Forest Solutions Group

🌎 Members of the Forest Solutions Group are deeply committed to building a circular bio-economy—one rooted in wood from sustainably managed working forests. Crucially, the circular bio-economy plays a central role in climate action, nature-positive outcomes, and supporting people’s livelihoods 🌱👪 Last week, our Director, Bernard de Galembert, had the privilege of amplifying this message at the FAO’s 43rd European Forestry Commission 🌲 ⬇️ Edie Marriner Jessica Fonseca da Silva Bernard de Galembert

🏠 🌲 On #WorldArchitectureDay, we celebrate the importance of #forestproducts in creating eco-friendly and #resilient structures for a better future, as well as the innovative designs that shape our built environment 🏠 🌲 🌳 Wood is a unique construction material due to its versatility, strength to weight ratio, remarkable ductility and natural renewability 🌱 👏 WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Forest Solutions Group member, J.M. Huber Corporation, is leading the way in promoting the use of sustainable forest management in their engineered wood products, providing a reliable alternative to traditional building materials in construction. 🤝J.M. Huber Corporation Engineered Woods’ Product Engineering and Builder Development teams work with architects to solve issues related to air leakage, water management and product sequencing to help ensure the structure performs as intended. ➡️ A great example is ZIP System® flashing tape, ZIP System® sheathing and ZIP System® R-sheathing that allow architects to create a more energy-efficient house by providing a continuous air barrier for their wall assemblies. ZIP System R-sheathing engineered wood panels also creates a thermal break between the inside and outside of the home further helping architects ensure their structures are as energy efficient as possible.   ➡️ Another example is ensuring construction efficiency by reducing the need to sand subflooring (using Advantech® subflooring) and reducing the time it takes to satisfy the code-required fire and sound standards between multi-family units (with EXACOR™ MgO underlayment). Installing the ZIP System™ building enclosures portfolio instead of conventional sheathing and house wrap can also help builders finish architects’ projects using less physical labor and energy.    👷♀️ 🌎 By embracing the unique strengths of wood and collaborating with architects to deploy innovative forest products, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future in construction. #ZIPSystem #Sustainability #Innovation Lea (Chambers) Volpe Howard Whittaker Michael Lloyd Bernard de Galembert Jessica Fonseca da Silva Edie Marriner

The FSG is proud to have contributed to this work, by providing key context relevant to the organizations operating in the forest sector. 🌳 🌱 This work, which is based on the FSG’s pioneer work on nature-related metrics for sustainable forest management, will feature in the upcoming WBCSD’s Nature Action Portal alongside metrics for six high impact sectors, of which the forest sector is one, with the aim to support companies in prioritizing nature-related metrics to measure and/or report on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss. Stay tuned for the launch of the Portal in November!   You can read the insights piece here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eT83N6eE Angela Graham-Brown, Maria Ana Campos, Kasha Foster Holly Metcalfe, Bernard de Galembert, Jessica Fonseca da Silva, Edie Marriner, Mar Ferrer #metrics #biodiversity #sustainablevaluechains

Members of WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Forest Solution’s Group have launched their 2025 KPI Results! 🔊👏 🌎 We are delighted to see continued progress across 8 impact areas, demonstrating a shared commitment to actively contribute to the transition to a #netzero, #naturepositive and #just future ➡️ You can learn more about the group’s progress here: https://lnkd.in/g9V9RYHv Edie Marriner Bernard de Galembert Jessica Fonseca da Silva BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, CMPC, Congolaise Industrielle des Bois Drax Group, Enviva, International Paper, J.M. Huber Corporation, Mondi Group,Manulife Investment Management, Olam Agri Philip Morris International, Sappi, Smurfit Westrock, Stora Enso, Sumitomo Forestry Suzano The Navigator Company, Weyerhaeuser

🌳 On #WorldBioproductsDay, we celebrate the essential contributions of the #forestproducts sector in providing #ecofriendly and convenient products that protect our environment 🏃♀️ In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is taken for granted. We rely on countless products and materials to simplify our lives — but this convenience comes at a steep environmental cost 🌡️ Our throwaway culture is accelerating ecological degradation, and the time for change is now ⏰ One example of a leading company is Sappi, a proud member of the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Forest Solutions Group (FSG). Sappi is investing millions of euros into pioneering sustainable alternatives to fossil-based materials — shaping a future where convenience and environmental responsibility go hand in hand 🤝 Innovation inspired by nature 🌸 Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, renewable, fibre-based materials are increasingly replacing fossil-derived products ➡️ Sappi is leading with a portfolio of solutions that are both functional and sustainable: 🌱 Barrier Papers for Packaging: Sappi’s advanced barrier papers offer recyclable packaging solutions that meet the food supply chain's demands, replacing complex plastic packaging without compromising performance. 🌱 Cellulose for Everyday Products: Sappi’s Valida fibrillated cellulose is revolutionizing cosmetics and homecare by replacing fossil-based chemicals and microplastics, enhancing the texture of skin creams, making sunscreens sprayable, and stabilizing cleaning products. 🌱 Lignin in Agriculture and Industry: Extracted from wood, lignin is a renewable alternative to fossil-based components, used in concrete, adhesives, particle board, pesticides, animal feed, and fertilizers. In Animal nutrition industry, Sappi’s Pelletin product range offers binder solutions for producing compound livestock and aqua feeds. A Vision for a Better Tomorrow 🙌 Picture a world where renewable wood fibre materials are seamlessly integrated into our daily lives — a world where consumer functionality is aligned with environmental stewardship. This vision is not only possible; it’s already taking shape ⭕ Let’s build it together🌎 Want to see how Sappi is delivering natural solutions to meet a wide range of everyday needs? Watch the video below ⬇️ Sarah Price Tracy Wessels Matt Spence Lixian Xu Leander Jarvel André Oberholzer Stefania Specchia Bernard de Galembert Jessica Fonseca da Silva Edie Marriner Mar Ferrer

🌳Sustainable forest management brings real, measurable benefits for nature, climate, and communities🌳 🤝 As a member of WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Forest Solutions Group, Manulife Investment Management is committed to sustainable forest management and has achieved 100% certification of its managed forests under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) or the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC). In Australia and New Zealand, their forests are dually certified to both FSC and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC International) standards.   🌱In their recently published Natural Capital report (link below), they highlight how their approach to forest management goes beyond certification. Their foresters integrate ecological values into daily operations—such as the intentional preservation of snags, or dead standing trees, which provide essential habitat for birds, bats, insects, and small mammals. These efforts contribute to forest biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and long-term ecosystem health🌱 🚵♀️Through a long-standing partnership with the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC) and other landowners in British Columbia, Manulife has granted community access to 6,500 acres of private timberland, supporting a 200-kilometre network of multi-use trails. This collaboration enhances public access to forests for hiking, biking, and recreation—demonstrating how working forests can coexist with people and play a role in community wellbeing.   🌍 From ecosystem protection to community access, Manulife Investment Management exemplifies the power of certified, sustainable forestry to deliver nature-positive outcomes. Their work contributes directly to the Forest Solutions Group’s mission to scale responsible forest management and grow the circular bio-economy ♻️   Like Manulife Investment Management, every year, the members of the FSG report on Key Performance Indicators to track their performance against the Forest Sector SDG Roadmap ➡️https://lnkd.in/e2PpTdMu 👏 In its 2024 Key Performance Indicators publication, FSG reported that: -         98% of the 20 million hectares of forests that members directly manage were certified -         26% of total area of land owned, leased or managed is designated for restoration or conservation, an 8% increase from 2023 ➡️ You can read Manulife’s Natural Capital Report here: https://lnkd.in/ekdViG7G   Brian Kernohan Brandon Lewis Adrienne Wai Sarah-Jane Luoni Alex Campagnolo Bernard de Galembert Edie Marriner Jessica Fonseca da Silva Mar Ferrer   #SustainableForestry #ForestCertification #NaturePositive #Biodiversity #CommunityAccess #WorkingForests  

Measuring is knowing 📏 At the 30th anniversary conference of Sustainable Forestry Initiative in Minneapolis, Bernard de Galembert, Director of the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development Forest Solutions Group, joined a thought-provoking panel moderated by Lauren T. Cooper (Chief Conservation Officer, SFI), alongside Brandon Lewis (Manulife Investment Management) and Marianne Haahr (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). The topic: “Measure this! The value of SFI in global reporting frameworks.” 🌍📊 Bernard emphasized that measurement should not be a “tick-the-box” exercise for compliance ✅. It should be intentional—first and foremost to guide better business decisions 💼, and ultimately to understand our impact on the world around us 🌎, or on the "relatives around us," as eloquently underlined by the Community keynote speaker Nisogaabokwe Melonee M.🎙️. Measuring also offers businesses the power to plan ahead and strengthen their resilience 🔍📈. In this spirit, the Forest Solutions Group has developed a new tool 🛠️ to help prioritize practical and relevant metrics for reporting on the impacts of sustainable forest management 🌲. Certification systems like SFI have played a key role in shaping the tool and identifying the right metrics ✔️. 👉 The tool’s beta version is still open for testing and feedback before its integration into the broader Nature Action Portal later this year. Interested in testing the tool or learning more? Check our webpage (https://lnkd.in/e5t-Jntf) and don’t hesitate to reach out! 🌱💬 #KPI #naturepositive #sustainableforestry Kathy Abusow Nadine Block

🌍✨This International #BiodiversityDay, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on one of WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s FSG members, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, demonstrating how businesses can prosper in harmony with nature 🌿🦜   BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG) is deeply committed to biodiversity , working to protect and enhance the rich ecosystems across its timberland properties. BTG Pactual TIG integrates rigorous conservation practices into its investment strategies, prioritizing native habitat preservation, the restoration of degraded landscapes, and the nurturing of vibrant, resilient ecosystems 🌳   In the USA, BTG Pactual TIG collaborates with The Nature Conservancy, which serves as a conservation advisor, helping BTG Pactual TIG achieve biodiversity, climate, and forest resilience outcomes across more than 1.1 million acres in its core USA portfolio🌲🤝   In Latin America, Conservation International serves as an impact adviser to BTG Pactual TIG’s large-scale restoration strategy, providing input and advice to help BTG Pactual TIG achieve positive environmental, climate, and social impacts related to the #conservation and #restoration aspects of the initiative. As of April 2025, TIG and Conservation International have initiated restoration on over 10,000 hectares of Brazil’s Cerrado, working to protect over 500+ plant and animal species identified on their properties 🐸🌸   Through these meaningful collaborations and a strong commitment to sustainable land management, BTG Pactual TIG is paving the way for #naturepositive commercial strategies. Their work aims to deliver beneficial outcomes for biodiversity, climate change, and local communities for generations to come 👩🌾   ⬇️ These photos feature just a few of the many unique species that inhabit TIG's properties in the USA and Latin America 🙌   Happy International Day for Biological Diversity! 🦋 Bernard de Galembert Edie Marriner Jessica Fonseca da Silva Mar Ferrer Elaine Irvin Maria Clara Uquillas Caitlin Clarke #InternationalDayofBiologicalDiversity #GlobalGoals #KMGBF

Yesterday, the World Circular Economy Forum WCEF 2025 kicked off in São Paulo, Brazil. The event, organized in collaboration with WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development and other partners, is discussing the incredible potential of solutions for sustainable growth, the transformative power of the regenerative economy, and bioeconomy innovations. The forest sector was highlighted as one key solutions provider in the path towards circularity. ♻ In the session, 'Forest-based solutions advance circularity and sustainability in value chains', our FSG member Marina Negrisoli from Suzano, shared some of the solutions and strategies they are applying to improve circularity, such as: -using the best out of every tree to produce goods and energy, and -re-using residues from harvesting and pulp and paper mills. Marina also shared that landscape is an integral part of Suzano’s strategy, planting about 1.2 million trees per day! 🌱🌳 There are still major systemic challenges to implementing and scaling up circularity solutions though. The main challenge identified was the limited access to technology 💻 and difficulties bringing finance 💰 partners onboard. However, pioneer companies are already moving the needle, fostering key partnerships that are allowing progress. 🤝 More needs to be done on the policy side to accelerate this trend and ensure transformation across entire systems to benefit nature, climate, and most critically, people. We look forward to seeing how progress in circularity will help shape the future of sustainable development! #forestsolutions #RegenerativeEconomy #Bioeconomy #wcef25 Ibá – Indústria Brasileira de Árvores, Sitra, Fiesp - Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo, Bernard de Galembert, Jessica Fonseca da Silva, Edie Marriner, Mar Ferrer

Last week, members of WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s FSG gathered in Montreux alongside over 170 other global businesses for the 2025 Liaison Delegate Meeting 🤝 In a time of growing uncertainties and global challenges, this was a moment to reflect on our collective impact, and to sharpen our focus on the work ahead. It was also the perfect opportunity to celebrate WBCSD’s 30th anniversary! 🥳 🌲The week started with a full-day FSG session that brought a welcome sense of optimism and pragmatism. FSG members discussed 💬 : 🔹 The potential of avoided emissions across forest products value chains. 🔹 The transformational role forest companies can play in landscapes when engaging and supporting local communities and Indigenous Peoples. 🔹 Our collective priorities and the opportunities for deeper collaboration — both within the forest sector and across industries. ⏰ As we look forward to a potentially landmark COP30 in Belém, the #LDMeeting25 reaffirmed the crucial role of forests and forest products in decarbonizing the economy, enabling durable carbon removals, and contributing meaningfully to people and nature across and beyond our sector. From high-integrity nature-based solutions, such as carbon credits, to the provision of circular, bio-based products sourced from sustainably and equitably managed forests — the forest sector is at the heart of efforts to bend the curve on climate change while providing multiple benefits to people and nature 🌍 👷♀️ 🌲 Throughout the week, FSG members shared the forest sector perspective in multiple sessions, including: ➡️ On adaptation and resilience in the building sector from Jun Morita (Sumitomo Forestry) ➡️On nature-based solutions to mitigate climate risks from Ara Erickson (Weyerhaeuser) ➡️On metrics harmonization from Brandon Lewis (Manulife Investment Management) ➡️On companies approaches to address physical risks from climate change from Veronica de la Cerda (CMPC) ➡️On driving a just transition across value chains Ylva Stiller (Stora Enso) ➡️On carbon dioxide removals Michael Goldsworthy (Drax Group) The FSG also co-led a session on ‘unlocking the new bio-economy value chain’ with Marcelo Behar UNECE/FAO Forests and Nufarm 👏 💐Between meetings, panels and discussions FSG members also enjoyed the Swiss local culture which included a great dinner with fondue and raclette! 🧀 We are grateful for the positive energy, insights, and action-oriented mindset our members brought to Montreux — and excited to build on that momentum as we move through 2025 🌟 #LetsGetItDone #LD2025 Bernard de Galembert Mar Ferrer Jessica Fonseca da Silva Edie Marriner