WHEREAS: WestRock is one of the world’s largest fiber-based paper and packaging companies. Its primary raw materials are sourced from the United States, Canada, and increasingly from Brazil, three of the top countries experiencing tree cover loss over the last 20 years. Wood-based products are among the leading drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, responsible for approximately 12.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Primary forests, which are forests that have never been logged, are especially important, as they store 30-50% more carbon than previously disturbed forests.
Forests are also systemically important to biodiversity, water, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and livelihoods. The World Economic Forum ranks biodiversity loss in the top three most severe global risks,1 while the World Bank estimates the loss of select ecosystem services, including timber from native forests, could result in a decline in global GDP of $2.7 trillion annually.2 Production on forested land may also impact the rights, territory, and resources of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and pose threats to environmental human rights defenders.3 The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes the rights of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination, territories, and cultural practices, and establishes that entities must seek Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples related to any projects that may impact their rights.
In 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted with the goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, which will prompt further regulatory action to address the risks of land use change and forest degradation. Recent regulation in the European Union increases expectations of corporations and investors on deforestation, forest degradation, biodiversity, and human rights.4 Investors and corporations developed the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures for corporates to assess their impacts and dependencies on nature.
WestRock’s Sustainable Forestry and Virgin Wood Fiber Procurement Policy5 states that it is committed to maintaining various forest product certifications and procuring virgin fiber from responsible sources.
Certification alone is insufficient, however, as certification schemes do not uniformly require avoiding forest conversion or primary forest loss, or that logging operations obtain FPIC.
Peers such as 3M and International Paper have made commitments to deforestation-free sourcing that enhances and protects biodiversity and upholds FPIC of Indigenous Peoples.67 3M also explicitly mentions that its detailed policy approach allows it to address issues not covered by certifications.