Environmental

The 2022 Issue with Tissue report and sustainability scorecard (grading at-home toilet paper brands from "A" to "F") released today by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), reveals that more companies are bringing sustainable tissue options to the market than ever before, offering consumers alternatives to products sourced from the climate-critical Canadian boreal forest.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a global leader in fiber-based materials, has been awarded EcoVadis' highest recognition level, Platinum, for the company's sustainability performance.

Two corrugated industry experts have crunched the numbers and concluded that the OCC recycling rate is likely much lower than estimates published by the paper manufacturing sector. Myles Cohen, an industry veteran and founder of consulting firm Circular Ventures LLC, and Ryan Fox, corrugated market analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, estimate the U.S. old corrugated container (OCC) recycling rate is around 69%, far lower than the 91.4% calculated and reported by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) in May of this year.

International Paper has partnered with the Paper and Packaging Board on the Box to Nature campaign. Box to Nature is an industry-wide initiative to encourage box manufacturers to work with brands and ecommerce customers to print an informative consumer message on boxes to increase residential recycling rates.

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has earned a gold rating in the EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assessment. This achievement places the company in the top eight percent of the 90,000 companies ranked by EcoVadis. The company has achieved a 30% increase in its performance level since earning a silver rating in its assessment in 2015.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, opened the Group's first recycling laboratory at its Frantschach mill in Austria to test the recyclability of paper and paper-based packaging using non-paper components such as coatings.

Rayonier Inc. released its 2021 Sustainability Report, which highlights actions the Company is taking to enhance the long-term well-being of its investors, employees, communities, and other stakeholders. This report illustrates Rayonier's commitment to transparency around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and how they are incorporated into its strategic and operational decision-making.

Suzano, the world's largest hardwood pulp producer, was awarded the ESG Model Enterprise Award at the 2022 International Green Zero-Carbon Festival held in Beijing on August 30, 2022. This was awarded by the festival's organising committee including some of China's most distinguished research institutions, consultancies, and media outlets.

Tetra Pak published its annual Sustainability Report, highlighting the company's achievements and progress in the last year and detailing the actions to help realise resilient and sustainable food systems.

EcoVadis has recognised UPM on a Platinum level based on the company's sustainability performance in the following four categories: Environment, Labour and human rights, Ethics and Sustainable procurement. Only one per cent of the 90,000 global companies assessed received the Platinum score.

Ilim Group is finalizing the construction of the largest kraftliner mill (KLB Mill) in Ust-Ilimsk, Russia. It is the first mill in the Russian pulp and paper industry to use a two-stage biological wastewater treatment system.

Irving Pulp & Paper (IPP) has been given permission to begin construction immediately of an Environmental Treatment Facility and Water Use Reduction Project at Saint John's mill in New Brunswick, Canada, following a successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

To strengthen our commitment to green growth and sustainable business practices, Norske Skog has joined the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. At Norske Skog, we believe that industry must participate actively to progress according to the principles outlined by the UN Global Compact on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

Glen Pearce, Sappi Group CFO, commented: "This first sustainability-linked financing facility is an important strategic step for Sappi and supports our long-term vision to be a sustainable business with an ambitious sustainability strategy."

Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, released its 2021-22 Corporate Responsibility Report, renewing ambitious 2030 commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage. The Science Based Targets align with the Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming temperatures well below -2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

DS Smith announced that it has designed out over 313 million pieces of problem plastics in the last two years alone as part of its ambitious plastic replacement program. Knowing that the circular life of a piece of packaging relies on the consumer taking the correct action to recycle, DS Smith has also educated over 2.8 million people in the importance of the circular economy.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation published its annual report on sustainability, including an update on the company's progress toward its 2030 sustainability strategy and goals, aimed at addressing the social and environmental challenges of the next decade with goals to improve the lives and well-being of 1 billion people in underserved communities around the world and reducing its environmental footprint.

Mercer International Inc. -- a global forest and bio-products company announced the release of its first sustainability report. The Mercer "Fit for Future" 2021 Sustainability Report reaffirms the Company's commitment to team members, communities, the environment and biodiversity, safety, and shareholders.

Novolex® released its fourth annual sustainability report today, detailing progress towards its greenhouse gas reduction target and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

By switching to renewable energy using this biomass boiler, a reduction of approximately 90,000 tons of CO2 emissions is expected each year.

Resolute Forest Products is once again turning heads to the Thunder Bay pulp and paper plant after their thermal energy project was awarded the 2022 Environment + Energy Leader Award.

Sappi is pleased to announce that the science-based carbon emission reduction target of 41.5% per ton of product has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Performance White Barrier is a new sack paper from BillerudKorsnäs where a coating replaces the plastic film barrier commonly found in paper sacks. The sack paper is on par with traditional alternatives regarding shelf-life expectancy and other performance factors.

DS Smith, a leading paper and packaging producer, and the University of Georgia are coming to the rescue of Rafinesque's Big-eared bats, southeastern gopher tortoises and other critical animal species that call southeast Georgia home.

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, released its 2021 Sustainability Report, which incudes the highest possible rating from EcoVadis, the world's most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings.