Public consultation: Estonian forest certification system

The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced companywide sustainability progress in its 2020 Responsibility Report, which outlines the company's 2019 progress on its corporate responsibility strategic pillars: focus on people, operate sustainably and strengthen communities. The report also introduces several new goals and provides an update on the company's recent response to COVID-19 and social equality issues. New goals include a commitment to produce and procure energy from 335 megawatts of renewable and alternative energy projects by 2025 – equivalent to the amount of energy it takes to power more than 90,000 homes. Additionally, the company pledged to eliminate expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film from its private brand packaging by 2023. As part of its existing pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent by 2035, The Home Depot reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent in 2019.

Don’t be afraid to use paper and packaging, just make sure they are PEFC-certified! This is set to be the key message of the 1st PEFC Sustainability Fair in Chile later this month. Join the Chilean Sustainable Forest Certification System, CERTFOR, and PEFC International, in Santiago, Chile on 26 October, as we seek to raise awareness of sustainable forest products and promote the use of paper and packaging certified by PEFC, the world’s leading forest certification system. Responsible procurement is a concept that has not only grown in importance for consumers. Today, it is also part of public policy in Chile for the purchase of paper and furniture, and a cornerstone in programs of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for many organizations around the world. click Read More below for important details

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to approve the Human Health Water Quality Criteria for the state of Idaho. EPA Regional Administrator Chris Hladick approved the criteria on April 4. “We applaud EPA’s decision to approve Idaho’s water quality criteria – action that underscores recognition of and respect for Idaho’s consistent application of stringent and conservative criteria to protect all its waters. States with scientifically-based records of environmental stewardship should serve as an example for others and not be subject to federal decisions that ignore the facts on the ground and the primary role for states in implementing the Clean Water Act.”