Forest management, climate action and carbon emissions: PEFC at the Sustainable Retail Summit
How can global manufacturers and retailers play a meaningful role in mitigating climate change through sustainable forest management?
Forest management, climate action and carbon emissions: PEFC at the Sustainable Retail Summit
8 October 2020 News
Join us at the virtual Consumer Goods Forum Sustainable Retail Summit (CGF SRS) later this month as we take a deep dive into the science behind forests and how they contribute to climate change mitigation through sequestration, storage and substitution.
Sustainably managed forests are the most significant nature-based solution for action on climate change and carbon emissions. But how can global manufacturers and retailers play a meaningful role? Join us and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) as we discuss this with two leading forest science experts at our CGF Special Session on 15 October.
Together, we’ll discover how sustainable procurement policies that fully leverage forest certification support global action on climate and other key sustainability action targets.
How can CGF manufacturer and retailer members get involved?
Move from managing sustainable procurement risk to being a Climate Action Champion
Procurement of PEFC and SFI-certified forest products supports sustainable forest management. It also helps to deliver on a wide range of corporate sustainability targets for climate action and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, as well as clean water, biodiversity conservation, sustainable production and consumption and stakeholder partnerships.
Use credible supply chain assurance to achieve procurement and climate action targets
Many CGF members, governments and civil society stakeholders already realise the value of third party certification in expanding consumer markets for sustainable products, and in achieving corporate deforestation-free supply chain commitments.
An inclusive and consistent approach to procuring certified forest products is a key tool for CGF members to manage deforestation risks and meet corporate performance targets on climate and carbon.
Forest certification is a key tool for a forest positive future
When fully implemented by consumer facing manufacturers and retailers, forest certification provides many scale-up (within multiple supply chains), scale-out (across landscapes), stakeholder engagement and consumer trust building opportunities for a forest positive future.
Driving global availability of certified forest products
PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification system, with 75% of all certified forests globally (319 million hectares) under PEFC certification. This means certified wood and paper-based solutions, especially consumer product packaging, are readily available across most key geographic markets.
PEFC-certified forests are estimated to absorb 315 million of CO2 every year – equivalent to roughly 30% of annual emissions from the global fashion industry or 85% of the UK’s emissions in 2018.