European Commission proposes new deforestation rules but carton industry insists forests are not just carbon sinks

23 Nov 2021 --- The European Commission (EC) is proposing new rules to curb EU-driven deforestation in a move welcomed by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) and its members BillerudKorsnäs, Elopak, SIG, Stora Enso and Tetra Pak. 

However, ACE is concerned the Forest Strategy views the forest “almost exclusively as a carbon sink,” failing to recognize paper-based packaging’s entire value chain benefits, including its relatively low carbon impact, food safety and recyclability.

The alliance has also encouraged the EC to support small-scale producers in accessing existing certification schemes, such as FSC and PEFC.

As part of the European Green Deal, the proposed new rules would “guarantee the products EU citizens buy, use and consume on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation.”

The regulation sets mandatory due diligence rules for companies wanting to place wood-based commodities on the EU market, aiming to ensure only deforestation-free and legal products are allowed on the EU market.

The EC will also use a benchmarking system to assess countries’ deforestation and forest degradation risk levels driven by the commodities in the scope of the regulation.

Meanwhile, the EU is coming under fire from a range of national and international recycling industry associations for its proposed amendments to waste shipment regulations.

ACE spotlights entire value chain
ACE backs the new rules for striking a balance between the environmental, social and economic aspects of environmentally sustainable forest management.

The alliance is also pleased the EC has highlighted the importance of wood-based products in the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral and competitive circular bio-economy.The EC will use a benchmarking system to assess countries’ deforestation risk levels.

However, ACE is concerned the full potential of forest-based products could better be recognized in the Forest Strategy. For example, it argues fossil fuel-based packaging has a higher carbon footprint, meaning reducing paper-based packaging would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The alliance also highlights paper-based packaging can package many perishable foods, enhancing food safety and mitigating food waste.

Moreover, ACE claims the fibers used to produce paper-based products can be recycled up to 20 times, drastically extending the life cycle of the wood fibers in these applications.

“Short-lived products have a central role in the circular economy, and it is important the Forest Strategy to a larger extent recognizes the benefits of short-lived products, including the use of recycled wood fibers in these products and in substitution of their fossil-based counterparts,” the organization said in an official statement.

“We recommend a swift drafting and availability of such guidelines for paper as a recommendation to meet the goals of the Strategy and the EU Green Deal.”

No need for new certification scheme
The EC concluded that a new certification scheme for ensuring responsible forest management and product transparency is not needed. ACE likewise expresses doubts on the need for a new certification scheme.

“Credible voluntary certification schemes for sustainable forest management already exist with broad consumer and market acceptance. Rather than creating a new certification scheme, the EC should support small-scale producers to access the existing certification schemes,” the alliance advises.ACE points out paper-based packaging can package perishable foods, mitigating food waste.

The beverage cartons produced by ACE members are made from fibers sourced from certified-sustainable forests. Moreover, 100% of the paperboard is responsibly sourced in line with globally recognized certification schemes, such as FSC and PEFC.

In March, ACE launched the beverage carton industry’s ten-year Roadmap, outlining its commitment to forest and biodiversity issues, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and forest growth.

Reversing deforestation
According to the EC, the world lost 420 million hectares of forest between 1990-2020 – an area larger than the EU. The leading cause of deforestation is agricultural expansion linked to commodities including beef, soy, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee.

“The deforestation and waste shipment regulations we are putting on the table are the most ambitious legislative attempts to tackle these issues worldwide ever,” says Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU commissioner for the environment, oceans and fisheries.

“With these proposals, we are taking our responsibility and walking the talk by lowering our global impact on pollution and biodiversity loss. We also put forward a ground-breaking EU soil strategy with a strong policy agenda that sets out to grant them the same level of protection as water, marine environment and air.” 

By Joshua Poole