Empowering EUDR compliance and innovation with new partnerships

AMP One — an AI-powered waste-sorting system built by Louisville, Colorado-based AMP — just landed on Time magazine's list of the 25 best inventions of 2025. How it works: The system uses scanners trained by artificial intelligence to spot and separate compostable and recyclable materials from regular trash. AMP One can pluck out organics for compost and pull plastics and aluminum for resale. Why it matters: Even with curbside programs in place, 76% of residential recyclable materials still end up in landfills, according to a 2024 report from The Recycling Partnership. What they're saying: "People are lazy — the recycling bin gets full and they put it in their garbage can," AMP CEO Tim Stuart told Time. "Our technology can extract that." What's next: The company is pursuing a 20-year partnership with Southeastern Public Service Authority in Virginia to process half a million tons of trash a year — a model Stuart says could be replicated by cities nationwide.

As the PEFC alliance grows, we continue to work together as a global team, collaborating and supporting each other: moving forward together – and 2018 has been a great example of this. From increasing access to PEFC certification for smallholders through Trees outside Forests, to collaborating with the fashion industry to promote the use of innovative forest-based fibres, we are unlocking new opportunities for certification. We are driving innovation through projects and partnerships worldwide, not forgetting vital outreach with key sectors such as the architect and construction community and awareness raising with consumers through our photo contest. Click read more below for additional detail.

The National Recycling Coalition defines recycling as “A series of activities by which material that has reached the end of its current use is processed into material utilized in the production of new products.” The goal of paper recycling, then, is to supply paper and paper packaging manufacturers with enough mill-quality recovered fiber to meet their needs in making new products. And the paper industry, along with our partners in the states, has a very good record of success in doing that. The U.S. paper recovery rate in 2014 was 65.4 percent – up from 63.5 percent in 2013. In all, more than 50 million tons of paper and paper packaging was recovered for recycling last year. AF&PA has a goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery for recycling by 2020. So how do we improve our performance so that we can grow paper recovery from 65.4 percent to 70 percent?