Environmental

Cascades Inc. welcomes the report published by Recyc-Québec and Circle Economy and urges businesses and consumers to embrace the circular economy.

Hygiene and health company Essity's targets to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 have been validated by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The validation applies to all near- and long-term targets in Scope 1, 2, and 3. The roadmap has been developed as part of the U.N. Global Compact's "Business Ambition for 1.5°C".

Finnish forestry companies will work with the government to protect wildlife and avoid a repeat of an incident in August when endangered river pearl mussels were crushed by forestry machines, Environment Minister Kai Mykkanen said.

International Paper (IP) reaffirms its dedication to conserving forest ecosystems, nature and biodiversity with a $15.3 million investment to renew strategic alliances with key conservation partners, including the American Forest Foundation (AFF), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). These collaborations are pivotal to IP's business strategy and Vision 2030 goal to conserve and restore 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland.

LP Building Solutions (LP), a leading manufacturer of high-performance building products, announced that the entirety of its LP®SmartSide®Trim & Siding product portfolio is now officially designated as carbon negative, reinforcing the product line's established reputation for resilience, performance and environmental responsibility.

Soilfood, a Nordic circular economy company, studies the utilisation of fibrous side streams from Metsä Board's mills and has identified a new use as raw material in animal bedding. Increasing the added value of secondary products made from side streams is a circular economy where raw materials are kept in use as long as possible.

Rayonier Inc. has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, which highlights the actions the company is taking to enhance the long-term sustainability of its land resources as well as the long-term well-being of its investors, employees, communities, and other stakeholders. This report illustrates Rayonier's ongoing commitment to transparency around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and how they are incorporated into its strategic and operational decision-making.

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, announced the publication of its Decarbonization Roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Amcor's targets are aligned with the latest climate science aiming to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Hygiene and health company Essity's targets to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 have been validated by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The validation applies to all near- and long-term targets in Scope 1, 2, and 3. The roadmap has been developed as part of the U.N. Global Compact's "Business Ambition for 1.5°C".

Healthy forests are essential to a healthy future for our planet: they mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, clean our water and provide habitat that wildlife populations need to thrive. With more than 1.6 billion people reliant on them for their livelihoods, forests also deliver substantial economic benefits. And at International Paper, forests are at the heart of everything we do.

Nature has rapidly risen in the global sustainability agenda and is soon, if not already now, sharing the top place with climate. This new focus is driving businesses to recognize their deep economic dependence on natural resources, with over half of the global GDP--around $44 trillion--moderately or highly reliant on nature.

Metsä Group's production units annually generate around 12 million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide, and the company is increasingly focusing on promoting its large-scale capture.

Sappi has awarded GAW technologies with an order to increase the efficiency of production processes - in detail to expand the storage of starch as well as a retrofitting / boosting of efficiency for pigment tanks at its Ehingen mill in Germany.

The bond matures in August 2034 and pays a fixed annual coupon of 3.375% and is rated BBB+ by S&P Global Ratings.

Industries are increasingly adopting circularity and advanced waste treatment methods to mitigate their environmental impact. The move towards a circular economy involves systemic change and rethinking production processes to minimize waste generation, promote recycling, and extend the lifecycle of materials.

DS Smith's Recyclability Evaluation Service (RES) has launched for businesses of all sizes.

Sustainable consumer packaging company Graphic Packaging has entered into a virtual power purchase agreement with Zelestra, marking a significant step in its sustainability journey.

International Paper (IP) reaffirms its dedication to conserving forest ecosystems, nature and biodiversity with a $15.3 million investment to renew strategic alliances with key conservation partners, including the American Forest Foundation (AFF), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). These collaborations are pivotal to IP's business strategy.

Lenzing receives highest CSR rating from EcoVadis for the fourth time in a row.

Metsä Group's pulp and sawmill business has once again achieved EcoVadis's highest level of recognition, the Platinum rating, for its sustainability efforts. Since 2019, Metsä Fibre has consistently been among the top one percent of pulp, paper, and cardboard manufacturers evaluated by EcoVadis. The company received particularly high marks (90 out of 100 points) for its responsible sourcing practices.

International Paper has an integrated board and executive-level governance structure to oversee and set the tone on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) topics across our businesses. The full board periodically reviews components of our sustainability strategy and performance including material ESG developments and issues.

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.