Environmental

UPM Energy makes the second phase investment in its innovative ultracapacitor project, which will further strengthen the ability of hydropower to balance the grid. The new installation will be located next to the Kuusankoski hydropower plant and is expected to be operational by summer 2025.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service announces a $25 million funding opportunity to reduce wildfire risk and support local businesses. The hazardous fuels transportation assistance program aims to remove hazardous fuels from national forests, expanding market opportunities and supporting local jobs. More details can be found on the Forest Service website.

The Washington Department of Ecology issued two penalties totaling $145,000 to Weyerhaeuser for stormwater violations at the company's Longview lumber mill.

Georgia-Pacific's Big Island containerboard facility in Virginia earned its first EPA ENERGY STAR® Certification for energy efficiency this year. The facility joins two other Georgia-Pacific facilities - Brewton containerboard in Brewton, Alabama, and Leaf River Cellulose in New Augusta, Mississippi in earning this prestigious recognition for environmental stewardship.

LP unveils 2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing leadership in sustainable practices.

Metsä Group, which Metsä Board is part of, has today published an updated Green Finance Framework. Metsä Group's previous Green Finance Framework is from 2019. The Framework enables the continued issuance of green debt instruments in line with the latest market practices and further integrates Metsä Group's 2030 strategic sustainability targets into financing.

Sappi Europe announces that it has cut the carbon footprint of its Galerie paper range by 55%, which is projected to reach 70% by the end of 2024.

Construction will begin in the fall, and commissioning is scheduled for 2025. The investment will allow the plant to reduce its CO2 emissions by 9,100 tons per year.

The FSC is terminating the Trademark License Agreement (TLA) of the eight certificate holders belonging to the Vinda group through a mutually agreed termination agreement. Hence, the Vinda group can no longer be associated with FSC because it was recently acquired by the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group. FSC disassociated from the RGE group, which includes APRIL, in August 2013.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Clearwater Paper Corporation of Lewiston, Idaho, will pay a combined $367,088 in penalties for failing to properly report releases of hazardous chlorine emissions that occurred in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Sustainability is core to DS Smith's purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world.

International Paper Company faces nearly $28,000 in state fines for discharging wastewater with unacceptable levels of potential fecal material from its Port Wentworth mill into the Savannah River over a six-month period in 2023, according to an order made public by Georgia environmental officials Monday.

USA Today collaborated with Statista, a leading market research firm, to compile the second annual America's Climate Leaders list.

Metsä Group aims to reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions from wood supply by 30 per cent from the 2022 level by 2030. In the first phase the focus is on reducing emissions from wood transport operated by lorries, trains and vessels.

UPM Raflatac has received a new certificate of validity from leading international assurance service provider, DEKRA, for its RafCycle™ recycling service. Going forward, this certification validates the credibility of the CO2 impact assessments provided by RafCycle in Europe and the US. As a result, customers can communicate their environmental contributions in the labeling value chain with increased assurance.

Södra is investing in a production line at Värö which will create a vegetable tanning agent from bark. This new tannin can be used to process leather in a more environmentally friendly way. Scheduled to be commissioned in 2026, the plant will have the capacity to produce tannins for millions of square metres of leather.

SCA has decided to take the lead ahead of the government report "The Value of Wind" (SOU 2023:18) by implementing its own compensation model, inspired by the report's proposals, for residents living near new wind farms developed by the company. The amount of compensation will be based on the distance to the turbine and the revenue generated by the turbine.

Accelerates alternative fiber strategies with new ambition to be 100% Natural Forest Free across product portfolio beyond 2030.

Mercer is spearheading the advancement of wood technology to redefine the North American construction landscape and is being recognized for its leadership and commitment to educating customers on the value of sustainably managed forests and promoting SFI certification in the supply chain.

Visy Pulp and Paper Pty Ltd must pay more than $200,000 after untreated wastewater from their Tumut paper mill polluted local creeks in October 2022.

Texas-based solar project propels WestRock's pursuit of its science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable packaging business exceeds Now & Next Sustainability target in partnership with customers

Irving Forest Product's Dixfield, Maine sawmill is enhancing its offerings by introducing baled wood shavings as part of their value-added products. This is the first and only Irving-owned sawmill to offer baled shavings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced PotlatchDeltic Land & Lumber, LLC, of St. Maries, Idaho, will pay $225,000 for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.

Sonae Arauco announces an investment in two new recycling centres in Portugal, totalling more than Euro 5 million. Strategically located in the Minho region and north of Lisbon, these two centres will complement the activity of the three already operating in the country.