Public consultation: forest certification system for Australia and New Zealand

Tronox Holdings plc, the world’s leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment, today announced the publication of its 2022 sustainability report. The report details the significant steps taken over the last year to advance its leadership role in sustainability and protecting the environment: *Reinforced Scope 1 and 2 carbon emission reduction targets, recommitting to the accelerated carbon intensity reduction targets of 35% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. *Created regional decarbonization roadmaps that will be integral to meeting the Company’s net zero by 2050 goal. *Set Scope 3 emissions targets to decrease emissions intensity by 9% by 2025 and 16% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. *Reduced waste to external landfills by 10% on an absolute basis from the 2019 baseline, keeping on course to meet the 2025 and 2030 reduction targets of 15% and 25%, respectively.

In a recent Q&A for Sanitary Maintenance magazine, Laura Ashley, Marketing Manager for Resolute Tissue, along with other manufacturers, discusses sustainable tissue and towel options, and what can be done to assist end users with their own green initiatives. What sustainable attributes are most important when differentiating between green towel and tissue options? Ashley: Three key attributes come to mind: fiber source, carbon footprint, and waste stream management. When it comes to fiber source, distributors should recommend options with certified fiber sourcing, recycled fiber (both pre- and post-consumer), certified sources (which can be a combination of certified forest and recycled fiber), and recycled sources both for the product and product packaging (these factors include recyclability, being compostable, and being biodegradable). Regarding waste stream management, this includes all phases of the product life, from production through end use. What selling points should distributors highlight when promoting sustainable towel/tissue options?  Ashley: Distributors, end users and consumers want assurances that their buying decisions represent a sound environmental choice. They are asking for proof that tissue products are made with raw material originating from sustainably managed forests, recycled material, and/or controlled sources. In the North American market, fiber certification gives that proof point.

The evaluation against the UK Government Timber Procurement Policy (TPP): Criteria for Evaluating Certification Schemes (Category A Evidence) Fourth Edition, October 2014 concluded that both the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have achieved scores of 100% for legality criteria and over 90% for sustainability criteria and as such are recognized as continuing to deliver requirements for both legality and sustainability. Overall, the evaluation demonstrated PEFC to have a 96% compliance with the UK criteria, with FSC achieving 94%. "These very high scores demonstrate the significant progress made in international forest certification since the first evaluation conducted in 2004. Both FSC and PEFC have made substantial improvements to their schemes since 2010, reflected in the scores awarded," Defra writes in the final report.