ICFPA Announces Launch of 2019 Sustainability Progress Report

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) endorsed new Global CEO Leadership Statement 2.0 which focuses on seven sustainability commitments that reflect the changes in the global forest products industry.

The Council has endorsed the following sustainability commitments- promoting sustainable forest management, improving recycling and reclamation of wood and paper fibre, stimulating innovation, conserving water, mitigating climate change, ensuring attractive and inclusive workplace and optimizing industry products by contributing to the circular, bio-based economy. Henceforth, ICFPA will provide transparent reporting on the progress of these commitments in its biennial sustainability report.

Meantime, ICFPA announced launch of its 2019 Sustainability Progress Report. The report suggests progress on almost all of the sector’s performance indicators.

The total certified forest area has increased by 40% when compared with the baseline year of 2000. However, it has reported a decline of 2% from the previous report. The intensity of greenhouse gas emissions saw a cut of 19.2% from 2004/2005 baseline year. The energy intensity was down slightly by 1.05% from 2004/2005. The industry achieved 63.5% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions. Also, water use declined by 8.3%.

The global forest products industry employs 13.2 million people directly and another 41 million people indirectly, generating significant contributions to the local economies of the rural communities in which they operate.