A VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITYAND HIGH-CONSERVATION VALUES IN FORESTS:THE CASE OF BEVERAGE CARTONS

Christian Verschueren

“European biodiversity: the private sector offer” 1 December 2009 – European Parliament, Brussels

2

WHO ARE WE?

ACE is representing the mainmanufacturers of BEVERAGECARTONS and their European PAPERBOARD producers.

3

WHAT’S CARTONS GOT TO DO WITH BIODIVERSITY ?• Our story starts in the forests (beverage cartons

madeof 75% paper board from virgin wood fibre)

• Sustainable sourcing of materials

• Conservation and responsible management of forestas a natural and renewable resource

Forestry LP BoardProduction

Beverage Carton

ProductionFilling Line Retail Consumer

Alu & PERaw Materials

• Demands for greening the supply chain

4

BevCarton

Chain ofCustody

Certificate

Chain ofCustody

Certificate

No certificate necessary

FSC board

Forest

ForestMgt

CertificatePaper mill Customer

FSC board

FSC packs

Cert. wood

FSC packs

= Traceability systems for wood fibres

VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT

• Global sector commitment 100% CoC certification at paper mills by 2015 100% CoC certification BC manuf plants by 2018 Third-party verification

• Recognized by the European Commissionand stakeholders

Forest

Controlled Wood

Certificate

Contr. wood

ACE VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT: STATUS 2009

Certified fibre andcontrolled wood sources

Beverage carton manufacturing plants with CoC certificates

5

LINK VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT - BIODIVERSITY

6

Criteria for acceptable wood sources

Well-managed forest(e.g. FSC)

Controlled wood1.2.3. NOT from Forests w/

highconservation values

4.5.

1.2. Biodiversity & Ecosystems3. 4.5.6.

BEVERAGE CARTONS IN EUROPE ORIGINATEMOSTLY FROM SWEDEN & FINLAND

7

• Sustained forest growth for 100+ years

• Trend for standing volume

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030

Mil

lion

m3

Forecast

Source: Swedish Forest Agency

BEVERAGE CARTONS IN EUROPE ORIGINATEMOSTLY FROM SWEDEN & FINLAND

8

• Sustained forest growth since 100+ years

• Trend for standing volume

• Reserved for nature conservation

Cultivated productive forests

21.5 million hectares

Non-productive forest land excluded from cultivation4.0 million hectares

Productiveforests

reserved for

natureconservati

on2.0 millionHectares

Voluntarilyset aside

Source: Swedish Forest Agency

EUROPEAN INDUSTRY’s OPPORTUNITY

• Semi natural forest dominate Europe – 87% of forest cover

• These forests retain their natural characteristics to a certain degree, including biodiversity

• Developing forest management and harvesting practices offersa unique possibility to make a significant positive impact on biodiversity

9

“PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY - SHARING EXPERIENCES in the paper industry"

• Aim to promote biodiversityin our everyday operations

• Focus on voluntary actionin commercial forests

• Support existing protection network

• Directed to those playerswho can make an impact

• Scope is Europe, but the tools are applicable outside Europe

by Robert Taylor, editor

10

TYPES OF BEST PRACTICES

11

28 BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

Biodiversity tool

Best practice title

Biogeographical region

Background

Description of best practice

Cooperation with Eurosite

Contacts

Who is implementing the practice

Benefits for biodiversity

12

BEYOND EUROPE

13

• Support EU legislation to combat illegal logging (due diligence Regulation currently under discussion in Council)

• Our companies work with suppliers outside Europe for global market

• Reminder : CoC industry commitment is global

• Example :

THANK YOU

christian.verschueren@beveragecarton.eu

www.beveragecarton.eu

14