally Recyclable” status for its paper-bottom EcoSeal™ rigid paper container. This marks an exciting milestone as the Company continues to make strides in creating more sustainable packaging. The EcoSeal paperboard container joins Sonoco’s growing EnviroSense™ family of sustainable packaging. To meet our internal EnviroSense standards, Sonoco considers multiple attributes related to sustainability. The EcoSeal paperboard container is recyclable, uses recycled content, meets responsible fiber sourcing guidelines, and includes bio-based material. As shoppers grow increasingly aware of their environmental impact, they’re looking for natural and sustainable products and packaging. According to Mintel, close to 40% of consumers agree how ethical, environmentally friendly and socially responsible a product is often influences their product choice.

Two years ago, UPM Timber and UPM Plywood’s Finnish mills became the first UPM businesses to achieve its Zero Solid Waste project’s recycling targets. Having achieved this first goal, UPM Timber and UPM Plywood — along with the rest of the company — have set their sights on achieving the Zero Solid Waste to Landfill goal by 2030. This means not depositing any waste in landfill sites or incinerating waste without energy recovery within the next 11 years. To meet this ambitious goal, they will harness innovative new technologies, improve waste collection and reuse to create a true circular economy. Overall, UPM is currently about halfway towards achieving its zero waste to landfill goal, while UPM Timber has already reached this ambitious goal. With that said, UPM Timber continues to work on more innovative ways to meet the criteria, so that it remains a zero waste operation well into the future. Lampola explains that it can be a challenge to find a “commercially sensible and direct destinations for collected raw materials,” especially after accounting for prices and use cases.

Fischer Paper Products has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “It’s a well-known fact that many retailers and communities are switching from plastic to paper bags for environmental reasons. Fischer Paper Products is a provider of such paper products and we are very proud to have them as a new members of Two Sides. We look forward to helping them promote the environmental features of paper,” says Two Sides North America President, Phil Riebel.