Evergreen Packaging Wins AF&PA Leadership Sustainability Award Memphis, Tennessee based Evergreen Packaging has an- nounced that it is the recipient of the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA) 2020 Leadership in Sustain- ability Award for Sustainable Forest Management for its submission, Family Forests – The Key to Certified Success. Awards were presented at the AF&PA’s Presidents Forum. “Our winning project demonstrates Evergreen’s com- mitment to responsible forestry,” said John Rooney, Pres- ident of Evergreen Packaging. “By partnering with the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance and the American Forest Foundation, we’ve been able to help family forest land- owners overcome obstacles to gain forestry certification. That helps us obtain more certified fiber to meet market demand and ensure healthy forests for years to come. Evergreen Packaging recognizes that family forests are key to sustainable forestry, and the company is focused on helping family forest landowners increase access to forest certification programs. “Protecting our Planet’s Resources is one of our sustainability pillars, and central to that com- mitment is the protection of our forests and sustainable forest management,” explained Derric Brown, Sustainabil- ity Director for Evergreen. “In addition, one of our paths for promoting sustainable forestry is engaging in strategic partnerships.”
As a founding member of the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance (AWA), Evergreen Packaging has been instru- mental in helping develop the Smallholder Access Pro- gram (SAP), a two-year Forest Stewardship Council pilot program targeted to southern and central Appalachia woodland owners under 250 acres. The AWA, including Evergreen as a participant, is the recipient of an important award, the Forest Stewardship Council’s 2020 FSC Lead- ership Award in the Uncommon Partnership category. “This successful partnership has enabled us to partic- ipate in a pilot project designed to improve forest health and to help meet rising customer demand for certified products,” says Brown. In 2019, Evergreen Packaging also committed signifi- cant funding to the American Forest Foundation (AFF) to support the development of a Landscape Management Plan (LMP) for the state of South Carolina. These two pro- grams are examples of how Evergreen Packaging is re- ducing barriers and increasing access for small landown- ers to participate in forest certification programs. Brown explains the long-term goal: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. Engaging small landowners in re- sponsible forest management is essential to healthy com- munities and the sustainability of our forests. Evergreen believes that sustainably managed forests benefit the en- vironment, are crucial to our industry, and the goals of our company and our customers.” Visit evergreenpackaging.com for more information.
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November 30, 2020
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