Certification demonstrates responsible forest management, and key to its success are companies along the supply chain sourcing, manufacturing, and selling sustainably-sourced materials and products. Forest certification does not stop at the forest gate, its true potential comes to live through the commitment of companies procuring certified material. In turn, these companies benefit from expanded access to international markets with a preference for certified products. This was one of the key take-aways from the workshop “VFCS/PEFC certification for timber and non-timber forestry products: Opportunities and actions for enterprises”, which took place at the end of August in the Binh Duong province in Vietnam.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement regarding Congressional passage of the fiscal year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations bill – legislation that includes language clarifying federal regulatory policy to reflect the carbon-neutrality of forest-based biomass. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed the measure, and President Trump is expected to sign it into law. “U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers have for seven years sought clear policy direction on the carbon neutrality of forest-based renewable biomass energy. Thanks to Congressional action, federal agencies can now ensure the U.S. is no longer out of step with our global competitors. Today’s action is the type of policy that can foster growth in U.S. manufacturing. click Read More below for more of the story

Pactiv Evergreen announced the launch of its new “Zero Waste Implementation Guide” at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Minneapolis. The Guide is a resource to help foodservice establishments improve their waste diversion rates. Recreation venues, stadiums, arenas, colleges and university foodservice programs, in particular, will benefit from this valuable resource. Achieving zero waste is a circular solution that helps ensure a sustainable future economically, environmentally and socially. By closing the loop, operators can cut greenhouse gases, manage risk, reduce litter and pollution, reinvest resources, and create value for their operation. Pactiv Evergreen’s “Zero Waste Implementation Guide” was created to provide everything a foodservice operator needs to begin their journey to zero waste. The interactive Guide can be downloaded for free from PactivEvergreen.com, enabling a foodservice establishment to customize the tool and document their data and progress.