Materials Impact Report - Forestry & Paper Edition

In our latest quarterly review of corporate sustainability impacts, risks and opportunities, we find that forestry and paper companies are facing increased expectations to demonstrate ESG leadership, with International Paper deriving 70% of mill energy from renewable biomass in 2023 while conserving over 732,000 acres of forestland through Nature Conservancy partnerships. The report highlights how WestRock preserved 1,886 acres and planted 222,235 trees in 2023 via its conservation collaboration, enhancing water security across Georgia and Virginia watersheds while addressing both financial materiality and impact materiality considerations throughout the forestry value chain.

This report analyses thousands of sustainability disclosures from 20 leading entities in the industry, including International Paper, Stora Enso and West Rock. Published in Q225 as part of a quarterly series, it also includes disclosures from Global South entities like Sappi Limited, CMPC and Asia Pulp & Paper. The global nature of this analysis makes it an ideal source of external evidence for sustainability accounting and disclosure, particularly for organisations implementing sustainable forest management practices and blockchain tracking for fibre inputs while integrating ESG targets into executive remuneration.