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Metsä Group and 4H in Finland have signed a new cooperation agreement for the period 2025-2026, with the aim of improving young people’s knowledge of forests and strengthening the relationship with forests. Source: Timberbiz A key part of the cooperation will be Metsä Group Forest Days for secondary school students, where forest use themes and contents will be examined from ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives. The Forest Days are organised in cooperation with schools, either in the school’s local forests or on commercial forest sites throughout Finland. “In cooperation with Metsä Group, we are taking thousands of secondary school students into the forest to learn about Finnish forests and forest use. The Forest Days will introduce them to tree growth, the carbon cycle, climate issues and the life cycle of wood products. In the spring we plant tree saplings and in the autumn we get behind the wheel of a forestry machine,” said Sampo Juhajoki, manager in 4H. “The lessons learned at Forest Day complement what we learnt at school and support the development of young people’s relationship with the forest.” National Metsä Group Forest Days have been organised since 2021, and the aim is to organise 40 Forest Days for 2,500 young people annually in various parts of Finland. “It is important for Metsä Group that young people understand the importance of forests and see how sustainable forest use promotes well-being, combats climate change, safeguards biodiversity and prevents deforestation. “At the same time, we want to raise young people’s awareness of the economic importance of the forest sector both locally and globally. Cooperation with the 4H League provides an excellent opportunity to concretise these important themes,” said Katariina Saelan, SVP communications.

The pulp and paper industry is at the forefront of sustainability efforts, playing a crucial role in the transition towards a circular economy. As environmental concerns continue to rise, the industry is innovating to reduce waste and enhance recyclability, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and responsibly. Source: Timberbiz ResourceWise has highlighted the latest developments announced over the past month, showcasing significant strides made by companies and organizations in their commitment to sustainable practices and eco-friendly solutions. Toy Manufacturer Lego Starts Using Paper-Based Bags Lego, the toy manufacturer, is switching to paper-based bags for its sets, aligning with its dedication to sustainable packaging. This change aims to eliminate single-use plastics. Lego’s factories have begun producing the new packaging. Sets in Europe and Asia already feature paper-based bags, with plans to extend the rollout to the Americas. These bags are sturdy, easy to fold, and confirmed recyclable in the European Union, the US, and Canada. Minnesota packaging changes The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), together with local officials and business leaders, is exploring methods to eliminate packaging in Minnesota that is not refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2032. In 2024, Minnesota became the fifth state in the nation to enact the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act. This legislation includes an Extended Producer Responsibility policy that encourages sustainable practices and holds manufacturers accountable for the materials they produce. The new law covers most packaging and paper products sold, offered for sale, distributed, or used to ship products within or into Minnesota, including online purchases and shipments. Exceptions are made for packaging related to infant formula, drugs or medical devices, and certain hazardous products. Stora Enso Develops Sustainable Packaging for Wilfa’s ProBaker Product Stora Enso has created protective inserts for Wilfa’s ProBaker kitchen mixer by combining Papira and corrugated board. Papira is a biobased, biodegradable foam derived from wood fibers harvested from sustainably managed forests. The redesigned packaging for the ProBaker cuts foam usage by 50% and reduces the overall box volume by 11%. Climate-Focused Frontier Coalition to Buy US$80 Million of Carbon Credits Google, H&M, Stripe, and other members of the climate-focused Frontier coalition are set to purchase US$80 million worth of carbon credits. These credits will be sourced from a company employing oil industry technology to capture emissions from paper mills and another firm using rocks to capture emissions at sewage plants. Frontier reports that buyers have committed to paying US$48 million, or US$214 per ton, for credits covering 224,500 tons of emissions from 2028 to 2030, developed by CO280. Additionally, US$32.1 million, or US$447 per ton, will be spent on 71,878 tons from startup CREW. CO280 utilizes carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology from oil field services company SLB, applied to the smokestack of a paper mill, capturing carbon initially absorbed by the trees used in paper production. Smurfit Westrock Provides Recyclable Packaging to Mindful Chef Smurfit Westrock has delivered fully recyclable packaging to Mindful Chef, reducing waste and ensuring complete traceability throughout the process. To ensure their fresh produce and ingredients arrived in optimal condition, the packaging’s durability was thoroughly tested in various ways. The Smurfit Westrock team adjusted the box sizes to maximize the number of boxes per lorry, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. To further enhance the boxes’ sustainability, Smurfit Westrock employs a glue seal on the recipe boxes, minimizing the use of plastic tape and decreasing its environmental impact. Dobis Brings Out Lightweight Shopping Bags with Mondi’s Recycled Papers Dobis, a producer of paper bags, baking papers, and wrapping papers, is leveraging Mondi’s selection of paper grades with recycled fibers to create paper bags for the fashion, fast food, and retail sectors. Dobis has introduced: Eco/Vantage Kraft Pro for fast food and grocery uses, featuring ISEGA food approval and 20% recycled content Eco/Vantage Light Fashion, crafted entirely from recycled fibers, is designed for fashion and gift bags Eco/Vantage Kraft Classic, which combines 50% recycled content with a focus on strength and printability for food and fashion packaging. This initiative has resulted in lightweight packaging that reduces material usage while preserving strength and print quality. 39% of People Are Inclined to Recycle Paper and Cardboard Products, Reveals PAMSA According to a recent survey conducted by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), approximately 39% of participants reported that they consistently recycle their paper and cardboard products, while 36% do so occasionally. Meanwhile, 20% expressed a desire to recycle despite not currently doing so. Overall, in 2023, South Africa responsibly recycled 1.2 million tons of paper and paper packaging, conserving 3.6 million cubic meters of landfill space. Termotécnica Brings out DaColheita Bio Packaging to Export Fruits Termotécnica, a producer of EPS packaging, has recently introduced its DaColheita bio packaging solution. This marks the company’s initial move towards diversifying its raw material base with a sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable option. Termotécnica claims that DaColheita packaging is 60% lighter than corrugated boxes, potentially lowering air freight expenses by up to 6%, leading to substantial savings across the supply chain and decreasing CO₂ emissions. Additionally, it aids in maintaining a stable temperature for transported goods, which is beneficial for items like premium grapes. Download ResourceWise’s paper In the Green: profitability and sustainability in pulp and paper here.

Södra’s mission is focused on members’ forests and to process their raw material, thereby creating value for these forest estates. Södra has therefore, as a step in implementing its strategy, decided to initiate a process to divest its forest holding and related activities in the Baltics. Source: Timberbiz The company said that in order to do what’s best for forest estates and Södra’s long-term competitiveness, the holding is routinely evaluated against business needs. “Our mission is focused on members’ forests, not to actually own forests. We have therefore initiated a divestment of the forest holding in the Baltics and a process is under way to find the right buyer. But we are not in a hurry,” said Peter Karlsson, President of the Södra Skog business area. The process means that Södra is now looking at potential interested parties with the aim of moving forward with a divestment in 2025. Södra owns approximately 153 000 hectares land in Estonia and Latvia, where the majority is in Latvia.

Amazon has stopped packing products in single-use plastic delivery bags and envelopes in its Australian distribution network. Customers will now be receiving packages in flexible paper bags and padded envelopes, which are more easily recyclable in household recycling across Australia. Source: Timberbiz This means all delivery packaging for customer orders shipped from an Australian fulfilment centre is household recyclable and can go straight in the bin – the bags, envelopes and boxes including the tape and protective filler. Amazon is also increasing the number of products that can be shipped in their original packaging provided by the manufacturer, with only an address label added. While Amazon controls the packaging for items shipped to customers direct from its own fulfilment centres, third party sellers can ship directly to customers themselves, in which case Amazon does not control the packaging. When a product comes in a single-use plastic bag from the manufacturer and the bag is suitable, Amazon will deliver the product to the customer in the manufacturer-supplied bag. This avoids the addition of extra packaging. Plastic preparation material such as bubble wrap may still be used where necessary, for example to protect fragile items like glass or to seal liquid products such as shampoo and soaps. In 2021, Amazon Australia replaced single-use plastic air pillows with recyclable paper filler to protect goods during shipping, and in 2023 it reduced box weights by 25% and label sizes by 50%, to minimise waste. As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce packaging, Amazon Australia recently invested in three automated paper packaging machines that pack single products in paper bags that are made on demand for the item. These unpadded, durable and flexible paper bags are up to 77% lighter than similar-sized plastic padded envelopes and help optimise and reduce packaging weight and shipped air, minimising waste while maintaining security. Amazon’s ‘Ships in Product Packaging’ program is another way the company is delivering an increasing number of essential items – such as nappies, toilet rolls and cases of drinks – to shoppers without additional delivery packaging, such as a box or paper bag. Eligible items are shipped in the manufacturer’s original packaging with just an address label added, avoiding unnecessary material use and reducing the weight of deliveries. Globally since 2015, Amazon has reduced the weight of outbound packaging per shipment by 43% on average and avoided more than three million metric tons of packaging material. Since 2021, the number of products shipped without additional Amazon packaging has more than tripled in Australia.