P&P Sustainability Initiatives Continue to Develop in Q2

Samsung Electronics' eco-friendly packaging for the Galaxy S21 series (left) and eco-friendly, high-resolution monitor packaging (right). Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Fisher International
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As we approach the end of 2Q2021, the Pulp and Paper industry continues to accumulate sustainability-related awards through new innovations and related initiatives.

Each month, we continue to see progression towards a more environmentally friendly economy that is made possible in many cases by participants in the global pulp and paper industry. To that end, we’ve rounded up some of the top stories recently highlighting these initiatives.

Klabin’s Targets to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions are Approved by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of papers for packaging and paper packaging, has had its targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The initiative establishes the methods and tools for companies to set their targets for reducing emissions based on science. The company’s commitment, disclosed today by SBTi, is to reduce GHG emissions (scopes 1 – own emissions and 2 – emissions from purchased energy) per ton of pulp, papers and packaging, by 25% by 2025 and 49% by 2035, compared to the baseline year of 2019.

Cascades Launches its Fourth Sustainability Action Plan "Driving Positive Change"

After following a year of work and consultations with stakeholders, Cascades, the 17th most sustainable company in the world according to Global 100, is pleased to launch its fourth Sustainability Action Plan, the most ambitious in its history: "Driving Positive Change.”

The plan, which includes 15 defined targets for 2025 and 2030, is based on four main pillars: Respectful of the Planet, Solutions Driven, Community Minded, and People Focused. It is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and with the recommendations of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Samsung Electronics Receives Awards for Eco-Friendly Packaging

Samsung Electronics has won two awards at the KOREA STAR AWARDS 2021, hosted by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. The company received the "minister prize" from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for its paper packaging of high-resolution monitors, and it received the "chairperson award" from the Korea Packaging Organization for its Galaxy 21 packaging.

Samsung Electronics has excluded expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the packaging for its 2021 high-resolution monitors. The new packaging uses a corrugated cardboard pulp mold to protect products and even reduces carbon emissions by utilizing recyclable materials for accessories packaging. In addition, the company reduced the number of product components to make them easier both to assemble and to separate for recycling.

Sonoco Boosts Sustainability Credentials by Joining INCPEN

Sonoco Europe has become a member of the Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment (INCPEN). The company says this represents an important step in its ongoing effort to further develop its sustainability and corporate social responsibility credentials – and to help promote environmental awareness and decisive action in the wider packaging industry.

South Australia’s Recycling Industry to Receive Its Biggest Investment

South Australia’s recycling industry will receive its biggest ever investment with eight new projects worth $111 million announced today to build and modernize key infrastructure. The projects will create hundreds of jobs, thanks to $35.3 million of joint state and Australian Government funding under the Recycling Modernization Fund (RMF).

This dramatically boosts the state’s ability to process waste in the wake of the bans on the export of unprocessed waste plastic, paper and cardboard, glass and tires. 

Nestlé Pakistan to Save the Environment with Paper Strawsé Pakistan to Save the Environment with Paper Straws

Nestlé Pakistan has introduced paper straws across its entire ready-to-drink (RTD) product range, making it the first food and beverage company in Pakistan to do so. The initiative will eliminate over 400 million plastic straws, marking a breakthrough in its sustainable packaging transformation journey.

This is in line with the company’s global pledge to make its packaging 100% recyclable and reusable by 2025. Many of Nestlé Pakistan’s products are now on the market with paper straws that are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.

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Dunn Paper Delivers a Bio-Based, FC Free Plastic Alternative with BiOrigin™ Platform

Dunn Paper, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance, advanced paper and tissue for use in food, medical, and specialty markets unveiled today a new sustainable coated paper technology, BiOrigin™.

BiOrigin™ is a one-of-a-kind Fluorocarbon-free (PFAS-free) product platform that employs an innovative barrier and containment technology without the use of harmful chemicals. This industry-leading technology utilizes bio-based polymers as a sealing agent, providing protection from outside elements while promoting product freshness. BiOrigin™ paper is also printable, enabling package producers to utilize eye-catching graphics with this viable alternative to plastic.

Telstra Branded Packaging to be Fully Recyclable by 2022

Australia's incumbent telecommunications carrier announced on Thursday that by the end of 2022, all Telstra branded packaging would be made of renewable or recycled material and be fully recyclable. The first product to be wrapped in the new packaging will be its Smart Modem Gen 2, with its pre-paid devices and 5G Home Internet to follow.

Telstra head of environment Tom Penny explained the new packaging for its Smart Modem Gen 2 would use a single half-sheet of paper folded in an "origami-like way", instead of two sheets of paper across separate boxes. Telstra has also ceased the use of any inks or print finishes that could impact the ability to recycle the packaging afterwards.

Crown Highlights Completion of 2020 Sustainability Goals and Sets Strategy for the Next Decade in New Report

Crown Holdings, Inc. has issued an interim sustainability report to track its recent environmental, social and governance (ESG) accomplishments and offer insight into its future strategy. Entitled "Enduring Values, Continuous Progress," the report highlights the completion of the Company's first sustainability goals and its plan to raise the bar for future performance based on five pillars of action with the launch of its Twentyby30 program. The Company's progress was achieved during a year of unprecedented demand for metal packaging and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report highlights include:

  • The company's 2020 Sustainability Goals were fulfilled – and surpassed – ahead of schedule. The targets, focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing energy consumption, were established in 2016 against a 2015 baseline and scheduled for completion by December 31, 2020.
  • Crown exceeded its goal of 30% renewable electricity by the end of 2020.
  • The mission and strategy behind Crown's Twentyby30program, a robust initiative that addresses topics of urgent global concern and reflect the priorities of its internal and external stakeholders.

Resilient US Paper Industry Maintains High Recycling Rate in 2020

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced that 65.7 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recycled in 2020, maintaining a recycling rate that has been consistently high for over a decade. Since 2009, paper recycling has met or exceeded 63 percent—nearly double the rate the U.S. paper industry achieved in 1990. 

Meanwhile, U.S. mill consumption of old corrugated containers (OCC) reached a record level in 2020 of 22.8 million tons. The recycling rate for OCC was 88.8 percent, and the three-year average was 92.4 percent. 

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Source: Fisher International